Greatest Screen Performances per Film Actors

[Tim]

Ewan McGregor (1971–)
1. Trainspotting (1996)
2. The Ghost Writer (2010)
3. Fargo (2017)
4. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
5. Halston (2021)
6. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)
7. The Impossible (2012)
8. Young Adam (2003)
9. Christopher Robin (2018)
10. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Joel McCrea (1905–1990)
1. The More the Merrier (1943)
2. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
3. The Palm Beach Story (1942)
4. Foreign Correspondent (1940)
5. The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
6. Stars in My Crown (1950)
7. Union Pacific (1939)
8. Primrose Path (1940)
9. These Three (1936)
10. The Silver Horde (1930)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1981–)
1. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
2. 50/50 (2011)
3. Mysterious Skin (2004)
4. Brick (2005)
5. Looper (2012)
6. The Walk (2015)
7. Snowden (2016)
8. Don Jon (2013)
9. Manic (2001)
10. 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001)

[ManPerson]

Ewan McGregor is one of the few cases where I think a performance in the prequels is at least somewhat acclaimed. I certainly think RotS is more worthy than Obi-Wan Kenobi at least.

[Tim]

So:

1. Trainspotting (1996)
2. The Ghost Writer (2010)
3. Fargo (2017)
4. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
5. Halston (2021)
6. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)
7. The Impossible (2012)
8. Young Adam (2003)
9. Christopher Robin (2018)
10. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

[ManPerson]

I'd probably have it over Christopher Robin as well.

[Dubrow555]

No room for Shallow Grave?

[Tim]

How about:

1. Trainspotting (1996)
2. The Ghost Writer (2010)
3. Fargo (2017)
4. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
5. Halston (2021)
6. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)
7. The Impossible (2012)
8. Young Adam (2003)
9. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
10. Shallow Grave (1994)

Christopher Robin RIP.

[Tim]

Michael Shannon (1974–)
1. Take Shelter (2011)
2. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
3. 99 Homes (2014)
4. Revolutionary Road (2008)
5. Death by Lightning (2025)
6. The Shape of Water (2017)
7. Shotgun Stories (2007)
8. The Iceman (2012)
9. Man of Steel (2013)
10. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2015)

Chris Cooper (1951–)
1. Adaptation. (2003)
2. Lone Star (1996)
3. American Beauty (1999)
4. Breach (2007)
5. October Sky (1999)
6. The Company Men (2010)
7. Matewan (1987)
8. Seabiscuit (2003)
9. Capote (2005)
10. August: Osage County (2013)

Woody Harrelson (1961–)
1. The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
2. True Detective (2014)
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
4. The Messenger (2009)
5. Cheers (1985–1993)
6. Game Change (2012)
7. Rampart (2011)
8. White Men Can't Jump (1992)
9. Zombieland (2009)
10. White House Plumbers (2023)

Sam Rockwell (1968–)
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
2. Moon (2009)
3. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
4. Fosse/Verdon (2019)
5. Vice (2018)
6. Lawn Dogs (1997)
7. Matchstick Men (2003)
8. The Way, Way Back (2013)
9. Conviction (2010)
10. Seven Psychopaths (2012)

James McAvoy (1979–)
1. Filth (2013)
2. Atonement (2007)
3. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
4. Split (2016)
5. Glass (2019)
6. X-Men: First Class (2011)
7. The Conspirator (2010)
8. Inside I'm Dancing (2004)
9. Shameless (2004–2005)
10. The Last Station (2009)

[ManPerson]

I'd have True Detective at #1 for Harrelson.

[Tim]

1. True Detective (2014)
2. The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
4. The Messenger (2009)
5. Cheers (1985–1993)
6. Game Change (2012)
7. Rampart (2011)
8. White Men Can't Jump (1992)
9. Zombieland (2009)
10. White House Plumbers (2023)

[Tim]

Javier Bardem (1969–)
1. No Country for Old Men (2007)
2. Biutiful (2010)
3. The Sea Inside (2004)
4. Before Night Falls (2000)
5. Skyfall (2012)
6. Being the Ricardos (2021)
7. Mondays in the Sun (2002)
8. Live Flesh (1997)
9. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
10. Boca a boca (1995)

Richard Harris (1930–2002)
1. This Sporting Life (1963)
2. The Field (1990)
3. The Snow Goose (1971)
4. Cromwell (1970)
5. Camelot (1967)
6. My Kingdom (2001)
7. A Man Called Horse (1970)
8. Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
9. Abraham (1993)
10. Bloomfield (1970)

Raj Kapoor (1924–1988)
1. Awaara (1951)
2. Shree 420 (1955)
3. Mera Naam Joker (1970)
4. Jagte Raho (1956)
5. Teesri Kasam (1966)
6. Anari (1959)
7. Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960)
8. Chhalia (1960)
9. Barsaat (1949)
10. Sangam (1964)

Woody Allen (1935–)
1. Annie Hall (1977)
2. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
3. Manhattan (1979)
4. The Front (1976)
5. Zelig (1983)
6. Play It Again, Sam (1972)
7. Sleeper (1973)
8. Stardust Memories (1980)
9. Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
10. Husbands and Wives (1992)

Warren Beatty (1937–)
1. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
2. Bugsy (1991)
3. Heaven Can Wait (1978)
4. Reds (1981)
5. Splendor in the Grass (1961)
6. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
7. Shampoo (1975)
8. Bulworth (1998)
9. Dick Tracey (1990)
10. The Parallax View (1974)

[Sherick]

I would have thought Boardwalk Empire would be higher for Shannon. Great work on all these as always.

[Tim]

How about:

1. Take Shelter (2011)
2. Nocturnal Animals (2016)
3. 99 Homes (2014)
4. Revolutionary Road (2008)
5. Death by Lightning (2025)
6. The Shape of Water (2017)
7. Boardwalk Empire (2010–2015)
8. Shotgun Stories (2007)
9. The Iceman (2012)
10. Man of Steel (2013)

[Zach]

What about The Green Mile for Rockwell? Not sure where I'd place it, but that performance seemed rather memorable.

[Tim]

So:

1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
2. Moon (2009)
3. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
4. Fosse/Verdon (2019)
5. Vice (2018)
6. Lawn Dogs (1997)
7. Matchstick Men (2003)
8. The Way, Way Back (2013)
9. Conviction (2010)
10. The Green Mile (1999)

[Tim]

Yul Brynner (1920–1985)
1. The King and I (1956)
2. The Ten Commandments (1956)
3. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
4. Anastasia (1956)
5. The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
6. Taras Bulba (1962)
7. Westworld (1973)
8. The Sound and the Fury (1959)
9. The Buccaneer (1958)
10. Battle of Neretva (1969)

Charlton Heston (1923–2008)
1. Ben-Hur (1959)
2. The Ten Commandments (1956)
3. Touch of Evil (1958)
4. Planet of the Apes (1968)
5. El Cid (1961)
6. Will Penny (1968)
7. Dark City (1950)
8. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
9. The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962)
10. 55 Days at Peking (1963)

Steve McQueen (1930–1980)
1. The Great Escape (1963)
2. The Sand Pebbles (1966)
3. Bullitt (1968)
4. Papillon (1973)
5. Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)
6. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
7. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
8. The Reivers (1969)
9. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
10. Never So Few (1959)

[Tim]

Jerry Lewis (1926–2017)
1. The Nutty Professor (1963)
2. The King of Comedy (1982)
3. The Bellboy (1960)
4. The Ladies Man (1961)
5. The Errand Boy (1961)
6. Cinderfella (1960)
7. It's Only Money (1962)
8. Boeing, Boeing (1965)
9. Artists and Models (1955)
10. Hollywood or Bust (1956)

Omar Sharif (1932–2015)
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
2. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
3. Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
4. Funny Girl (1968)
5. The Tamarind Seed (1974)
6. The Night of the Generals (1967)
7. The River of Love (1960)
8. The Beginning and the End (1960)
9. A Rumor of Love (1960)
10. The Blazing Sun (1954)

Maximilian Schell (1930–2014)
1. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
2. The Man in the Glass Booth (1975)
3. Julia (1977)
4. Topkapi (1964)
5. Cross of Iron (1977)
6. Playhouse 90: Judgment at Nuremberg (1959)
7. The Castle (1968)
8. First Love (1970)
9. The Pedestrian (1973)
10. Peter the Great (1986)

Paul Muni (1895–1967)
1. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
2. Scarface (1932)
3. The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)
4. The Valiant (1929)
5. Black Fury (1935)
6. The Good Earth (1937)
7. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
8. The Last Angry Man (1959)
9. A Song to Remember (1945)
10. Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

Lee Marvin (1924–1987)
1. Cat Ballou (1965)
2. The Killers (1964)
3. The Professionals (1966)
4. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
5. Point Blank (1967)
6. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
7. Paint Your Wagon (1969)
8. Monte Walsh (1970)
9. The Comancheros (1961)
10. The Big Red One (1980)