As awards season approaches, Variety has compiled a list of 12 standout acting performances from 2025 films that deserve greater recognition. These roles, spanning drama, comedy, and action, feature actors delivering memorable work in projects like Sinners, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Hamnet. The article argues that while only a few will likely secure nominations, these contributions merit attention from Oscar voters.
Published on January 2, 2026, Variety's feature makes a compelling case for actors who have impressed critics and audiences but may slip under the radar of major awards bodies. The roundup covers a diverse array of films, emphasizing emotional depth, vocal talent, and nuanced character work.
Will Arnett shines in Bradley Cooper's comedy-drama Is This Thing On?, portraying Alex, a man turning to stand-up comedy amid a crumbling marriage to Laura Dern's Tess. A poignant scene involving a framed photo of Tess highlights their marital tensions, with Arnett conveying love, confusion, and defiance.
In Ryan Coogler's Sinners, newcomer Miles Caton plays Sammie, the preacher's son, earning praise as a 'once-in-a-lifetime voice.' His stage musical number showcases impressive singing and acting in a captivating debut.
Oona Chaplin, known from Game of Thrones, brings fiery intensity to Varang, the antagonist leading the Ash people in James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. Her powerful physicality and moral complexity make her a standout villain who blurs lines between hero and foe.
Kerry Condon adds warmth as a widow in Train Dreams, opposite Joel Edgerton's taciturn logger Robert Grainier, conveying healing through quiet scenes of human connection.
Billy Crudup delivers a master class in Jay Kelly as Timothy, a bitter counterpart to George Clooney's movie star, shifting from genial to menacing in limited screen time.
Abel Ferrara's turn in Marty Supreme evolves from a doddering figure to a chilling gangster, culminating in a darkly comedic shootout.
Child actor Jacobi Jupe breaks hearts as Hamnet in Chloé Zhao's film, the son of Paul Mescal's Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley's Agnes, aspiring to act before a brave sacrifice.
Lucy Liu grounds Rosemead as Irene, a Chinese immigrant facing terminal cancer and her schizophrenic son's future, in a true-story-based drama that evokes deep empathy.
Jay Lycurgo's unpredictable Shy in Netflix's Steve earned a British Independent Film Award, balancing tenderness and aggression opposite Cillian Murphy.
Vahid Mobasseri's relatable everyman in Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident mixes revenge with decency, serving as audience surrogate.
Sarah Niles infuses F1 with charm as Bernadette, mother to Damson Idris's racer, fiercely confronting Brad Pitt's Sonny after a crash.
Tonatiuh reimagines Molina in Bill Condon's Kiss of the Spider Woman adaptation, embracing contemporary gender fluidity in the queer role originally Oscar-winning for William Hurt.
This selection underscores the breadth of talent in 2025 cinema, urging awards consideration beyond the frontrunners.
