Child acting is an incredibly difficult job because the actors in question don’t have the life experience to draw from as part of their roles. Still, there have been actors who have outperformed adults in their roles, and fans on Reddit have taken note of the stars who have made the biggest impact.
These Redditors have justifications for ranking their opinions and many have come up with valid arguments around why certain child actors are better than the rest. While some of these actors went on to have successful movie careers into adulthood, others only acted while they were younger. Either way, it’s worth noting these best child stars in order to check out their performances.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale started out as a child actor long before he had popular roles like Batman and Patrick Bateman. Redditor oxy801 thinks Bale qualifies as among the best ever, singling out Empire of the Sun as the “best child performances of all time and IMO still Bale's best performance.”
Bale was a child star in Mio in the Land of Faraway, Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna, and Henry V as well, and his ability to play serious characters at such a young age established his inherent talent. It’s no wonder he went on to win an Oscar in his adult years based on the platform he set up for himself.
Mara Wilson
There are still fans who would like Matilda to be remade today because of the impact the original movie had, and Mara Wilson having starred in the title role. She was also seen in films like Mrs. Doubtfire and A Simple Wish, which had made her one of the most recognizable child stars at the time.
Redditor Torley_ summed up Wilson’s strengths by writing that she was “very self-aware and a gifted articulator.” The actress gave very mature performances for characters so young and it’s rare to see child actors have such an onscreen presence as she did.
Macaulay Culkin
There has never been such a proven box office draw of a child actor as Macaulay Culkin, with huge blockbuster movies like Home Alone and My Girl under his belt. Redditor vanillawafah thinks the secret to his success is that “he had a charm that is needed for Hollywood.”
Culkin generally starred in feel-good movies that showed off his childlike innocence, which ushered in many other movies that had similar heartwarming premises. To this day, the actor is associated with the idea of a child star in general, and he’s been a child movie icon for decades even though he's now over 40 years old.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster was always destined for great things and is a multi-time Oscar winner whose career kickstarted as a child. She starred in films like Tom Sawyer, Napoleon and Samantha, and Taxi Driver, before moving on to the leading star status she’s now known for.
Redditor Flabergie writes that “even as a kid, she had a remarkable presence on screen.” Foster is known for commanding the scene every time she shows up and it rings true for when she was a youngster, as well. She’s always had an affinity toward dramatic material, which can be seen right from her first roles onscreen.
Christina Ricci
There are still plenty of questions about the Addams Family, but no one questions the acting performance of Christina Ricci. She shot to fame as Wednesday Addams but also starred in other movies as a child star, such as Casper, Now and Then, and Mermaids.
Redditor Obversa claims she’s the best young performer because she's “mostly gotten roles as 'darker' characters.” That claim is certainly true since child actors usually have easier material to navigate, while Ricci had to make do with scripts where she had to truly stretch her acting talents. It’s perhaps why she’s gone on to continue starring in movies and shows with a darker twist.
Shirley Temple
The concept of a child star would never have been in place had it not been for Shirley Temple. She became a veteran before she was even 10-years-old and was the biggest box office draw in the ‘30s. Redditor moxy801 writes that Temple “really was uncannily talented, a true child prodigy.”
The actress starred in a slew of movies while her life was still in single-digits, releasing hits like Bright Eyes, Curly Top, and Heidi, among many others. Temple could have become a career sensation had she decided to stick with acting, but she chose to go on to become an activist in adulthood.
River Phoenix
According to Redditor riegspsych325, River Phoenix’s performances as a child actor are “the best ever watched, even impressive compared to many adult actors.” Phoenix tragically passed away at a very young age, but his roles as a child star still stand out.
There are many great films starring the Phoenix brothers, in general, but River’s roles in Stand by Me, Explorers, and The Mosquito Coast are unforgettable. His popularity as an actor continued into his 20s and remains to this day.
Tatum O'Neal
Redditor VictorBlimpmuscle cuts to the chase by writing that Tatum O’Neal is their choice as the best star and that her role in Paper Moon is their “favorite by any child actor ever, and she was great in Bad News Bears as well. O’Neal is primarily known for the fact that she’s the youngest Oscar winner of all time.
Tatum O’Neal even eclipsed her father, Ryan, as a bigger star at the time, with her streak continuing with Nickelodeon. She can be seen as the benchmark for success for a young performer since she bagged the Academy Award for a serious role and remains the record holder when many acting legends still haven’t won.
Jacob Tremblay
Jacob Tremblay has made rounds in the last several years for starring in critically acclaimed movies like Room, Wonder, Luca, and Doctor Sleep. Redditor TheOneRing_ has an interesting take over Trembay’s talents, writing the actor’s performance are the only times they’ve “seen a kid act like a kid and it felt genuine.”
Much is made about child actors displaying skills comparable to adults, but actually acting their age in a wholly convincing manner is also a superb achievement. Tremblay should have a long career ahead of him, which is bolstered by how well he’s established himself as a youngster.
Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment was on fire in the late-90s to early-2000s, where he appeared in the likes of The Sixth Sense, Pay It Forward, and A.I., with Redditor TrumanB-12 writing that “the amount of emotional complexity he could portray was incredible.” Osment also starred in the sitcom The Jeff Foxworthy Show around the same time to confirm his acting range.
Although the actor hasn’t reached similar heights in his adulthood, his earlier roles have ensured his name will never be forgotten. The movies he starred in remain well-known and appreciated and haven’t dwindled in popularity more than two decades after he starred in them.