Every year, movie lovers are gifted with fresh, unforgettable cinema, yet countless brilliant acting moments slip through the cracks of awards season. In this roundup we celebrate the top 10 underrated performances of the last ten years – the work that dazzled, disturbed, and deeply moved us, even if the accolades didn’t always follow.
Why These Performances Matter
These ten roles prove that true talent often thrives away from the spotlight. From haunting dramas to off‑beat thrillers, each actor brings a unique intensity that deserves a second look. Below, the list is presented in reverse order, starting with the tenth spot and climbing to the most surprising standout.
10 Joaquin Phoenix—You Were Never Really Here
Who better to launch this tally than a chameleon who’s long danced under the radar? Though Phoenix finally clinched an Oscar in 2020 for his Joker, two years earlier he delivered a spine‑tingling turn as Joe, a war‑scarred veteran battling PTSD while rescuing trafficked women in Lynne Ramsay’s 2017 thriller You Were Never Really Here. The performance is a masterclass in restrained turbulence.
Critic Sheila O’Malley observes, “It’s tempting to claim Phoenix has never been better, yet that would be inaccurate. He shone in The Master and Inherent Vice, two wildly different films. His career has zig‑zagged, but lately he seems grounded, as if he feels the earth beneath his feet and knows exactly how to move.”
She continues, “At his finest, Phoenix doesn’t ‘show his work.’ You simply inhabit whatever peculiar soul he embodies. He isn’t self‑consciously stretching; he simply contains multitudes, borrowing Walt Whitman’s phrase. In this movie, he vibrates with unmanaged trauma and suicidal rumination. His tears feel heartbreaking because they emerge from sheer helplessness, his translucent green eyes pulse with mute torment, and you never quite know what Joe will do next.”
9 Melissa McCarthy—Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Melissa McCarthy shines in Marielle Heller’s 2018 biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?, portraying real‑life forger Lee Israel. An alcoholic, struggling writer who makes a living by forging letters from famous authors, Lee is a morally ambiguous figure who somehow wins the audience’s sympathy.
Critic Geoffrey Macnab notes, “Playing Lee, McCarthy achieves something rare: she renders a character who’s odd, obnoxious, difficult, and deeply alcoholic into someone lovable and even heroic. She never tries to soften Lee’s edge or tone down his awkward, malevolent blend. Somehow, she compels us to root for this despicable soul.”
8 Robert Pattinson/Willem Dafoe—The Lighthouse
The duo of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe creates a hypnotic push‑pull in Robert Eggers’ 2019 psychological horror, The Lighthouse. Set on a remote island, the two lighthouse keepers battle isolation, madness, and each other.
Alison Willmore writes, “Pattinson’s impressively committed portrayal of the taciturn Winslow anchors the film. Dafoe, a sea‑brined gremlin with an insatiable thirst, adds surprising sensitivity, especially in moments like his howl about lobster. Yet it’s Pattinson, the straight man, who sells the slow decay of their shared sanity.”
7 Ethan Hawke—First Reformed
In Paul Schrader’s 2017 drama First Reformed, Ethan Hawke embodies Reverend Toller, a small‑town pastor whose faith unravels after an encounter with an environmental activist. The film is a meditation on belief, doubt, and ecological dread.
Justin Chang observes, “The steady, unblinking camera draws you into Toller’s world, quickening your pulse while urging contemplation. Hawke’s performance is mesmerizingly clear and intelligent, suggesting that the most powerful epiphanies can be subtle.”
Chang adds, “Hawke was conspicuously absent from major award nominations, perhaps because his work doesn’t scream for attention. It lacks the flamboyant vocal distortions of traditional showpieces, yet it stands as the culmination of a richly varied career, following nuanced turns in Before Midnight, Boyhood, Born to Be Blue, and Maudie.”
6 Natalie Portman—Vox Lux
Natalie Portman delivers a powerful turn as Celeste in Brady Corbet’s 2018 musical drama Vox Lux. Celeste, a school‑shooting survivor turned pop star, confronts the fallout of a second scandal as she attempts a comeback, intertwining personal trauma with the spectacle of fame.
Critic Luke Chanell explains, “Portman’s performance binds the film’s exploration of pop culture and terrorism. She is fierce, bratty, and unhinged, yet also empathetic, wounded, and deceptively intelligent. Her portrayal never wanes; she fully inhabits a world‑famous pop star, especially in the climactic concert sequence, where she is utterly captivating.”
5 Jake Gyllenhaal—Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal electrifies the 2014 thriller Nightcrawler as Louis Bloom, a freelance cameraman who stalks crime scenes to sell footage to news outlets. His relentless ambition pushes him into morally murky territory.
Jocelyn Noveck writes, “Gyllenhaal’s bold, committed performance makes the film one of the year’s most entertaining. The most unsettling element isn’t his gaunt cheeks or greasy bun, but his grin—a goofy, confident smile that grows creepier as his derangement becomes clear.”
4 Lupita Nyong’o—Us
After winning an Oscar for 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong’o astonished audiences in Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror Us, playing both Adelaide and her doppelgänger Red. The dual role showcases her extraordinary range.
Manohla Dargis notes, “Nyong’o brings a vibrant screen presence, differentiating the twins with crystal‑clear detail. Adelaide moves with ballet‑like grace, while Red walks with a metronomic, mechanical precision, each possessing distinct posture, eyes, and a monstrous mouth for Red.”
3 Song Kang‑ho—Parasite
Bong Joon‑ho’s Oscar‑winning 2019 dark comedy Parasite features Song Kang‑ho as Kim Ki‑taek, the desperate patriarch of a poor family infiltrating a wealthy household. His performance grounds the film’s social satire.
Bong explains, “Choosing Kang‑ho gave me confidence that even the most controversial moments would feel authentic. Though the film is an ensemble, it’s Kang‑ho who bears the core sentiment and the riskiest scenes, especially in the climactic showdown.”
2 Toni Collette—Hereditary
Toni Collette delivers a tour‑de‑force in Ari Aster’s 2018 horror Hereditary, playing Annie, a mother reeling from her daughter’s death and spiraling into occult terror.
Tasha Robinson writes, “Collette is the film’s most vital asset, weeping, screaming, and snarling her way into the audience’s laps. Annie is heartbreaking yet repulsive, and Collette’s intensity makes the anguish palpable, exhausting viewers with raw, unfiltered emotion.”
1 Adam Sandler—Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler gives arguably his career‑best performance as Howard Ratner, a charismatic New York jeweler and compulsive gambler in the Safdie brothers’ 2019 thriller Uncut Gems. He whirls through Manhattan’s chaos, juggling high‑stakes bets, mob threats, and a volatile personal life.
Nick De Semlyen observes, “Sandler’s turn is a career‑high, echoing his work in Punch‑Drunk Love but with added layers. Howard feels simultaneously iconic and human—a blend of Job, Jordan Belfort, and Jerry Maguire—complete with a Star of David pinkie ring, unkempt hair, and a relentless, breath‑less energy.”