Top 30 Best Performances of the Century (So Far) 

Which of these performances stays with you to this day? Let us know in the comments below! For more content like this, click here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9N4ipxKJfII.html Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

Jake Gyllenhaal is criminally underrated.

Heath Ledger does a near-pitch-perfect performance as the criminal mastermind of The Joker. He completely deserved that posthumous Oscar for supporting actor.

Jesse Eisenberg is the same character in every movie.

I’ll never get over how incredible Heath Ledger did as Joker.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Django Unchained needs to be on here, him just carrying on his role after cutting his hand is just outstanding

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds was a performance by perfection!!! He's the only one in Hollywood that smoked Brad Pitt on screen in a movie. Just my opinion!!! 100/100 Grade A film!!!

Why wasn’t Christian Bale Nominated for an Oscar for American Psycho smh 🤦‍♂️

Roger Ebert said that Charlize Theron's performance was the performance of the century. He was 100% right about that

Denzel is simply phenomenal. The definition of a great actor

Cate Blanchett's TAR is a masterpiece. It will be studied for generations as she gave the performance of the decade. She should be at least Top 3.

Christoph Waltz, Andy Serkis and Heath Ledger are my favourites.

There are so many great actor’s movies. The machinist holy cow

Hereditary is still my best horror movie of all times. Masterpiece

One performance that should’ve been on the list is One Hour Photo . That was such an amazing performance by Robin Williams

Daniel Day-Lewis in there will be blood is the greatest performance of all time imo

*Heath ledger as the Joker is so freakin good. No one can’t top that. RIP heath.*

Florence Pugh in Midsommar is criminally underrated.

I found "The Whale" to be an average movie, but Brendan Fraser's powerful performance really elevated it to extraordinary levels. He definitely deserved the Best Actor Oscar, and made his comeback.

My favourite movie performances have to be: - Interstellar, Matthew McConughey - There Will be Blood, DDL - Tombstone, Val Kilmer - Django, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo Di Caprio - Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner - The Dark Knight, Heath ledger - 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o - Into the Wild, Emile Hirsch - Night Crawler, Jake Gyllenhal - Once Upon a time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt - Prisoners, Hugh Jackman - Pulp Fiction, Samuel L Jackson - Joker, Joaquin Phoenix

I wish that Ellen Burstyn had won "Best Actress" for "Requiem for a Dream." No shade to Julia Roberts, I just found Burstyn more memorable.

There are severals missing here : - Helen Mirren in " The Queen ' . - Marion Cotillard in " La Môme ( La Vie en Rose ) " . - Naomi Watts in " 21 Grams " . - Emma Stone in " Poor Things " . - Gary Oldman in " Darkest Hours " . - Choi Min Sik in " Old Boy " . -

My top 30 : 1 - Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) 2 - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) 3 - Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) 4 - Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) 5 - Cate Blanchett (Tar) 6 - Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love) 7 - Michael Keaton (Birdman) 8 - Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive) 9 - Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia) 10 - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) 11 - Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) 12 - Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) 13 - Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love) 14 - Isabelle Huppert (La Pianiste) 15 - Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) 16 - Song Kang Ho (Memories of Murder) 17 - Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) 18 - Brad Pitt (The Tree of Life) 19 - Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) 20 - Gene Hackman (The Royal Tenenbaums) 21 - Natalie Portman (Black Swann) 22 - Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davies) 23 - Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) 24 - Al Pacino (The Irishman) 25 - Choi Min-Sik (Old Boy) 26 - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator) 27 - Joe Pesci (The Irishman) 28 - Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain) 29 - Michael Fassbender (Shame) 30 - Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York)

Not here to criticize just for the sake of it. But it just feels odd to see Jesse Eisenberg in the list but not Anthony Hopkins or Adrian Brody or Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp.

Edward Norton - fight club performance is so underrated

Cate Blanchett should be at the top of this list at least for Blue Jasmine, Carol, TAR, I'm Not There, and The Aviator.

This list reminds me why I love so movies so much! My favorites are Charlize Theron, Heath Ledger and Toni Collette. I also love Paul Giamatti in "Sideways".

TONI COLLETTE in hereditary is something else ....His performance is so freaking good in the movie.

Edward Norton in Fight Club was just fantastic, definitely an honorable mention

Some of my favorites. Denzel Washington. Training Day and Fences. Viola Davis. Fences and The Help. Octavia Spencer. The Help Charlize Theron. Monster Heath Ledger. The Dark Knight. 🙏

Wow, Joaquin made it on for a roll, but not the one I was expecting. Joker was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen, for both Ledger AND Pheonix.

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! I've got to watch the movies on the list that I have missed. 🤣 2:21 Wow, I would not have recognized her, if I didn't see her name. 🥶

I get that you want to share the recognition around, but DDL's performances as Bill The Butcher and Lincoln were also top 30. Bill probably top 10.

I saw number one from MILES away

Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour. One of the best performances I've seen since Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

I've never been a big fan of Charlize Theron but she played the slowly-going-hysterically-mental wife in Devil's Advocate so well that I couldn't help but be impressed. When I saw her portrayal of Aileen Wournos, I was REALLY impressed. Blown away, even. She had Wournos's mannerisms, speech, walk etc etc down to a perfectly replicated art that some scenes could've actually *_been_* Wournos. Fucking stellar job👌🏻👌🏻.

So happy you posted this in the Oscars 2024

Love seeing Tony Collette so high on the list. Still cannot believe she was not nominated for an Academy Award for that performance. So damn good...

This was a good video 👌🏾

Wooow... no Benicio in Traffic? No way!!

My favorite acting performance this century so far has been Bruno Ganz in Downfall (2004).

I have to say, this is the first time on WatchMojo, that every person that came to my mind with a list-title, is actually in the list.

Eisenberg deffo nailed his role to perfection, mostly because it fit him like a glove since it was almost exactly like most characters he played, but him over: Cassey Affleck in Manchester By The Sea Anthony Hopkins in The Father Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour Danzel Washington in Training Day/Fences Viola Devis in Fences Just feels wrong.

Hugh Jackman in Prisoners. Amazing performance.

The best 2000 performance by far is Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Father deservedly won Best actor

Great list but I would’ve liked to see: Willem Dafoe - At Eternity’s Gate, Alicia Vikander - Ex Machina, Daniel Day-Lewis - Phantom Thread, Denzel Washington - The Tragedy of Macbeth

Alan Rickman as Snape deserves a place in this list

DDL in There Will Be Blood >>>>> Heath Ledger's Joker

Brendan Frasier is awesome. End of comment ❤❤❤

Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Nic Cage, Jack Nicholson and Wllem Dafoe have entered the chat.🙌😉

Very good

Andy HANDS DOWN should've won at least once Oscar by now.

Wow Amazing

Nothing should EVER be higher than Daniel Day Lewis performance in There will be blood.. Period

Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainy's Black Bottom should be on here.

Heath Ledger’s Joker may be the greatest performance and character we ever will be able to watch.

I know Nicolas Cage isn’t always on the “greatest” list, but his performance in both Mandy and Pig were outstanding. Phenomenal performances.

1-Heath Ledger (Dark Knigh) 2-Christopher Waltz (Inglorious Bastards) 3-Christian Bale( American Psycho)

This was a really solid list. I was particularly glad to see Daniel Kaluuya, Carey Mulligan, Ellen Burstyn, and Charlize Theron on the list.

Feel like the whole cast for "Requiem for a Dream could've made the list.

I sometimes wonder, if Ledger knew that he left us all with an iconic performance.

Andy Serkis getting a nod here is so correct, this performance is always overlooked!

Christian Bale is my favorite performanes from this list

Including Toni Colette is brilliant! She is SOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!!

Can't be more happy to see JAKE GYLLENHAAL in top 5 spot .... Can't believe he didn't get a Oscar nomination for Nightcrawler 😟😟

Can't believe Cate Blanchett entered this list with Carol and not Tár. Her portrayal of the fictional conductor is nothing short of a masterpiece.

that depiction of the joker is every thing i needed him to be and more! best comic book film villian performance period!!!!

Sir Ian McKellen's portrayal of Gandalf the Grey in 2001's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is considered as the greatest acting performances of the century and all time, and he should have won an Oscar but ended up being nominated and lost the win to Jim Broadbent for Iris.

18:22 I thought that was Matt Damon 😂

I am sorry but Leonardo Decaprio’s best performance was in Django 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Daniel Day-Lewis as DANIEL PLAINVIEW and Heath Ledger as The JOKER are the equally perfect 10/10 performances of all time.

now they're doing top 30's......

Only 17 of these roles won Oscars. And 5 of the others weren't even nominated.

Leonardo DiCaprio's performances in The Aviator, Shutter Island, Django Unchained and Killers Of The Flower Moon should have been mentioned in this list.

Charlize Theron in monster if my pick for best performance ever! Flawless emotional and raw

YESSIR HEATH LEDGER ON TOP. THE 🐐 PERFORMANCE

Who created the timestamp descriptions? A drunk monkey? Andy Circus, Charlie Theren, Tony Colette! 🤦🏻‍♀️ You’re on top of your game WM!

Casey Affleck for Manchester by the sea and Anthony Hopkins for The Father should be in the list.

Could’ve put Daniel Day Lewis on twice by including Lincoln. Also Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea was amazing.

"If no-one has mentioned it, when the narrator said "Kate Winslet topped herself", that means a very different thing in the UK.

Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa was ranked way too low. Should be in the top 5 best. Also, Cate Blanchett's Lydia Tar should also be in the list. At least top 10 for sure.

Daniel Day Lewis There will be Blood should be number 1

where is Christian Bale "The Fighter"? Cate Blanchet "Blue Jasmine"? Tom Hardy "Bronson"? Day-Lewis "Gangs of NY?" Jack Nicholson "The Departed"? Sean Penn "Milk"? Your picks are good but there some left.

The Pianist.... Adrien Brody???!!!

Who else bawled their eyes out when Wilson got separated from Chuck?

Andy Serkis never even receiving a nomination for an Oscar will always remain as one of the greatest omissions in the history of the Academy. Most bonkers of all is that under the rules of the competitive acting Oscars, there's _never been any prohibition_ on nominating voice and mo-cap actors. It's simply a fundamental failing on the part of AMPAS's internal culture that even now continues to rob truly great actors of the recognition they deserve: for instance, Scarlett Johansson in _Her_ (2013), a simply sublime performance for which she was likewise ignored. Absolutely criminal.

Andy Circus's performance as Gollum is criminally underrated. It should have won best actor, and be top 3 on the list, if not the top spot.

John Goodman in everything he ever did ever, the most present but underrated actor we have.

Where’s Marion cotillard as Edith Piaf?

Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee in The Return of the King! #1 in my opinion

Heres one that few people would even know about, let alone include on this list. It is from a TV miniseries, but so what? In 1985 a Canadian production was made of the classic Lucy Maud Montgomery story Anne of Green Gables. The title role was played by a relative newcomer, Megan Follows. Her performance was flawless and transcendent, and redefined the character for everyone whos seen that show. It has been almost forty years now, and everytime I hear about Anne of Green Gables, Follows persona comes vividly to mind. She played it with such genuine sincerity and humanity that it will stay with you long after watching it. She is a revelation, and great supporting performances were also given by Richard Farnsworth and Colleen Dewhurst as Annes foster parents. You owe this one to yourself.

Daniel Day Lewis should be 3 times on the list. There will be blood, Lincoln and gangs of New York. Joaquin phoenix, two times, joker and the master.

My favorite performance from the movie 1 Timothee Chalamet In Call By Your Name he Performances was so beautiful it harder to see this kid fall in love with a person 2 Margot Robbie In I,Tonya and Babylon, her character in i,Tonya, I don't like but at the sometime I feel bad for her performance in babylon a lot people don't like her performance because big but it works because who wants everybody to Notice her 3 Charles Melton In May December was beautiful and heartbreaking just man who wants everything for his children but wants dose he want 4 Emma Stone In Poor Things, her performance was funny and sometimes heartbreaking 5 Paul Mescal In Aftersun, just who is trying to hide his pain, but it is eating himself alive 6 Andrew Garfield In The Social Network it one of my favorite performances from him who thought about who is doing this with his friends, but his doing with evil person 7 Harris Dickinson In Scrapper, it is just a heartwarming performance 8 Florence Pugh In Midsummer, her performance was fantastic 9 Cillian Murphy In Oppenheimer, this person made a Monster, but sometimes just wanted to give him a hug 10 Denzel Washington Malcolm X this why Malcolm x is a legend 11 Jacob Elordi In Priscilla and Saltburn, show two sides of elvis, a man who lost it just an amazing man who wants to be seen as human beings 12 Barry Keoghan In Killer of a Sacred Deer, his performance was so Crazy and creepy 13 Phillips Seymour Hoffman In Doubt makes you question his character if he did or not 14 Joaquin Phoenix In Her so vulnerable, this is the most underrated performance 15 Austin Butler In Elvis and Dune Part 2, both performances are amazing 16 Cate Blanchett In I'm Not There that show she a characters actor 17 Natalie Portman In Black Swan, her performance shows a girl who wants to be perfect 18 River Phoenix In My Own Private Idaho, he was amazing and showed how great of an actor 19 Christian Bale In American Psycho a crazy guy 20 Saoirse Ronan In Lady Bird, a spoiled little girl, but who realizes that she needs her mom 21 Andrew Scott In All of Us Strangers, his performance was so heartbreaking 22 Benedict cumberbatch In Power Of The Dog, you don't like the character, but you feel bad 23 Aaron Taylor Johnson in Nactural Animals he made me uncomfortable 24 Colin Farrell In Bruges and Banshees of Inisherin, it made me love Colin Farrell as a performance 25 Kelvin Harrison Jr. In Waves I just watched yesterday, i love his performance 26 Robert Pattinson In Lighthouse, just his performance is Wild 27 Phoebe Dynevor In Fair Play Her was my favorite performance from her 28 Diego Calva In Babylon, what a breakout performance 29 Jake Gyllenhaal In Nightcrewler, it was creepy and unusual 30 Leonardo DiCaprio In The Departed, this performance was really stressful for me

Health ledger is awesome as the joker rip 🪦 best role for him

Winslet in Revolutionary Road Affleck in Manchester by the Sea Portman in Black Swan

Nice list. But Mojo, you oughta change the title for 2024. It's pretty glaringly U.S./Anglo-centric--as though few, if any "Best performances" ONLY happen in English by Americans or Brits.

To use the word Century but narrow it down to only American movies is quite unfair.

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler is missing from this list

Charlize Theron is #1, no doubt in my mind. The biggest injustice in this video - remembering that it is a WM video so what else would you expect? - is that while it includes Jamie Foxx, it excludes the performance that should have been the winner that year, Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda. And I would place Cheadle a lot higher up the list than 12. Eisenberg and Bardem dont belong here.

Which performances stay with me? Heath Ledger and Matthew McConnaghey ❤