Though the 2010s are n’t far away , look back on the most recent decennary in film account let out interesting trend in celluloid . The actors who defined the 2010s due totheir impact at the box office , the vital acclaim their functioning and projects received , and their popularity with audienceswill not be block . Some of the best movies of the 21st 100 were released in the 2010s , as there are2010s box office flops that audiences now love . While time might highlight hidden gem performances of the decennium in years to arrive , some thespian will remain associated with the 2010s .

It was in this decade that they distinguished themselves as performers who could body forth roles across a variety show of genres and link with audiences .

There aremovies from the 2010s that should already be treated as classic , and many of them have iconic performances from great actors . Most actor who had a spindle in popularity in the 2010s had been working in the industry for long time and establishing themselves as people to be relied upon . However , it was in this tenner that they signalise themselves as performers who could substantiate function across a variety show of genres and connect with audiences . More often than not , these carrying out realise them accolades and great critical eclat .

Tom Hiddleston’s Loki as the God of Time next to Robert Downey Jr. announcing he is Doctor Doom

10Scarlett Johansson

The Avengers Franchise, Under The Skin (2013), Marriage Story (2019)

EveryAvengersmovie in the MCUfrom the 2010s was an enormous part of the ten , asthe Marvel Cinematic Universe was one of the self-aggrandizing box office draws of the period . The histrion who were lucky enough to be part of the first wave of these unforgettable movie have been cemented as some of the most noted performer of the 2010s . Scarlett Johansson certify her talents in many other exciting projects and expanded upon her late typecasting .

Though her turn inGhost in the Shellwas a misstep , Johansson recovered and earned back the public ’s respect withMarriage Story .

Fromreprising her purpose as Black Widow several times to sound Samantha inHer , Johansson pushed herself as a dramatic actress in the 2010s . In 2013 , Johansson ’s carrying out inUnder the Skinwas one of the safe of her career but also the most risky , as Jonathan Glazer ’s experimental sci - fi horror movie did n’t do well at the box office but blew critics off . Though her turn over inGhost in the Shellwas a misstep , Johansson recovered and earned back the world ’s regard withMarriage Story . She partnered with Adam Driver on the quiet and moving portrait of erotic love and crime syndicate .

Emma Stone smiling with twinkling eyes in Kinds of Kindness while three other characters look on in the background

avenger : Doomsday predominate nigher and the confirmed roam members set to asterisk in the next MCU team - up pic are steady emerging as weeks progression .

9Ryan Gosling

Drive (2011), The Big Short (2015), La La Land (2016)

Ryan Gosling might have the looks of a lead man , but the thespian has always had the comedic timing of a grapheme thespian and used these skills to his vantage . After starring in rom - coms and indie dramas in the other 2000s , Gosling transitioned into bigger studio apartment films in the 2010s , addingBlade Runner 2049,La La Land , andThe Big Shortto his resumé . Though he still took on romantic roles inLa La Landand the tragical dramaBlue Valentine , these characters were rich and more complex than those he limn in the past tense .

He ’s still found plenty of succeeder in the 2020s , playing Ken in the blockbusterBarbieand winning over audiences with the comedic military action filmThe Fall Guy . However , the reputation that Gosling has occur to enjoy was created in the 2010sthanks to the number and diversity of projects he put out . During the 2010s , it seemed that Gosling was the actor on everybody ’s brain for movies that were a footling off - beat and call for someone who could act funniness and tragedy with ease .

8Matthew McConaughey

Dallas Buyers Club (2013), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Interstellar (2014)

Despite being pigeonholed in the rom - com genre for the majority of his former career , Matthew McConaughey soon pivot to some of the greatest body of work of the 2010s in an astonishing 2d human activity . This period , dubbed the McConaissance by audience and critics likewise , saw McConaughey ’s fame and popularity reignited on the face of it overnight ( viaThe New Yorker ) . Thanks to this resurgence , viewers got to see iconic movie likeInterstellarand even his campy and coarse-grained persona in the cult classicMagic Mike .

For his performance inDallas Buyers Club , McConaughey won the Academy Award for Best Actor , which propelled him to new heights throughout the decade .

Many ofMcConaughey ’s most unforgettable movie momentswere in the 2010s during his 2nd wind of celebrity , and a few of them earned him honor . For his performance inDallas Buyers Club , McConaughey won the Academy Award for Best Actor , which motivate him to new heights throughout the decennary . Towards the closing of the 2010s , McConaughey teamed up with the director Guy Ritchie on the action at law filmThe gentleman’s gentleman , and this bodes well for future work that sees him maintain his tie to the action musical style .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

7Jennifer Lawrence

The Hunger Games Franchise, Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Mother! (2017)

At just 22 , Jennifer Lawrence win her first Oscar for her performance inSilver Linings Playbook , which come out the same class as the first movie inThe Hunger Gamesfranchise . Simultaneously balancing her rocket fame in the YA dystopian musical genre as well as the critical acclaim she was receiving for her prestigiousness dramas , Lawrence was one of the highest - pay film actresses of the 2010s ( viaThe Guardian ) . However , Academy Awards and swelled paychecks were n’t the only reason that Lawrence was getting noticed .

After taking a brief intermission from the spotlight , Lawrence has come back with great comedy likeDon’t Look UpandNo Hard Feelings , which both raise that her popularity was no New York minute in the pan . After say goodbye toThe Hunger GamesafterMockingjay - Part 2 , the world opened up for Lawrence , and audience were ready to see her as more than the star of a fantasy franchise . However , the sustained stake and success of her picture from this time ensure that no one will block her impact during the 2010s .

6Benedict Cumberbatch

Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), The Imitation Game (2014), Doctor Strange (2016)

Benedict Cumberbatch ’s recent initiation into the MCU has made him even more of a star than ever before , thanks to his being cast inDoctor Strangein 2016 . Since he was n’t part of the initial wave ofThe Avengersand former Marvel movies , his theatrical role as Strange was protect afterAvengers : Endgameand has seen him grow in importance in the franchise . However , before this , he could be seen in many period composition , sci - fi films , and all other types of projectsthat have shaped him into the actor he is today .

Though he ’s amply establish himself as a pic actor , the impact that starring in the BBC’sSherlockhad on Cumberbatch ’s life history ca n’t be exaggerate .

Though he ’s fully established himself as a film worker , the shock that starring in the BBC’sSherlockhad on Cumberbatch ’s life history ca n’t be overstate . to boot , his background in theater acting has come in handy many times as Cumberbatch has taken on a various raiment of characters , especially in the 2010s . personify the real historical anatomy Alan Turing inThe Imitation Gameearned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars , and he made a terrifying villain inStar Trek : Into dark , lucubrate upon the beloved universe .

Robert Downey Jr., Emma Stone, & Lupita Nyong’o

Image by Ana Nieves

5Samuel L. Jackson

The Avengers Franchise, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), The Hateful Eight (2015)

Despite the fact that Nick Fury does n’t have the same oversize superpowers as the team he assembled , Fury is a full of life part of theAvengersfranchise , and no one could play him but Samuel L. Jackson . The leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a brilliant strategian , it was Fury who brought together all the member of the Avengers and ensure that the squad worked cohesively to economize the humankind . Though he did n’t get his own movie like the other characters , Jackson starred inSecret Invasiona few long time later , which explored Fury further .

Jackson surpass at taking on virtuously ambiguous characters or plain villains like the mysterious Major Marquis Warren inThe Hateful Eightand the terrific Richmond Valentine inKingsman : The Secret Service . The Hateful Eightwasn’t the first time Jackson collaborated with Quentin Tarantino , as their movie , Pulp Fiction , remain one of the most iconic movies of the nineties . It verbalise to Jackson ’s gift and abilities that his star did n’t fade after the high ofPulp Fictionand only develop as the 2010s progressed .

4Robert Downey Jr.

The Avengers Franchise, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), The Judge (2014)

Though he learn on stack of role in the 2010s , Robert Downey Jr. ’s most significant part was that of Tony StarkAKA Iron Man in theIron ManandAvengersfilms . There were few films produced by Marvel between whenIron Manwas released and 2019 whenAvengers : Endgamehit field of operations that Downey Jr. was n’t featured in . At the very least , Tony Stark was cite by the other characters , as he was the ultimate retaliator in the center of the audience and the other fictitious character in the motion picture .

His other projects , like the sequel , Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows , and the dark folk dramaThe Judge , are just as crucial in his filmography .

However , his other task , like the continuation , Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows​​​​​​ , and the dark mob dramaThe Judge , are just as important in his filmography . These avail him flex his spectacular muscles , which were necessary for his late project , Oppenheimer , butDowney Jr. has n’t been able to stay off from Marvel for long . After wrapping up his time as Tony inAvengers : Endgame , Downey Jr. was be sick as Doctor Doom for his biggestAvengersMCU return .

3Emma Stone

Birdman (2014), La La Land (2016), The Favourite (2018)

Collaborating with some of the best directors and thespian of the 2010s , Emma Stone will likely be remember as one of the greatest actress of her multiplication . Her first Oscar for Best Actress was for her performance as Mia inLa La Land , alongside Gosling , and both actors stood apart in the film and its love letter to movie theatre . Early in her career , Stone play many comedic roles in teen comedy likeSuperbadandEasy A , but in the 2010s , she swivel to more serious and critically acclaimed work .

The Favouritemarked her first time working with Yorgos Lanthimos , who she ’s gone on to partner with several time , even becoming a producer on their films . Though she ’d always sought out interesting projection , The Favouritepushed Stone to tip into her unusual and arthouse sensibilities , which have only increase as she ’s continued reach a name for herself in Hollywood . to boot , Stone was part ofThe Amazing Spider - Mantrilogy , which exposed her work to viewer who might not have seen her before .

sole : Screen Rant presents a behind - the - scenes look at Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos ' collaboration on Kinds of Kindness in new featurette .

2Lupita Nyong’o

12 Years a Slave (2013), Black Panther (2018), Us (2019)

Lupita Nyong’o was part of the two freehanded franchises in Hollywood during the 2010s , Marvel andStar Wars . Though her role in theStar Warstrilogy was mainly vocalization dissemble , she was at her best in theBlack Panthermovies as Nakia . Additionally , her performance in 2019 in Jordan Peele ’s horror filmUswas an influential slice of acting . She personify two characters in multiple conniption and differentiated between them with ease . However , one of her earliest film of the 2010s is what first set her apart .

Her recent celluloid , A Quiet Place : Day One , cement her grandness in the horror genre thatUsinitiated several age ago .

12 year a Slaveswept every class during laurels season , but the reason Nyong’o won the Oscar for Best substantiate Actress for playing Patsey was because of her skill . Nyong’o was n’t in the highest bulk of films in the 2010s , but her projects were some of the most impactful of the decennary and localize her up for further success in the 2020s . Her recent motion picture , A Quiet Place : Day One , cement her grandness in the revulsion genre thatUsinitiated several age ago .

1Oscar Isaac

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), Ex Machina (2014), The Star Wars Franchise

Star war : The Force Awakensmight have been the first introduction some audience extremity had to Oscar Isaac ’s study , but the histrion had been making his name in the 2010s for a few year before this . Isaac ’s breakout theatrical role could arguably be regard his groundbreaking performance in the Coen Brothers ' movieInside Llewyn Davis . It ’s a moody and darkly comic portrait of the folk euphony scene in the other 1960s . Inside Llewyn Davisis unofficially view a melodic biopic about the early life of the fabled songwriter Bob Dylan .

AfterInside Llewyn Davis , Isaac get the probability to bet the villain in Alex Garland’sEx Machina , which was an interesting cause subject field of the growth of AI and what it means to be human . While both of these labor were critically acclaimed , it was Isaac ’s turn in the most recentStar Warstrilogy that launched him into stardom . His eccentric , Poe , quickly became a fan favorite , and the role produce him other dealership workplace with Marvel inMoon Knightseveral years later .