Plenty of incredible movies in2024featured astounding performances that exceeded audience expectations. Whether it was long-awaited adaptations of beloved stage shows,biopics of legendary musical figures, or surprisingly effective horror sequels, lots of talented actors managed to go above and beyond in their roles and give some of thebest performances of the year. From major names to relative newcomers, it was impressive how actors managed to deliver exciting performances that nobody saw coming.
While audiences sometimes go into movies with sky-high expectations, it’s always nice to leave a theater being genuinely surprised by the performance seen on screen. Looking back on all thefilms released in 2024,it’s striking just how much up-and-coming talent there is in Hollywoodand how older, beloved figures have also maintained their relevance even after decades of performing. All of these movie performances achieved something special, delivering unforgettable moments that reminded viewers why cinema continues to captivate and inspire audiences around the world.
10Jonathan Bailey As Fiyero Tigelaar
Wicked (2024)
As one of the most successful stage musicals of all time and a prequel to the iconic fantasyThe Wizard of Oz, expectations were sky-high for the long-awaited release ofWicked. While Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s impressive take on Elphaba have rightfully received widespread praise, the supporting performances in this film were equally astonishing. One actor who hasn’t gotten enough credit was Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, who brought confidence and charisma to his portrayal of the Winkie Country prince who encounters and befriends the duo at Shiz University.
Historical romance lovers would have recognized Bailey as Lord Anthony Bridgerton from Netflix’sBridgerton, but this role meant he now became a notable name worldwide. Bailey proved himself a triple threat as he acted, danced, and sang his way throughWickedand looks set to have an even more significant role in the next installment,Wicked: For Good. It seems that Bailey’s incredible performance was not lost on Hollywood executives, as he’s also been cast in another major franchise with his upcoming main role inJurassic World Rebirth.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
9Timothée Chalamet As Bob Dylan
A Complete Unknown (2024)
It’s never easy to play an icon, andTimothée Chalamet certainly had his work cut out for him when he accepted the role of the enigmatic musical legend Bob Dylan. With such a recognizable voice and deeply idiosyncratic characteristics, there was a fear that Chalamet’s performances could come across as looking like a cheap parody if not done correctly. However, production delays meant that Chalamet had several years to prepare for this role, and by the time filming started, he had perfected not only Dylan’s mannerisms in the 1960s but also his voice as the actor performed his songs live.
A Complete Unknownmanaged to capture the essence of what made Dylan such a phenomenon during the 1960s, as his protest music inspired a generation of activists to fight for social change. While other performances, such as Edward Norton’s role as the folk legend Pete Seeger, also deserved praise, Chalamet pulled off an astounding feat with a performance that’s even gained the approval of Dylan himself as he put up a rare post on social media to encourage his listeners to check out the biopic.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
8Kieran Culkin As Benji Kaplan
A Real Pain (2024)
For many years, Kieran Culkin was known primarily as the little brother of Macaulay Culkin, whose minor role as Kevin McAlister’s cousin Fuller inHome Alonewas a fun bit of movie trivia. However, Culkin has carved out an astounding legacy for himself in recent years, as later roles in movies likeScott Pilgrim vs. the WorldandMargarethelped position him as an actor of serious talent. It was as Roman Roy in the HBO dramaSuccessionthat the true extent of Culkin’s dramatic skills were fully revealed, as his deadpan sense of humor and casual acting style just worked.
With so much promising potential, it was fantastic to see Culkin give his best performance yet as Benji Kaplan in Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy-dramaA Real Pain. Culkin played an upbeat but troubled Jewish American traveling to Poland with his cousin to learn about his grandma’s history and her experiences during the Holocaust. WhileCulkin’s performance was lighthearted at the beginning, this merely disarmed viewers, and as the film progressed, he revealed an emotionally devastating performance that captured a three-dimensional character of serious depth.
A Real Pain
A Real Pain explores themes of identity and loss as two estranged families confront their shared and tumultuous pasts. Through intertwining narratives, the film delves into the complexities of familial relationships and the enduring impact of unresolved grief.
7Michael Keaton As Betelgeuse
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Michael Keaton was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s and 1990s, whose roles as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Betelgeuse in Tim Burton projects made him beloved by viewers of all ages. While Keaton has continued giving great performances in later years, when the legacy sequelBeetlejuice Beetlejuicewas announced there was a fear he wouldn’t be able to recapture the magic of his original performance.There had been talk of aBeetlejuicesequel since as far as the first movie in 1988, and while various installments, likeBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiian,were considered, it never got off the ground.
However, all these worries dissipated whenBeetlejuice Beetlejuicewas released because, although the film was not perfect, Keaton slipped right back into the role as if no time had passed. The best thing aboutBeetlejuice Beetlejuicewas how much fun Keaton was clearly having with it, and it was obvious that reprising this part was about far more than a paycheck for him. With the door open for a third movie, audiences can only hope that Keaton appears once again if Burton opts to makeBeetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
6Glen Powell As Gary Johnson
Hit Man (2024)
It’s hard to think of a Hollywood star who is more hyped today than Glen Powell. With several recent successes, includingTop Gun: Maverick,Anyone but You, andTwisters, Powell has proved that he’s equally comfortable with beloved franchises, classic rom-coms, and even big-budget disaster movies. While it feels like Powell can do no wrong these days, one challenging role that truly blew all audience expectations away was his portrayal ofGary Johnson in Richard Linklater’s hilarious crime comedyHit Man.
Not only did Powell give an astounding performance in this story of an undercover cop finding love after posing as a hitman, but he also co-wrote the script with Linklater. Through an assortment of secret identity costume changes and by channeling many different characters, Powell proved his leading man potential in this oddly fun film. Without a truly compelling performance at the center of this story the film wouldn’t have worked, and with his role inHit Man, Powell demonstrated to viewers that he could live up to the hype.
Hit Man
Hit Man centers on a mild-mannered professor involved in police sting operations as a fake hit man. His life spirals into chaos when he unexpectedly falls for a potential client, initiating a series of unforeseen complications and dilemmas.
5Nicolas Cage As Longlegs
Longlegs (2024)
Even the most passionate Nicolas Cage enthusiast will admit that his movies can be hit or miss, yet one thing’s for certain: he always gives his all and tries to do something interesting with his characters. However, Cage showcased a new side to his skills with his role as the title character inLonglegs, a creepy serial killer who brought to mind the unnerving power of classic films likeThe Silence of the Lambs. Cage was almost unrecognizable as he wore prosthetics to capture the weird and unnerving presence of this occultist killer.
Longlegswas one of the most surprisingly powerful films of 2024, asCage’s unique appeal made it the highest-grossing independent film of the year(viaVariety), taking in over $127 million. With a disquieting mood and a nightmarish performance, it’s impressive that even after so many decades into his career, Cage can still surprise viewers with something entirely new. As one of the most terrifying fictional serial killers ever captured on screen,Longlegswas a horror highlight for 2024.
Longlegs
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
4Naomi Scott As Skye Riley
Smile 2 (2024)
It’s never easy for a child star to overcome their earliest roles and be taken seriously as an adult actor in Hollywood. This was a challenge faced by Naomi Scott, who starred on the Disney Channel seriesLife Bitesand the teen musicalLemonade Mouth. While Scott had later roles, such as in theCharlie’s Angelsreboot and the live-actionAladdin, it was her standout performance inSmile 2that truly blew viewers away. Scott leaned into her musical past as she played a pop star experiencing disturbing events as she embarked on her tour.
Smile 2was the rare kind of horror sequel that actually lived up to its predecessor, andScott made for a surprisingly engaging protagonist. As a performance that will surely open the door for Scott to become an even bigger name in Hollywood,Smile 2took its clever premise to the absolute extreme as it built to its terrifying conclusion. As a potential hint toward the makings of a brand new Scream Queen, audiences can only hope that Scott continues to appear in more horror movies.
Smile 2
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
3Aubrey Plaza As Wow Platinum
Megalopolis (2024)
When news broke that Francis Ford Coppola was self-funding his long-standing passion projectMegalopolisand spent over $120 million of his own money to get it made, it was impossible to know what the results would be. With a stacked cast that included Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jon Voight, the results felt like they could go either way. However,the addition of Aubrey Plaza was a good sign, yet nobody was prepared for her portrayal of Wow Platinum to be the best thing about the movie.
Plaza, along with Shia LaBeouf as Clodio Pulcher, added much-needed energy and humor toMegalopolisthat helped add to the unique nature of Coppola’s vision. While many cinephiles will argue about whether Coppola managed to pull off his magnum opus or if this was just one in a long list of disappointing disasters for the filmmaker, one thing is for certain: Plaza gave a standout performance. Wow Platinum was a fascinating twist on movie femme fatales whose role as a ruthlessly ambitious TV presenter was perfectly suited to Plaza’s dry wit and unconventional charisma.
Megalopolis
Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect’s utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.
2Jeremy Strong As Roy Cohn
The Apprentice (2024)
Making a biographical drama about the early years of future US president Donald Trump was always going to be a divisive decision as it was released in the midst of his presidential campaign. While Trump himself came out to disavow the film as a “defamatory, politically disgusting hatchet job,” (viaGuardian) one thing nobody could deny was that Jeremy Strong gave a truly incredible performance as Roy Cohen. WhileThe Apprenticefocused on Trump’s transformation into a ruthless businessman, Cohen was portrayed as the man behind the man, quietly pulling the strings and influencing his uncompromising rise in the world of New York real estate.
While audiences already knew Strong could give a good performance, as his portrayal of Kendall Roy onSuccessionmade him a household name, the accuracy with which he captured Cohen was truly eerie. Strong lost himself in the role of Cohen, and he acted as a dark mirror to the more bombastic and over-the-top characterization of Sebastian Stan’s Trump.The Apprenticemay have been a controversial movie, butStrong deserves praise for giving a truly astounding performance.
The Apprentice
The Apprentice depicts a young Donald Trump in 1970s New York, highlighting his formative relationship with Roy Cohn, a ruthless attorney. As Trump seeks to establish his own legacy, Cohn identifies him as an ideal protégé, drawn to his ambition and determination to succeed at any cost.
1Mikey Madison As Anora “Ani” Mikheeva
Anora (2024)
While director Sean Baker has made some great movies with great performances in recent years, likeTangerineandThe Florida Project, Mikey Madison truly blew all expectations away with her role inAnora. From her breakout performance in the FX sitcomBetter Thingsto smaller roles like Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, Madison has been quietly building up her reputation these last few years. WithAnora,Madison has truly broken through as a leading lady of impeccable talent, and she’s deservedly picked up a Golden Globe for her performance.
Anoratells the story of a young sex worker who becomes involved with the son of a Russian oligarch in a comedy-drama that is tense, gripping, and oddly emotional. After getting married in Las Vegas, the well-connected Russian family attempted to have the marriage quickly annulled with the help of their hapless Russian henchmen. Madison brought pathos and emotion to the role of Ani as the complex sadness of love and misunderstanding amid the expectations of sex work came to the forefront.
Anora
Anora’s life takes a dramatic twist when she impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, catapulting her from the streets of Brooklyn to a world of opulence and scrutiny. As her new in-laws arrive with plans to dismantle the hasty union, Anora must navigate the cultural and social chasms between her past and her present. The film, directed by Sean Baker, masterfully blends sharp social commentary with heartfelt drama, painting a vivid picture of love, identity, and the unexpected consequences of a fairytale gone awry.
