The Best Film Performances of 2025

When choosing the best film performances of the year, I decided to highlight only one actor per movie. Even with that rule, I still couldn’t find space for anyone from Sentimental Value, despite being completely captivated by the entire cast – Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. I also didn’t include Emma Stone or Jesse Plemons, who delivered incredible performances in a tense and gripping Bugonia. And despite their strong work, George Clooney, Adam Sandler, and Billy Crudup – as the complex and troubled friends of Jay Kelly – were left off the list, hoping for recognition from the Academy instead.






