Here are the biggest breakout stars of 2022 who received breakthrough roles in movies or TV shows. The return of a steady stream of theatrically released movies and the continued rise of content in the stream wars means there was more to watch in 2022 than ever before. There was new content from massive franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Universe, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Stranger Things. This meant seeing more of some very familiar faces, such as Tom Cruise, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Pattinson, Ewan McGregor, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.
One of the fun aspects of every year is seeing which performers become breakout stars thanks to their work. 2021 saw the likes of Rachel Zegler, Simu Liu, and more become stars that Hollywood began going after for other significant projects. 2022 proved to be another excellent year for breakthrough performers. Jeremy Allen White's role in The Bear made the former Shameless star a hot commodity, while Keke Palmer made a movie star-level turn in Nope. However, neither are on this list of the biggest breakout stars from 2022, as it was a highly competitive year filled with new and emerging talent.
15 Stephanie Hsu
The first breakout star of 2022 comes from the year's biggest surprise hit, Everything Everywhere All At Once. Stephanie Hsu turned heads with her performance as Joy Wang/Jobu Tupaki in the Daniels' original multiverse movie. Her most significant role before Everything Everywhere All At Once was a recurring role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but she became a standout performer in one of 2022's best movies thanks to the range she had to display. Next up for Stephanie Hsu are roles in new projects from Rian Johnson, Daniel Destin Cretton, and the David Leitch and Ryan Reynolds action film The Fall Guy.
14 Chukwudi Iwuji
Chukwudi Iwuji became one of 2022's biggest breakout stars thanks to his role in Peacemaker. He joined the series as Clemson Murn, the intense leader of Peacemaker's squad who is also a Butterfly. Before his role with DC, Iwuji's most notable parts included Designated Survivor and The Underground Railroad. Not only did the actor impress viewers throughout Peacemaker, but he left a significant mark on creator James Gunn. The director has called Iwuji the most talented actor he's ever worked with, so it is no surprise that his next major role is in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as the main villain High Evolutionary.
13 Morfydd Clark
The Lord of the Rings franchise brought another one of 2022's biggest breakout stars thanks to Morfydd Clark playing Galadriel. The actress had the difficult task of following in Cate Blanchett's footsteps and making the Elven warrior her own, and it was through Clark's strong performance that she could do just that. Prior to leading The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, she did headline Saint Maud. However, Morfydd Clark's Galadriel is now positioned to be one of the main characters in pop culture for the next few years as The Rings of Power season 2 and beyond happen at Prime Video.
12 Daisy Edgar-Jones
One of the most frequently seen breakout stars of 2022 is Daisy Edgar-Jones. Her terrific year started with a lead role in Hulu's cannibal horror-comedy Fresh, and she was then seen again on Hulu's TV show Under the Banner of Heaven opposite Andrew Garfield. Daisy Edgar-Jones then led the movie adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing, which became a surprise box office hit. All three performances by the actress solidified her status as a rising star in Hollywood after spending years leading Epix's War of the Worlds show. Daisy Edgar-Jones so far does not have any confirmed upcoming roles, but that should change.
11 Dominique Thorne
The MCU delivered another 2022 breakout star thanks to Dominique Thorne's casting as Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Thorne's portrayal of the fan-favorite comic character was funny, intelligent, and confident, making the MCU's Iron Man replacement quite likable from the beginning. Before this breakthrough role, Thorne only had supporting roles in If Beale Street Could Talk and Judas and the Black Messiah. Now that audiences have become endeared with her MCU character, it is no surprise that Marvel Studios already has an Ironheart Disney+ show in development and poised for release in 2023.
10 Simone Ashley
Simone Ashley made her presence felt through a breakout role in Bridgerton season 2. She helped turn Kate into one of the show's most notable new characters thanks to her fierce portrayal of the older Sharma sister. Bridgerton is not the first time Simone Ashley left an impression on viewers through a Netflix original series, as she appeared previously in Sex Education as Olivia Hanan. However, her role as Kate in Bridgerton season 2 catapulted Ashley into one of the biggest breakout stars of 2022. Viewers will see her again as Kate will return in Bridgerton season 3.
9 Tenoch Huerta
Marvel Studios and director Ryan Coogler allowed Tenoch Huerta to take his career to the next level by casting him as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The actor shined as the antagonist and unofficial co-lead of the sequel, as Huerta made the MCU mutant a strong and vengeful king layered with the desire to protect his people. Namor's role is why Tenoch Huerta can be considered a breakout star of 2022, even if he previously appeared in The Forever Purge and Narcos: Mexico. He has yet to book another major project after this role, but those opportunities should come as Namor's MCU future unfolds.
8 Amber Midthunder
Amber Midthunder is another winner from 2022 as her leading role in Prey made her a breakout star. She was previously featured in Legion, but the supporting role is small compared to leading the biggest Hulu movie to date. Amber Midthunder impressed as Prey's heroine Naru, establishing herself as a capable action movie star who could also bring out the strength and courage of an overlooked person. Viewers will see more of Amber Midthunder as she plays Princess Yue in Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender show. She is also expected to return as Naru in a potential Prey sequel.
7 Iman Vellani
There is no debate that Iman Vellani is one of 2022's biggest breakout stars after her leading role in Ms. Marvel on Disney+. The young actress made her acting debut by playing the fan-favorite Marvel character revealed to be another MCU mutant. Despite Ms. Marvel being her first proper acting credit, Iman Vellani immediately injected incredible charm and energy into her portrayal of Kamala Khan. Thankfully, Marvel already has plans for Vellani to return as Kamala Khan in The Marvels in 2023. The MCU superhero role should only be the start of Vellani's blossoming acting career as the 20-year-old star grows.
6 Joseph Quinn
Another prime example of 2022's breakout stars comes with Joseph Quinn, who memorably played Eddie Munson in Stranger Things season 4. After supporting roles in various other projects, Quinn's presence as Hawkins' resident Dungeons & Dragons-playing, metal music-loving high schooler immediately captured viewers' hearts. He helped make Eddie a layered and misunderstood character who ultimately made the heartbreaking heroic sacrifice necessary to save the day. While Joseph Quinn is not returning as Eddie in Stranger Things season 5, he is set to play the male lead in the A Quiet Place prequel movie, A Quiet Place: Day One.
5 Milly Alcock
The return of Game of Thrones also meant elevating several different performers' profiles, and that includes Milly Alcock. House of the Dragon's young Rhaenyra actress immediately wowed viewers with her brilliant performance in the early episodes of the season. Milly Alcock became such a standout for House of the Dragon that viewers even began to worry that the show would dip after Rhaenyra was recast through a time jump. There are currently no confirmed projects in the works that Alcock will return for, but there has been talk of House of the Dragon doing flashbacks to incorporate her again.
4 Mia Goth
Mia Goth turned heads in 2022 thanks to a pair of movies that helped ensure her status as one of 2022's biggest breakout stars. Her recognition started to rise thanks to the release of Ti West's horror movie X. She starred as Maxine in the movie and played the villainous older woman Pearl. The casting decision allowed Mia Goth to return as a young Pearl in the 2022 prequel movie Pearl. Both of these films helped establish Goth as a dynamic actress, with her closing monologue in Pearl particularly impressive. Mia Goth's success will continue with the X sequel, MaXXXine, and a role in Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool.
3 Emma D’Arcy
Any concern that House of the Dragon would not be as good once Rhaenyra was recast was quickly put to bed once Emma D'Arcy made their debut. Following in Alcock's footsteps, D'Arcy had the task of playing an older version of Rhaenyra. Stuck in the middle of the fight for who should be the heir to the Iron Throne, House of the Dragon allowed Emma D'Arcy to showcase their entire range. D'Arcy had to be powerful, vulnerable, loving, and more, allowing them to deliver an excellent performance. Viewers can expect to see a lot more of it as House of the Dragon season 2 continues Rhaenyra's story.
2 Austin Butler
Austin Butler became one of the biggest breakout stars of 2022 across movies and TV shows thanks to his stunning turn as Elvis Presley in Elvis. Butler was far from being an unknown before headlining Baz Luhrmann's biopic, but he truly transformed into The King of Rock and Roll. The tragic story gave the actor plenty of emotional scenes to impress, while his singing, dancing, and gyrating combined with his charisma to Austin Butler's Elvis performance something special. It is the reason that he could receive an Oscar nomination for the movie star-making role. Butler will next be in Dune: Part Two as Feyd-Rautha.
1 Jenna Ortega
When it comes to naming the biggest breakout star of 2022, Jenna Ortega is the unquestionable answer. The actress was featured in a staggering number of pop culturally-relevant titles. This includes the school shooting drama The Fallout and four horror movies: Ti West's X, the fifth Scream movie, the Foo Fighters' movie Studio 666, and American Carnage. These appearances gave Ortega a chance to showcase her range as an actress and established her as a rising name in the horror movie genre.
However, it was Jenna Ortega's turn as Wednesday Addams in Netflix's Wednesday series that capped off her excellent year. Her performance is the highlight of the reboot, as Ortega perfectly captured Wednesday's deadpan humor and darkness. She also incorporated quirks like not blinking in Wednesday. It has all the makings of an early career-defining role for Jenna Ortega, especially based on the internet's ability to immortalize her in pop culture through dances and memes. It is no debate that Jenna Ortega is the biggest breakout star from 2022's movies and shows.