List of Best Performances

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Last Updated: 7/25/26
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. William Holden
  12. Samuel L. Jackson
  13. Val Kilmer
  14. Burt Lancaster
  15. Ray Liotta
  16. Steve McQueen
  17. Al Pacino
  18. Robert Redford
  19. Eric Roberts
  20. Mickey Rourke
  21. Tom Sizemore
  22. Sylvester Stallone
  23. James Stewart
  24. Patrick Swayze
  25. Denzel Washington