The 2010s were an incredible decade for films, as box office records were smashed and the arrival of streaming platforms made great movies accessible for all. It was a decade of superheroes, of both the real and fictional variety. Most importantly, it was a decade of great actors, as established industry icons delivered classic performances and growing stars rushed to join their ranks.
While there were an overwhelming amount of talented actors to choose from, the fans at Ranker were determined to narrow things down to just 10 of the very best. With so many great performances and hit films to sort through, that’s a task far easier said than done.
Hugh Jackman
Best known for his work as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, Hugh Jackman starred in another five films as Marvel’s favorite mutant, successfully carrying his success from the 2000s into a new decade. The most notable of these performances would come in Logan, which was the first-ever superhero movie to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
Jackman didn’t stop there though, as he starred in several impressive roles, including arguably the two best musicals in years in Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman. He also put his acting chops on full display in Prisoners, topping off what was his second great decade in a row.
Benedict Cumberbatch
As one of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood, Benedict Cumberbatch has made nearly as big of a name for himself as the one his parents gave him. He has excelled and helped elevate many critically acclaimed movies such as The Imitation Game, 12 Years A Slave, and 1917.
On top of his excellent character work, Cumberbatch has soared to untold heights in terms of pop culture relevance. As Marvel’s sorcerous Dr. Strange, the infamous Sherlock Holmes, and the voice of both Sauron and Smaug in The Hobbit film franchise, it’s hard finding anyone who has landed as many dream roles as Cumberbatch.
Robert Downey Jr.
“I am Iron Man,” were the infamous words spoken by Robert Downey Jr. that would go on to define an entire generation in the movie industry. Younger audiences grew up with his portrayal of Iron Man, while older audiences were able to enjoy the comeback of such a talented actor who had a tough few years.
Downey Jr. has no doubt been spectacular as Iron Man, and it’s hard to see the MCU taking off as it did without his contributions across eight films this decade alone. For these reasons, he has cemented his status as a titan in the industry.
Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman is at the heart of many of the decade’s most successful film franchises, and that is no coincidence. Many fans should have fond memories of Oldman’s depictions of Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight, Dreyfus in Planet of the Apes, and returning as Sirus Black in Harry Potter.
On top of these iconic performances, Oldman received much critical acclaim for his performances as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour and George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Respectively, he would go on to win a Best Actor award and nomination at the Oscars for these roles.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey has delivered some of the most iconic scenes in film over this last decade, and his track record proves it. Even a comedic role as a small cameo in The Wolf of Wall Street is still talked about to this day, solely due to McConaughey’s gravity whenever he’s on screen.
He took on many interesting projects during this era, such as a mysterious space adventure in Interstellar and an animal singing competition in Sing. Most notably, however, McConaughey won a Best Actor award at the Academy Awards for his role as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club, just the second actor on this list to have received that honor.
Leonardo DiCaprio
At this point, Leonard DiCaprio has all but cemented himself as one of — if not the — greatest actors of his generation. While he finally received a well-earned Best Actor award for his work in The Revenant, it’s debatable that he should have at least a few of those in his trophy cabinet at home by now.
DiCaprio helped to deliver hits such as Shutter Island, Inception, Django Unchained, The Great Gatsby, and The Wolf of Wall Street in just a four-year span. This stretch alone deservedly has DiCaprio placed among the top five in this list.
Tom Hardy
In the 2010s, there was a simple rule of thumb — if Tom Hardy touched it, that film would be a success. Hardy played the unlikely hero fantastically in Mad Max: Fury Road and Warrior, while also delivering compelling work as a villain in The Dark Knight Rises and The Revenant. He even managed to make the Venom franchise somewhat palatable.
Hardy has also successfully crossed the bridge between film and television that many star actors struggle with. As Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders, Hardy is given much more time to portray a well-developed character that adds depth to the series that just wouldn’t be possible without his presence.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix has been the talk of the town ever since he delivered a gripping performance as Arthur Fleck in the much-anticipated R-rated version of Joker. Phoenix perfectly captured the ruthless nature of the character while also somehow making him a sympathetic figure.
But for fans who have followed his career for some time, this should come as no surprise. Phoenix has turned in stellar work in films such as The Master and Her. With projects like a rumored sequel to Joker on his plate, he could be ramping up for yet another great decade.
Christian Bale
Of all the caped crusaders who enjoyed immensely popular films in the 2010s, none stood as tall as the Dark Knight himself. Christian Bale’s rendition of Batman was so massively successful, the trilogy grossed well over $2 billion and helped establish this Batman as the definitive version of a decade.
This was not even Bale’s best work, however, as his dedicated training regime helped him lose (and gain) vast amounts of weight in preparation for roles in movies such as The Fighter, Vice, The Big Short, and American Hustle. These four films garnered Bale a Best Supporting Actor award as well as three more nominations for Best Actor.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks, already one of the greatest actors of the 1990s and 2000s, returned to full form yet again to claim his throne as the best actor of the 2010s. Hanks has reached a stage in his career where he can assume a variety of acclaimed roles, whether that be as an astronaut in Apollo 13 or a sailor-under-siege in Captain Phillips.
Hanks also helped to grant an endearing tribute to the legendary Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, while depicting yet another American hero in Sully. Of course, Hanks also capped off the final two installments in the Toy Story franchise, helping give fans the proper send-off — and another decade of incredible films — they deserved.