Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the best performances of 2023 with what may be the strongest category of the bunch – Lead Actor. It’s a group filled with exciting contenders, and (once again) it was a tough one to narrow down to only five. But that’s how these silly lists work so let’s get to it. Here are my five favorite Lead Actor performances along with some worthy honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions:

Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Benicio del Toro (“Reptile”), Adam Driver (“Ferrari”), Denzel Washington (“The Equalizer 3”), Michael Fassbender (“The Killer”), Zac Efron (“The Iron Claw”), Jason Schwartzman (“Asteroid City”), Joel Edgerton (“Master Gardener”), Jorma Tommila (“Sisu”), Keanu Reeves (“John Wick: Chapter 4”), Willem Dafoe (“Inside”), Tony Leung (“Hidden Blade”), Anthony Hopkins (“Freud’s Last Session”), Enzo Vogrincic Roldán (“Society of the Snow”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Napoleon”), David Strathairn (“A Little Prayer”), Tom Cruise (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”), Nicolas Cage (“Dream Scenario”)

#5 – Callum Turner (“The Boys in the Boat”)

One of the most surprising performances of the year came in one of the most surprising movies of the year – Callum Turner in George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat”. For my money not enough people are talking about his strong and inspiring lead turn. It’s a breakout performance that sees Turner working at another level, bringing both grit and heart to the film’s remarkable true story. I was really drawn to this movie and Turner is a key reason for it.

#4 – Jeffery Wright (“American Fiction”)

It’s great seeing more people talking about Jeffrey Wright. It’s something that should’ve been happening for a while but is now unavoidable thanks to his outstanding performance in “American Fiction”. He’s the glue that holds this smart but at times frustrating film together. As cliche as it is to say, Wright tends to make every movie he’s in better. His latest is yet another testament to that truth. Please give him more meaty roles like this.

#3 – Mads Mikkelsen (“The Promised Land”)

It’s quite possible that Mads Mikkelsen is the sturdiest and most consistent actor working today. He’s always good which is why it’s no surprise that he again delivers in the terrific period epic “The Promised Land”. This is a tough character to portray yet it seems like a role custom-made for Mikkelsen’s many strengths. He’s steely and stoic and few can say as much through an ice cold, granite-hard stare as the 58-year-old Dane.

#2 – Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”)

Now here’s a performance that was an instant “Best of the Year” contender. Paul Giamatti is an actor whose brilliance is too often overlooked. Hopefully people are realizing that after seeing him in Alexander Payne’s fantastic “The Holdovers”. He gives us a character who can be interesting, funny, infuriating, and sympathetic, sometimes at the same time. Giamatti fits so perfectly into the role and he deserves all the accolades he has received so far.

#1 – Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”)

If there ever was an actor who deserved a starring role as rich and meaty as this it’s Cillian Murphy. He gets the material of a lifetime in “Oppenheimer”, the spellbinding latest film from Christopher Nolan. The acclaimed filmmaker certainly picked the right guy to play the theoretical physicist who oversaw The Manhattan Project. Murphy is magnetic, capturing the brilliance and complexity of J. Robert Oppenheimer with startling clarity. It’s a masterclass performance and my very favorite of the year.

And that wraps up another celebration the best performances of the year. Thanks for following along. I’d love to hear what would have made your list in the comments section below.