List of Best Performances

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Last Updated: 4/29/26
Note: Each thespian has a list of films that s/he gave his best performances in. The number varies as according to her or his body of work. It's based on what I have seen so far. There may be honorable mentions in that order.

Multiple parts (i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the narrative. Miniseries and telefilms are fair game, but documentaries are excluded. These films have made the cut when I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic scenes and/or lines, cinematic power, and timelessness.

If a thespian is missing, it's because I haven't seen enough films to make an accurate judgment or there aren't many great performances out of her or him to warrant a list.



  1. Tom Berenger
  2. Marlon Brando
  3. Richard Burton
  4. Tony Curtis
  5. Daniel Day-Lewis
  6. Robert De Niro
  7. James Dean
  8. Johnny Depp
  9. Matt Dillon
  10. James Garner
  11. Samuel L. Jackson
  12. Val Kilmer
  13. Burt Lancaster
  14. Ray Liotta
  15. Steve McQueen
  16. Al Pacino
  17. Robert Redford
  18. Eric Roberts
  19. Mickey Rourke
  20. Tom Sizemore
  21. Sylvester Stallone
  22. James Stewart
  23. Patrick Swayze
  24. Denzel Washington