Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the very best performances of 2025 with what could be the strongest category of the bunch – Lead Actor. It’s a group full of worthy performances from exciting newcomers and screen veterans alike. That makes it tough to narrow down to only five. But that’s how these silly lists work so let’s get to it – my five favorite Lead Actor performances from 2025. Let me know what you think.

Honorable Mentions: Will Arnett (“Is This Thing On?”), Dwayne Johnson (“The Smashing Machine”), Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”), Michael Fassbender (“Black Bag”), Guillaume Marbeck (“Nouvelle Vague”), Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”), Oscar Isaac (“Frankenstein”), Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”), Orlando Bloom (“The Cut”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Eddington”), Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”), Denzel Washington (“Highest 2 Lowest”), Hugh Jackman (“Song Sung Blue”), Benicio del Toro (“The Phoenician Scheme”), Paul Walter Hauser (“The Luckiest Man in America”), Matthew McConaughey (“The Lost Bus”), Josh O’Connor (“The Mastermind”), Josh O’Connor (“Wake Up Dead Man”), Billy Magnusson (“Violent Ends”)

#5 – Russell Crowe (“Nuremberg”)

Russell Crowe is handed one of his best roles in years with “Nuremberg” and the Oscar-winner doesn’t disappoint. He’s tasked with playing Nazi commander Hermann Göring during the famous Nuremberg trials of 1946. Crowe plays his role with incredible subtlety and nuance, highlighting Göring’s charm, vanity, and cunning. Crowe has such tight control of his character’s psychology leading to some of the best exchanges put on screen last year.

#4 – Josh O’Connor (“Rebuilding”)

I’m not sure that anyone in the industry had a bigger year than Josh O’Connor. He delivered three phenomenal performances with his very best coming in “Rebuilding”, a quiet yet affecting rural drama from writer-director Max Walker-Silverman. Though understated in the best of ways, O’Connor captures such emotional depth, soulfully navigating the weight of loss and the search for purpose. This was a star-making year for O’Connor and it was his work in “Rebuilding” that fully opened my eyes.

#3 – Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”)

He may have already established himself as one of the most exciting young actors in the business, but Michael B. Jordan still finds ways to impress and surprise audiences. Look no further than “Sinners”, a richly textured Jim Crow-era horror film that sees Jordan brilliantly shining in dual roles. While Ryan Coogler’s incredible vision is essential, the movie simply doesn’t work without Jordan who brings distinct intensity and personality to the story’s two lead characters.

#2 – Joel Edgerton (“Train Dreams”)

Clint Bentley’s sublime “Train Dreams” was the best movie from 2025. While the deft direction, moving script, and breathtaking cinematography are all Oscar-worthy, it’s Joel Edgerton’s sturdy stoicism and gut-wrenching authenticity that firmly centers this soulful story. Underneath his burly exterior is a gentle and soft-spoken man who is able to speak his heart without uttering a word. It’s an unforgettable turn and it’s Edgerton’s best work in a career full of dynamic performances.

#1 – Daniel Day-Lewis (“Anemone”)

It’s sad that “Anemone” came and went without being celebrated the way it deserved to be. Sadly the very same thing can be said for Daniel Day-Lewis’ stunning lead performance. The three-time Oscar-winning actor once again disappears within another richly complex character. It’s a performance fueled by buried trauma and simmering rage. Yet Day-Lewis never loses sight of the humanity at the core of the story. It’s another masterclass from a generation’s best actor.

And that wraps up this year’s look back on the best performances of 2025. What do you think of my Lead Actor picks? Let me know in the comments section below.

20th Century Studios and Disney are bringing “Predator: Badlands” to home video in an impressive new 4K Ultra HD edition. “Badlands” is the third film in the long-running Predator series from director Dan Trachtenberg who continues to breathe new life into the popular franchise. Building on the established lore, Trachtenberg takes some bold new swings in “Badlands” from its location to its protagonist. It results in another action-packed gem that adds layers to this fascinating sci-fi world. Check out my review of the film [HERE].

“Predator: Badlands” is available NOW on VOD. It’s 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD editions will be available to purchase on February 17th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as a list of the special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2025

Runtime: 107 Minutes

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Screenwriter: Patrick Aison

Cast: Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning, Reuben de Jong, Mike Homik, Rohinal Narayan, Cameron Brown, Alison Wright

Rating: R for sequences of strong sci-fi violence

Set in the future on a deadly remote planet, Predator: Badlands follows Dek, a young Predator outcast from his clan, who finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Special Features:

“Predator: Badlands” Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:  

Bonus Features*

• Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary:
  • Sand Trap – An early animatic version of Dek’s very different first encounter with Thia.
  • Squirt Canyon – The full version of Dek and Thia traversing the water-filled trench while trying to survive Genna…and each other.
  • Tessa vs. Abe – Tessa faces off against a superior synth in this deleted scene and storyline.
  • Razor Grass – The original previsualization of Dek, Thia, and Bud’s first hunt together…sort of.
  • The Outpost – Thia takes Dek to a small Weyland-Yutani field facility where they experience a few things that ended up being used elsewhere in the final film.
  • Super Power Loader Extended – Special additional moments during Dek’s climactic final battle with the Super Power Loader and the Kalisk.

• Featurettes:
  • Embodying the Predator – Meet the talented team of designers, performers, and effects artists responsible for bringing one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures to life on screen in ways we’ve never seen before!
  • Authentic Synthetics – Get up close and personal with synths Thia and Tessa as star Elle Fanning walks us through the process of crafting two characters who may look the same but have evolved in surprisingly unique ways.
  • Building the Badlands – With razor sharp grass, killer trees, and terrifying animals, never has a planet been more deadly than Genna. Uncover how a team of artisans built this threatening landscape, transforming real locations into the dangerous environments seen on screen.
  • Dek of the Yautja – For the first time ever, director Dan Trachtenberg has given audiences an extended peek at Predator culture. Follow the evolution as filmmakers reveal the process behind developing the Yautja’s home world, spacecraft, and family dynamics.
• Audio Commentary: Watch the film with audio commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri.

With the top supporting performances of 2025 in the books (you can check out my supporting actor picks [HERE]), today we began the task of looking back at the very best lead performances from last year. We’ll start with lead actress – a category full of incredible and worthy considerations. With so many deserving leading ladies to choose from, narrowing this particular category down to just five choices proved hard. But here they are, along with a few honorable mentions as well.

Honorable Mentions: Emily Bett Rickards (“Queen of the Ring”), June Squibb (“Eleanor the Great”), Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”), Emma Stone (“Bugonia”), Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt”), Sydney Sweeney (“Christy”), Elizabeth Olsen (“Eternity”), Cate Blanchett (“Black Bag”), Diane Lane (“Anniversary”), Vera Farmiga (“The Conjuring: Last Rites”), Ana de Armas (“Ballerina”), Dale Dickey (“The G”), Mia Threapleton (“The Phoenician Scheme”),

#5 – Zoe Saldaña (“Avatar: Fire and Ash”)

Zoe Saldaña follows up her Academy Award winning performance in “Emilia Perez” by returning to a world she knows well. The Avatar films are true technical achievements that are rarely noted for their performances. That’s a shame considering the level of work involved. Saldaña is a shining example. Combining traditional acting with state-of-the-art motion capture, she pours her soul into her latest turn as Neytiri, resulting in one of the best performances of her career.

#4 – Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”)

Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve burst onto the global scene with 2021’s “The Worst Person in the World”. Now she has re-teamed with director Joachim Trier in “Sentimental Value” and once again grabbed the world’s attention. Reinsve’s portrayal of a young woman carrying the weight of her painful childhood is deeply affecting. It’s full of raw emotion, repression, and vulnerability. Reinsve’s authenticity is breathtaking and she’s an essential piece in this superb movie.

#3 – Paula Beer (“Stella. A Life.”)

Perhaps known best for her three terrific collaborations with director Christian Petzold, Paula Beer takes on an especially challenging role in “Stella. A Life.”. Over the course of this compelling Holocaust drama, Beer’s character significantly and tragically transforms, beguiling us with her vivacity and charm until the allure turns to repulsion. Beer both gains our empathy and turns our stomachs via an astonishing performance that’s not to be missed.

#2 – Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”)

Among the bigger surprises of 2025 was Craig Brewer’s rousing and heartfelt “Song Sung Blue”. Kate Hudson was a big reason why. Her crackling chemistry with co-star Hugh Jackman energizes this biographical musical drama that celebrates the songs of Neil Diamond. But it’s the true story’s darker turn that sees Hudson’s performance rise to another level. Whether she’s singing loud or losing herself to crippling depression, Hudson truly shines.

#1 – Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”)

Of the many great lead performances in 2025, none were as devastating as Jessie Buckley’s in “Hamnet”. In portraying Shakespeare’s wife Agnes, Buckley covers a broad array of emotions as she takes her character from the highs of maternal joy to the depths of agonizing grief. At times she comes across as a vibrant force of nature. Other times she seems crushed by the overwhelming weight of loss. It’s all conveyed through an unflinching realism that helps make this a defining performance in Buckley’s career.

That wraps up the lead actress category for 2025. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Let me know in the comments below. And check back tomorrow as we finish up with the lead actors.

Writer-director Michael Sarnoski (“Pig”, “A Quiet Place: Day One”) offer up a grim reimagining of the folklore legend in “The Death of Robin Hood”. Inspired by the early ballads of Robin Hood, Sarnoski’s period thriller sees none other than Hugh Jackman playing the aged thief. The film also stars Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe. The first trailer reveals a dark and moody story that doesn’t shy away from bloody violence. Sign me up.

After being seriously injured in a brutal battle, Robin Hood (Jackman) finds himself being nursed back to health by a mysterious woman (Comer). As he recovers, he begins to reckon with his violent criminal past. And as feelings of regret set in, Robin finds an unexpected chance at redemption. It looks and sounds captivating, with Jackman giving us a strikingly new portrayal, Skarsgård playing “a version of Little John“, and Comer adding mystery and intrigue. Throw in some gorgeous photography, keen period design, and ferocious battles, and we could have another A24 gem.

“The Death of Robin Hood” releases sometimes in 2026. Check out the trailer and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Today I’m continuing my annual ritual of recognizing the very best performances from the movie year that was (you can see my Supporting Actress picks HERE). Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on the Supporting Actors. Just like yesterday, this is another really good category full of great choices from a variety of different movies. Narrowing them down to five wasn’t easy. Here we go…

Honorable Mentions: James Badge Dale (“Violent Ends”), Ethan Hawke (“Black Phone 2”), Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”), William H. Macy (“Train Dreams”), Miles Caton (“Sinners”), Delroy Lindo (“Sinners”), Michael Cera (“The Phoenician Scheme”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“The Life of Chuck”), Andrew Garfield (“After the Hunt”), Stephen Lang (“Avatar: Fire and Ash”), Ralph Fiennes (“28 Years Later”), Christoph Waltz (“Frankenstein”)

#5 – Josh Brolin (“Weapons”)

When discussing “Weapons”, most of the awards season chatter has concentrated on Amy Madigan, and rightly so. But we shouldn’t forget what Josh Brolin brings to this fascinating chiller. He wasn’t the first choice for his role. But when Pedro Pascal was forced to back out, it opened the door for Brolin who shrewdly delivers a character driven by grief, anger, and determination. He’s such a key part of the movie’s success.

#4 – Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”)

After seeing Jacob Elordi’s phenomenal erformance as The Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”, it’s hard to imagine that he (like Brolin above) wasn’t the first pick for the role. Yet by the end, he had erased any doubt by proving to be the perfect choice. He not only impresses with his physical transformation, but he gives an emotionally layered performance that’s hauntingly tragic and grounded in humanity. It’s a tricky assignment, and Elordi nails it.

#3 – Adam Sandler (“Jay Kelly”)

At this point it has been well established that if given the right material, Adam Sandler can deliver truly great performances. He gets the right material in “Jay Kelly”, and to no surprise, he gives another great performance. Mixing dry humor with drama, Sandler forms the beating heart of Noah Baumbach’s latest, earning our admiration, our empathy, and even a few laughs along the way. This is Sandler at his best.

#2 – Sean Bean (“Anemone”)

Good actors and actresses have proven that you don’t need pages and pages of dialogue to speak volumes. Case in point – Sean Bean in the criminally underappreciated “Anemone”. Bean shares most of his scenes with Daniel Day-Lewis which is no easy task. But he more than holds his own in a role that often requires him to simply be silent. Yet Bean conveys so much through his pain-filled eyes and cast-iron stare. It’s masterful work.

#1 – Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”)

Whether he’s starring in a franchise series set in the galaxy far, far away or in independent features telling intimate human stories, Stellan Skarsgård always seems perfectly in-tune with the character he’s playing. Never has that been more true than in Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value”. Trier creates a fascinating character who could have easily fallen into an archetype. But in Skarsgård’s capable hands, we fully realize his complexity and texture. It’s the best supporting performance of the year, and not much out there comes close to it.

That wraps up the supporting actor category. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Let me know in the comments below. And check back tomorrow as we put the lead actresses in the spotlight.

At the risk of sounding like an old man, where has the year gone? A few days ago I shared my Top 10 movies of 2025 (check it out HERE). I always have fun putting that list together, but I also enjoy giving some attention to the year’s very best performances. So over the next few days I’ll be sharing my five favorites for each of the four major acting categories. As I normally do, today I’m kicking it off with Supporting Actress.

Honorable Mentions: Kerry Condon (“F1”), Alana Haim (“The Mastermind”), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”), Samantha Morton (“Anemone”), Mia Sara (“The Life of Chuck”), Hailee Steinfeld (“Sinners”), Jayme Lawson (“Sinners”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”), Sigourney Weaver (“Avatar: Fire and Ash”), Odessa A’Zion (“Marty Supreme”), Laura Dern (“Is This Thing On?”), Felicity Jones (“Train Dreams”), Regina Hall (“One Battle After Another”), Erin Kellyman (“Eleanor the Great”)

#5 – Rebecca Ferguson (“A House of Dynamite”)

Katherine Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite” worked for so many reasons. Chief among them were the performances led by Rebecca Ferguson. She mostly appears in the film’s first act, but the in-the-moment emotional intensity she brings sets the table for this captivating, real-time nailbiter. This is yet another brilliant performance from an actress who has routinely delivered, no matter what genre she’s working in.

#4 – Caitríona Balfe (“The Cut”)

Over the next few days you’ll hear me mention several 2025 movies that came and went without getting the attention they deserved. One was “The Cut”, a film featuring another powerful supporting turn from Caitríona Balfe. The talented Irish actress was robbed of an Oscar nomination for 2021’s “Belfast”. Here she shows that was no fluke, delivering an emotionally textured performance that’s full of grit, compassion, and conflict.

#3 – Emily Blunt (“The Smashing Machine”)

With A24’s “The Smashing Machine”, most of the attention understandably went to Dwayne Johnson’s revelatory performance. But equally good was Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend Dawn, an emotional whirlwind whose volcanic relationship with Mark fuels some of the film’s very best moments. She fiercely mixes volatility with vulnerability in a way that’s both raw and realistic. Blunt continues to be one of the industry’s best.

#2 – Zoey Deutch (“Nouvelle Vague”)

Richard Linklater’s time capsule masterpiece “Nouvelle Vague” recaptured the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless”. A key piece of that French New Wave classic was its star, Jean Seberg. An equally key part of Linklater’s film is the delightful Zoey Deutch who portrays Seberg. Not only does she look the part, but she enthusiastically captures Seberg’s charm and vitality. It’s an amazing transformation for Deutch.

#1 – Amy Madigan (“Weapons”)

It’s great to see Amy Madigan back in movie conversations and it’s happening for good reason. She stole the show in one of the year’s surprise hits, “Weapons”. Madigan doesn’t appear until later, but once she does the film only gets better (and noticeably creepier). Madigan offers up a beguiling blend of pure terror and pitch-black humor. And she’s clearly having a blast playing a villain. I know I had a blast watching her.

That wraps up the best supporting actress performances from 2025. What picks do you agree or disagree with? Let me know in the comments below. And check back tomorrow as we put the support actors in the spotlight.