This year's Academy Awards are just a few weeks away, meaning before we know it we'll have four actors added to the history books. Some of the races seem to be a lot tighter than in years past, thanks in large part to how strong of an acting lineup we have this time around. Of the 20 performances nominated I love pretty much all of them, so I thought it would be a fun challenge to rank all of them. As is the case with anything in the arts, this is a very subjective list, so if I put a performance you love near the bottom or one you hate near the top, that's a-okay.
#20 - Kate Hudson: Song Sung Blue
There really isn't a bad performance amongst the nominees this year, but if there is an elephant in the room it would probably be Kate Hudson. Hudson is good in Song Sung Blue, but that's the issue. She delivers a good performance among a group of nominations (especially in the leading actress category) that range from great to incredible. She's perfectly solid as the real life Claire Sardina, but it's a performance that feels familiar and safe in a film that operates about as by the numbers as possible. Whether it be Amanda Seyfried or Chase Infiniti, there were plenty of more deserving performances that could have taken the fifth slot, although it is nice to see Hudson finally recognized by the Academy.
#19 - Elle Fanning: Sentimental Value
I love Elle Fanning in Sentimental Value, that's just how good this crop of nominees is. As fictional actress Rachel Kemp, Fanning beautifully portrays a star looking to make something meaningful but just not connecting with the material and filmmaker. She starts the film with a fierce confidence, and the way she brings the insecurity of feeling like she doesn't belong in the role is a clear highlight of the performance. I'm beyond glad Fanning was nominated, and it was absolutely earned, she largely falls on this list because of how strong the performances around her are, whether that be in the supporting actress category or in the film itself, where she does feel somewhat outside of the familiar drama that the film focuses on.
#18 - Sean Penn: One Battle After Another
It looks as though Penn may be the frontrunner going into Oscar weekend, and it's pretty easy to see why. His performance as the antagonistic Lockjaw in One Battle After Another gave us one of 2025's best villains, and Penn's intensity is a big part of why the role works so well. He ranks lower here because I think on the whole I'm just not the biggest Penn fan, and frankly I don't see any need to give him a third Oscar. His performance is great but is just one of a handful of terrific performances in the film including one in the same category that I think would be a better winner.
#17 - Wunmi Mosaku: Sinners
Early in the Awards season I was shocked that Mosaku wasn't getting much love. Michael B. Jordan is obviously the highlight of the Sinners cast, but Mosaku's Annie is one of the film's key supporting characters and she brings a heart to the film that I find crucial. Amidst a genre film with huge spectacle, she manages to steal scenes constantly and at some points outshine her costars. I do think that she becomes a bit underutilized, and Annie is a big piece of one scene that doesn't quite work for me, but I'm thrilled that the tides shifted and Mosaku managed to score a nomination.
#16 - Jacob Elordi: Frankenstein
When I first saw Frankenstein I never would have expected an Oscar nomination for Elordi, then he snuck in at the Critics Choice which made it feel possible, only to win and make an Oscar nom feel almost guaranteed. With a second watch I've grown to appreciate Elordi's performance a lot more. The Monster is a tough character to play, a role filled with physicality and complex emotions. Elordi's stature alone makes him fit these shoes well, but the way he manages to portray the softer sides of the character without much dialogue is quite beautiful. The film leans heavily into the sympathetic side of the character, but Elordi also manages the brutal side of the character remarkably well, giving us a monster to both care for and fear.
#15 - Delroy Lindo: Sinners
Despite him taking what appeared to be Paul Mescal's slot in the nominations, I could not have been more excited to see Delroy Lindo's name on Oscar nominations morning. While other performances have greater runtimes in Sinners, Lindo's performance was easily among my favourites. He brings a grizzled life full of experience to a largely young cast, and his comedic sensibilities make for some terrific moments of levity in a largely tense film. I loved the dynamic between him and the film's newcomer Miles Caton, but really it's the steadying presence he has as a veteran performer that make this a performance I love.
#14 - Teyana Taylor: One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor's firecracker of a performance is one of the biggest highlights of One Battle After Another's first act. Acting alongside seasoned vets like Leonardo Dicaprio, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall, Taylor commands the screen whenever she appears. The power dynamic between her and Penn is fascinating, and the strength and confidence in her performance is a big reason why it works. The biggest thing going against Taylor is her level of involvement as the film goes on. She is prevalent in the first act but then disappears until the very end, so while she is crucial to the film early on, her performance isn't the one I think about by the time the credits roll.
#13 - Leonardo Dicaprio: One Battle After Another
Honestly, put another actor in the role and it may rank higher, not because Leo didn't do a great job, but just because of how much of an icon he is. This is up there with some of his best performances, but it is hard at times to see the character rather than Dicaprio himself. He also falls victim to being part of an incredible ensemble, so of the lead actor nominees he's the one that feels like less of a focus than the others. Regardless, Leo is incredible in this one, taking on the stoner dad/revolutionary role with some of the best comedic work of his career. Some of the film's best moments come through Dicaprio's frustrated rambling, so even amidst a huge ensemble I think his performance still manages to shine.
#12 - Wagner Moura: The Secret Agent
This is back to back years where we've seen powerhouse performances in Brazilian Best Picture nominees. Fernanda Torres was a huge breakout of last year's award circuit, and now Wagner Moura is the one being praised for his turn in The Secret Agent. While the film can be tough to digest due to how seeped in Brazilian political history it is, there's no denying the clear strength of Moura in the leading role. This is a near three hour long movie that Moura manages to carry on his back despite how hard it can be to fully understand the film's context, and the way he commands scene after scene is just remarkable to behold. On a second watch this is a performance I could easily see myself bumping up.
#11 - Rose Byrne: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
This is another performance I can easily see myself enjoying even more on another watch. Regardless, Rose Byrne is outstanding in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. This is as stressful of a movie as you can find, and a lot of that hinges on Byrne's ability to lean into the insanity of everything going on around her. A large part of why the film works is in its ability to balance that tension with some genuinely hilarious moments, and Byrne's comedic timing is marvelous (especially in the hamster scene). When a movie is as exhausting (in a good way) to watch as this one is, I can only imagine how exhausting it would be to make, so Byrne's performance deserves every ounce of praise it has received.
#10 - Emma Stone: Bugonia
Is there a current director-actor duo more iconic than Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone? I doubt it. Even when Bugonia seemed to be falling out of the Oscar race Stone seemed like a no doubt nominee, and now the film sits with three additional nominations including Best Picture. I love Stone in everything she does, but what really makes this performance stand out for me is the way in which she keeps the audience guessing. I spent the film's entire run time bouncing back and forth between whether I thought she was an alien or not, and that's thanks to how confidently Stone shifts from denying to agreeing. Jesse Plemons is also fantastic, but the power that Stone brings really sells the film, one of the best performances in a career full of remarkable work.
#9 - Benicio del Toro: One Battler After Another
I may be wrong, but I believe Benicio has the lowest screen-time of any nominee this year. Do I care? Not one bit. In an extremely limited amount of time he takes Sensei from a side character to one of the clear highlights of the movie. The way this character is written is just perfect, and del Toro's sensibilities as an actor make a beautifully written character one that you truly can't help but love. Whether it be the "no fear" scene or the now iconic "few small beers" line, you simply can't think of One Battle After Another without thinking of del Toro. Even aside from the great comedic moments, he offers a great supporting role beside Dicaprio. This is a shining example of an actor making the absolute most of their time on screen, hands down one of my favourite performances of the year.
#8 - Stellan Skarsgard: Senimental Value
I have a feeling that Sean Penn will wind up winning the Oscar, but my pick is no doubt Stellan Skarsgard. It's a fascinating role for him to take, playing a filmmaker who has struggled to find balance between his work and his family. I obviously can't speak to how close to reality this was for him, but I think what makes this performance so special is how much you care for him. As an absentee father he would be such an easy character to hate, but Skarsgard's charm alongside Joachim Trier's affinity for complex characters craft someone that you can clearly see the flaws of but can't help but empathize with.
#7 - Michael B. Jordan: Sinners
If you asked me a month ago I'd say Michael B. Jordan had the lowest chance of winning on Sunday, but after his surprise SAG win and the surge of support for Sinners, it feels pretty possible. Amidst the mass success of Sinners I think we actually undervalue just how strong Jordan's performance is. Taking on a dual role is tough enough on its own, but the way Jordan manages to craft two completely different characters is an astonishing feat. Smoke and Stack may look the same, but you know exactly which one is which through the film's runtime thanks to how Jordan gives each one different ticks and mannerisms. Even if he was just playing one role this would be incredible work, but to play two characters this well is frankly insane.
#6 - Timothee Chalamet: Marty Supreme
It seems Chalamet may be getting in his own way now, as his recent actions have soured many on him as this year's Oscar winner. Nothing he can say about the opera does anything to limit how great this performance is though, as he is truly special in Marty Supreme. Josh Safdie is as chaotic and stressful of a filmmaker as we see nowadays, and Chalamet manages to carry the film through all the messiness of Marty's constantly poor decisions. Similar to Skarsgard, this is a character that should be easy to hate, but the way Chalamet commands the screen with a blend of confidence and an almost sad blindness to his own ego make you root for him despite Marty being a pretty crummy guy. Like him or not, Chalamet is one of the best working today, and this may be his crowning achievement.
#5 - Amy Madigan: Weapons
There's no performance here, or perhaps in all of 2025, that will have a bigger impact on the future of Halloween costumes quite like Amy Madigan in Weapons. Hidden beneath the mysterious marketing of Weapons was one of the best horror villains of the past decade, performed to over the top brilliance by Amy Madigan. Aunt Gladys is the kind of character that will have you laughing one moment and then terrified the next, thanks largely to the calm demeanor Madigan brings to her more serious moments. Her look immediately throws you off, but that mix of vicious villain and kooky old lady make her someone you can't forget. Just an all around iconic performance.
#4 - Inga Ibsdotter Lilleas: Sentimental Value
While there is another Sentimental Value actor I have ranked higher here, I truly believe Inga Ibsdotter Lilleas is the real heart of the film. She essentially plays the middle man between her father (Skarsgard) and her sister (Renate Reinsve), towing the difficult line of still wanting her father to be a part of her life while her sister sees him as a bit of a lost cause. Lilleas is hilarious in some moments, but it's the film's big emotional moments where she shines the most, offering a beacon of light in a storm of emotions. As the lone member of the family trio not tied to the arts world, she also brings a humility to the film that grounds the tense family drama. This is a much quieter performance than what we see from Madigan or Taylor, but Lilleas brings a remarkable sense of comfort that makes her work here quite special.
#3 - Ethan Hawke: Blue Moon
He probably has the lowest chance of winning, but Ethan Hawke gave my personal favourite performance of the leading actor nominees. As the real life Lorenz Hart, Hawke essentially gets to ramble for the film's entire runtime. He and Linklater have made a name for themselves for work that largely features characters hanging out and talking, and here Hawke gets the chance to relish in some of Linklater's greatest dialogue. Aside from the fun quippiness of Hawke's portrayal of the somewhat flamboyant Hart, there's also a brilliant sense of jealousy in this role that really sells it for me. Hart is a sad character, one that will go on a negative rant about his old partner's new work only to their ass in hopes to reunite. Hawke is just great here, transforming himself fully into the role and carrying the film for its entirety.
#2 - Renate Reinsve: Sentimental Value
In pretty much any other year, this would be my number one, but one performance ranks higher for me. That is no detriment to Reinsve though, her work in Sentimental Value is honestly astounding. I first saw Reinsve in Joachim Trier's last film The Worst Person in the World, which has since become one of my all time favourites. Performance wise this is somehow a step up from her already incredible work there. As she is playing an actress here, there's a grandness in her performance that commands the screen. What struck me the most though is the quiet pain she exudes throughout. This is a character struggling through depression but not necessarily making it known, similar to Paul Mescal's performance in Aftersun. She rarely says anything about what she has going on, but she lets the smallest trickles of sadness seep through her confident exterior. One thing I adore with this performance is the patience Reinsve has, often looking as though she is thinking of what to say next, thus making serious emotional moments feel more authentic. Reinsve is a superstar, and this performance hit me hard.
#1 - Jessie Buckley: Hamnet
Narrowly taking my top spot and almost certainly taking home an Oscar this weekend is another of my favourite actors working today, the magnificent Jessie Buckley. Buckley's career is filled with great work, but her leading role in Hamnet is simply one of one. The first half of the film sees her as a love interest and a mother, putting her character's uniqueness and unflinching kindness at the story's forefront. After the big shift happens midway through the film though, this becomes one of the most visceral depictions of grief I've ever seen. It's a loud performance, but one that punches you in the gut with Buckley's rawness. She throws every bit of herself into this role and the end result is truly crushing, but she also manages to be a light of hope in the film's stunning conclusion. Buckley is truly unforgettable in this movie, a performance for the ages and one that should be immortalized on Sunday.
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