2024 was a big year for movies and TV shows, with many skilled actors proving once again that they're some of the most important performers of the decade. While there are plenty of actors who have long since had their breakout roles and are veterans of the industry, there are just as many who are carving out their niche in film and television. Though having a good 2024 doesn't necessarily mean that the coming years will be as successful, it's difficult to imagine that these stars will fade in the coming years thanks to their newly minted legacies.
Whether they were in one of the best indie movies of 2024 or a recording-breaking blockbuster, these actors made their mark in movies and television this year. For some, their biggest projects were only released within the last few weeks, but even this was enough to elevate their relevance, especially with awards season coming up. However, the number of awards, viewers, or tickets sold at the box office aren't the only metrics by which these actors should be judged. It's their immersive and arresting performances that left audiences speechless.
10 Glen Powell
Known for Twisters (2024)
It's fair to say that Glen Powell hasn't just had a good 2024 but has been on an amazing streak since his performance in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. While 2023 saw Powell show new sides of himself in Hit Man and Anyone But You, his blockbuster success in Twisters cemented him as one of the biggest stars of the 2020s so far. The box office proves that Powell is a huge draw in theaters, but the movie's financial success isn't the only reason that Powell is heading into 2025 with a great record.
Whatever he does in 2025 is sure to attract a large audience.
While playing Tyler, the twister-wrangling cowboy in Twisters, Powell is a charismatic star of old, but it's in the smaller, quiet moments that Powell proves what a nuanced actor he is. There's no question that Powell will continue being cast in huge films, but he has the ability to carry emotional moments as successfully as epic action sequences. Whatever he does in 2025 is sure to attract a large audience.
Twisters
- Release Date
- July 19, 2024
- Runtime
- 117 Minutes
- Director
- Lee Isaac Chung
WHERE TO WATCH
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
- Writers
- Mark L. Smith, Joseph Kosinski, Michael Crichton, Anne-Marie Martin
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Twisters (2024) |
75% |
90% |
9 Ella Purnell
Known for Fallout (2024–)
Fallout wasn't just one of the best Prime Video TV shows of 2024 but is considered one of the strongest new series regardless of genre and streaming service. Luckily for audiences, Fallout wasn't Ella Purnell's only stellar TV series of 2024, as the thriller series Sweetpea showcased a darker side of Purnell for viewers to sink their teeth into. However, Fallout was Purnell's biggest contribution to film and television in 2024, as her character, Lucy, anchors the series and provides a clear emotional heart to the bloody narrative.
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Purnell has been acting for a long time, but she's gained notoriety in the past few years thanks to her performance in Yellowjackets and her voice work in Arcane. However, Fallout has opened exciting new doors for Purnell, as the video game series was a crossover hit with many different audiences. Since Fallout is likely to get several more seasons, considering its popularity and the many installments of the game, Purnell isn't fading from the spotlight anytime soon.
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Fallout
- Release Date
- April 10, 2024
- Showrunner
- Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
- Writers
- Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
Cast
Lucy MacLean
Aaron MotenMaximus
WHERE TO WATCH
Set 200 years after an apocalypse, Fallout follows residents of luxury shelters as they re-enter a post-nuclear world. Confronted with a bizarre and violent landscape, the series explores the stark contrasts between their sheltered existence and the harsh realities of the outside universe.
- Franchise(s)
- Fallout
- Creator(s)
- Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Fallout (2024–) |
94% |
90% |
8 Paul Mescal
Known for Gladiator II (2024)
Though Paul Mescal's press tour for Gladiator II drew lots of attention, the movie itself is the most exciting part of Mescal's 2024. Ever since Normal People was released in 2020, Mescal has been an actor to watch, and this steady rise to fame seems to have culminated in his star-making performance in Gladiator II. Though Mescal is better known for his more intimate turns in independent cinema, he retains his arresting presence in Gladiator II, even if it takes on a more bombastic attitude.
With many projects on deck for the coming years, there will be plenty of additions to Mescal's incredible track record.
Of course, Mescal isn't the only reason audiences were clamoring for Gladiator II, as the long-awaited sequel had a built-in fanbase, and there were many other incredible veteran actors in the project. However, Mescal's performance is a joy to watch onscreen and helps provide emotional nuance to the action-packed movie. With many projects on deck for the coming years, there will be plenty of additions to Mescal's incredible track record.
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Gladiator II
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 148 minutes
- Director
- Ridley Scott
Cast
Lucius Verus
Marcus Acacius
WHERE TO WATCH
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott's award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
- Writers
- David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni
- Studio(s)
- Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Gladiator II (2024) |
80% |
87% |
7 Zendaya
Known for Challengers (2024)
The phenomenal trio that led Challengers, Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist, are all notable actors of 2024, but Zendaya particularly distinguished herself this year. Before Challengers premiered, Dune 2 hit theaters, and audiences saw more of Zendaya's Chani, giving her a lot more to do and allowing her to play off Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides. Though there have been very few recent years that haven't featured a great performance from Zendaya, 2024 displayed the actor's many sides.
Zendaya's performance as Tashi in Challengers has already earned her a nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. Though the competition is fierce within this category this year, it's likely that this won't be the last nomination Zendaya receives before awards season is over. In the coming years, the next season of Euphoria will see a return of Zendaya's Rue, though her film roles have been more significant in recent years.
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Challengers
- Release Date
- April 26, 2024
- Runtime
- 131 Minutes
- Director
- Luca Guadagnino
WHERE TO WATCH
Challengers follows tennis player-turned-coach Tashi as she transforms her husband Art into a Grand Slam champion. To revitalize his career, she enters him in a lower-tier tournament where he confronts his past, facing both his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.
- Writers
- Justin Kuritzkes
- Studio(s)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pascal Pictures
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Challengers (2024) |
88% |
74% |
6 Jenna Ortega
Known for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
There's a lot to look forward to in 2025 for Jenna Ortega, but a large part of this is due to Ortega's amazing year in 2024. After the success of Netflix's Wednesday, Ortega has slowly been gaining more notoriety within film and television, and her recent collaboration with Tim Burton has only increased her name recognition. The blockbuster horror-comedy sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, has further cemented the deadpan humor and gothic influences that are apparent in much of Ortega's work.
Though her more horror-oriented works have been the most popular, Ortega has proven that she can hold her own in a variety of genres.
The next season of Wednesday is regarded as one of the most anticipated fantasy TV shows of 2025. Though the TV series was already a hit, Ortega's turn in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has only increased interest in the second season. Ortega was also featured in Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste" music video and starred in the controversial Miller's Girl alongside Martin Freeman. Though her more horror-oriented works have been the most popular, Ortega has proven that she can hold her own in a variety of genres.
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Release Date
- September 6, 2024
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
- Director
- Tim Burton
Cast
Beetlejuice
Lydia Deetz
WHERE TO WATCH
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now ed by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
- Writers
- Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Mike Vukadinovich, Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson
- Studio(s)
- KatzSmith Productions, Tim Burton Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, Plan B Entertainment
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Beetlejuice Beeltejuice (2024) |
76% |
79% |
5 Timothée Chalamet
Known for A Complete Unknown (2024)
Though A Complete Unknown has only recently hit theaters, Timothée Chalamet's performance as Bob Dylan is already generating enough Oscar buzz to make it seem almost certain the actor will clean up this awards season. Of course, Chalamet also had a stellar first half of 2024 with Dune 2, the second installment of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic. While Paul Atreides and Bob Dylan don't have much in common, Chalamet is as undeniably believable and striking in each role.
Even if Chalamet doesn't win every accolade in the coming awards season, this won't take away the fact that his performance in A Complete Unknown has sparked an exciting shift in his career. While there's been little argument about his acting ability since his breakout role in Call Me By Your Name, his transformation into Bob Dylan has reinforced that Chalamet is one of the only true movie stars of his generation. He's a star not just because of his performances but because of the projects he takes on.
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A Complete Unknown
- Release Date
- December 25, 2024
- Runtime
- 140 minutes
- Director
- James Mangold
Cast
Bob Dylan
Pete Seeger
WHERE TO WATCH
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
- Writers
- Jay Cocks, James Mangold
- Studio(s)
- Searchlight Pictures, The Picture Company, Automatik Entertainment
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
A Complete Unknown (2024) |
78% |
96% |
4 David Jonsson
Known for Alien: Romulus (2024)
David Jonsson has been steadily working and honing his already fantastic acting abilities in the past several years. However, for some audiences, their introduction to the actor came this year in Alien: Romulus. With early experiences on the stage in theatrical productions and a smaller role in the TV series Industry, Jonsson's name is already well known in the UK, but Alien: Romulus has helped bring him into the international arena. In 2023, in his rom-com Rye Lane, Jonsson gave a sweet and compelling performance that starkly contrasts his turn in Alien: Romulus.
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As Andy, an android in Alien: Romulus, Jonsson is a great foil to Cailee Spaeny, another performer who had a strong 2024. However, Jonsson stood out in Alien: Romulus, consistently stealing every scene he was in. He was also part of the ensemble cast of the lesser-known film Bonhoeffer, which came out this year. In 2025 and the rest of the 2020s, audiences should expect to see more of Jonsson as he seamlessly transforms into every character he plays, making him a versatile performer.
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Alien: Romulus
- Release Date
- August 16, 2024
- Runtime
- 119 Minutes
- Director
- Fede Alvarez
Cast
Rain
Andy
WHERE TO WATCH
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
- Writers
- Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett
- Franchise(s)
- Alien
- Studio(s)
- Scott Free Productions, 20th Century
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Alien: Romulus (2024) |
80% |
85% |
3 Nicola Coughlan
Known for Bridgerton (2020–)
Nicola Coughlan's comedic abilities have been apparent since Derry Girls premiered in 2018, but 2024 is when audiences everywhere fell in love with Coughlan. Though she's been playing Penelope in Bridgerton since 2020, Bridgerton season 3 was Penelope's year to take center stage and make waves on television thanks to Coughlan's expert performance. Bridgerton has consistently been a hit for Netflix, and season 3 was no exception, but Coughlan also lent her skills to the smaller TV series Big Mood.
However, Coughlan was no less memorable in Big Mood, which allowed her to flex her comedic muscles and play a more mature character than in Bridgerton. Additionally, just under the wire, Coughlan ed Ncuti Gatwa in 2024's Doctor Who Christmas Special as Joy, the Doctor's companion, if only for one episode. Though Coughlan has typically taken on roles routed in reality, her turn in the beloved sci-fi series was a strong note to go out on after her stellar 2024.
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Bridgerton
- Release Date
- December 25, 2020
- Directors
- Tom Verica, Tricia Brock
- Writers
- Julia Quinn, Chris Van Dusen, Jess Brownell, Abby McDonald, Joy C. Mitchell
Cast
Rege-Jean Page
WHERE TO WATCH
From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, sca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.
- Creator(s)
- Chris Van Dusen
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Bridgerton (2020–) |
84% |
75% |
2 Cynthia Erivo
Known for Wicked (2024)
After years of being one of the most astounding musical theater performances of the 21st century, Cynthia Erivo led the movie musical adaptation of Wicked as Elphaba. Though this is far from the first time that Erivo has lent her skills to the screen, as she starred in Harriet in 2019 and the miniseries The Outside in 2020, Wicked is Erivo's most prominent role in film and TV to date. Elphaba is a notoriously difficult and high-pressure role, but watching Erivo perform would make audiences believe that there's nothing easier than belting out the moving songs.
The Wicked press tour that's so prominently featured both Erivo and Ariana Grande has built a legacy of its own outside of Wicked.
Of course, the Wicked press tour that's so prominently featured both Erivo and Ariana Grande has built a legacy of its own outside of Wicked. However, for all the meme-able moments that have come out of these interviews, this doesn't undermine the fact that Erivo gave a performance of a lifetime, and it was only the first half of the story. The wait for her return in Wicked: For Good will be agonizing, but it's certain that Erivo will be just as iconic in part two.
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Wicked
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 160 Minutes
- Director
- Jon M. Chu
Cast
Cynthia ErivoElphaba Thropp
Glinda Upland
WHERE TO WATCH
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
- Writers
- Gregory Maguire, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, L. Frank Baum
- Studio(s)
- Marc Platt Productions
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Wicked (2024) |
88% |
95% |
1 Mikey Madison
Known for Anora (2024)
Sean Baker's latest exploration into a new niche of the American working class, Anora, has catapulted Mikey Madison to fame. Her early work on the TV series Better Things is how most audiences knew the actor before Anora, but the new movie has successfully become the biggest hit of her career. Though Madison is only 25, she demonstrates a maturity and understanding of her craft that most performers work their entire lives to achieve.
While her part in Lady in the Lake pales in comparison to her work in Anora, Madison was also featured in this thriller miniseries alongside Natalie Portman. It's likely that the future holds more prominent movie roles for Madison, especially if she continues earning nominations for her work in Anora. Already, Madison has clinched a Golden Globe nomination, and critics and viewers expect to see many more coming her way. What Madison does next will come to define the kind of actor she wants to become.
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Anora's life takes a dramatic twist when she impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, catapulting her from the streets of Brooklyn to a world of opulence and scrutiny. As her new in-laws arrive with plans to dismantle the hasty union, Anora must navigate the cultural and social chasms between her past and her present. The film, directed by Sean Baker, masterfully blends sharp social commentary with heartfelt drama, painting a vivid picture of love, identity, and the unexpected consequences of a fairytale gone awry.
- Writers
- Sean Baker
- Studio(s)
- Cre Film, FilmNation Entertainment
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Anora (2024) |
95% |
90% |
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