After the film's unbelievable success this summer, Tom Cruise is projected to make $80m from Top Gun: Maverick, proving once again that the actor has delivered an all-time great performance. Cruise's success this summer has got Reddit fans thinking about which other actors celebrate such consistent and reliable successes.
Whether it's high-budget Hollywood stars or underrated indie darlings, there are plenty of actors out there who simply can't do wrong in the eyes of their fans. They provide great performance after great performance, keeping their filmographies fresh with new and exciting projects.
Steve Buscemi
Although Buscemi isn't as busy in the movie business today as he used to be, the actor still has an unbelievable number of great projects under his belt. Whether Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs or a recluse scientist in Spy Kids 2, Buscemi always delivered compelling and adaptable performances with any role he took, even elevating the atmosphere with his presence alone. He might not always be the show's star, but he's always doing something new to catch the audience's eye.
Reddit user supes1 suggests that Buscemi is one of the 'safest' actors out there, praising his unforgettable screen presence in all of his characters: "Never a star, surprisingly versatile, the role is always memorable. You just always know he'll nail a role."
J.K. Simmons
He may be best known for his memorable turn as Terrence Fletcher in Damien Chazelle's Whiplash, but Simmons has actually been involved in plenty of popular movies since then - just not always in the flashiest roles. He's an extremely reliable supporting actor, which is what makes him such a surprise threat. In most cases, he brings a gravitas to his supporting roles, especially William Frawley in Being the Ricardos and J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man movies.
Reddit user kwilly462 calls Simmons "another big safe actor," citing him as one of their "favorite" actors working today. Though Whiplash remains J.K. Simmons' best movie to date, that doesn't take anything away from the many other box office hits that he's been involved in.
Tilda Swinton
Whenever Swinton's name is attached to a project, people can rest assured that she'll provide a memorable performance and elevate the film in plenty of interesting ways. But what makes her quite riveting is her eagerness to take on any challenging role, yet managing to somehow adapt to them so effortlessly.
Most recently, Swinton starred in two of her best movies, Memoria and The French Dispatch, which are both wildly different projects that she brings to life with her uniquely distinct characters. It's this versatility that makes Swinton such a "big draw," according to this Reddit user.
Willem Dafoe
Dafoe has been one of the internet's favorite personalities for a long time, so it really shouldn't come as a surprise that he is a fantastic and resourceful thespian. Whether he's playing an intensely dark role like in The Lighthouse or a more lighthearted villain like in Spider-Man, he always brings 110%.
According to Redditor propanesalestx, Dafoe "crushes and still constantly works... [he] is consistent on screen, rarely does he give a half-assed or phoned-in job." It's hard to think of a time that Dafoe hasn't been one of the strongest selling points of a movie - which is a huge testament to both his talent and star power.
Karl Urban
Before starring in Amazon's The Boys, Karl Urban had been fairly unknown to many audiences, but that hasn't stopped him from providing a flood of outstanding performances over the past few decades. The Boys is definitely his biggest success so far and will hopefully open up his impressive filmography to more audiences.
Reddit user peppa-poggers- agrees, writing: "I didn't realize how many projects he'd been in until a few years ago... the man knocks it out of the park every single time." Hopefully The Boys pushes Urban into a new era of popularity, treating audiences to many more of his talented roles.
Olivia Colman
After winning her first Oscar in 2019 and receiving nominations in two of the following three years, it's clear that Olivia Colman is becoming one of the industry's most valued names. She's consistently outstanding in everything that she does, regardless of genre or style.
Reddit user missybee63 argues that she's one of the most underrated actresses working today: "I don’t think outside of Great Britain she’s considered an A-lister. Well respected by critics, but the average American probably hasn’t seen much of her work. I adore her." Indeed, many people are missing out on Coleman's immense talents, whether her flawless humor in comedies like The Favourite or her sharp real-life portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Casual audiences might not immediately recognize his name, but anybody who's seen a decent number of movies will surely be familiar with Hoffman's work. He's popped up in supporting roles in dozens of great films, often leaving an impression as the memorable antagonist. But his number of leading roles in movies like Capote and Synecdoche, New York has showcased his ability to stand out with in-depth and dynamic performances, leaving quite a lasting impression among viewers.
Redditor rickdawlton picks up on this, writing that "Philip Seymour Hoffman had far more supporting roles than lead roles, but you always knew he was going to bring it." There was never any doubt that Hoffman would steal the show whenever he appeared, which is one of the greatest compliments an actor can receive.
Viola Davis
Davis has been providing stellar performances for longer than people can keep track of, so it's really not surprising at all that Reddit considers her one of the versatile and first-rate actors working today. In particular, she gives her all in more of her emotional performances, bringing a rawness to her portrayals like a devoted wife in Fences. Her name brings with it an inescapable sense of trust, knowing that she'll always deliver something special.
Redditor jeditigger simply responds "Viola Davis" when asked about which actors consistently nail their roles, and it's definitely a strong choice. She recently provided one of her most memorable turns in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, for which she was nominated (and came close to victory) for an Academy Award.
Toni Collette
Although she's often revered for her supporting work, Toni Collette has provided several outstanding lead performances over the years that sadly go overlooked. Of course, her groundbreaking inclusion in Ari Aster's Hereditary brought her name back into the spotlight in an unforgettable way.
Redditor unnamedgalaxy writes about Collette: "She has some solid main character roles under her belt but she has a penchant for being a part of ensemble casts more than anything." Collette played a huge role in Hereditary being one of A24's best horror movies to date and consistently manifested raw and powerful performance projects like The Staircase or Knives Out.
Samuel L. Jackson
Despite being a household name and one of the most recognizable actors of an entire generation, Jackson somehow remains underrated when it comes to the quality and consistency of his work. There's absolutely no doubt that Samuel L. Jackson deserves more than his one honorary Oscar, but he remains with only one nomination.
Like many movie fans on the site, Reddit user whatta_maroon has a strong reaction to realizing Jackson's underappreciation: "My mind just broke. Samuel L Jackson is never the lead. Holy cow. He's just always so IN THE MOVIE in whatever movie."