A look at the best and most underrated in entertainment, music, and sports in 2022.

2022: Wrapping Up

Actors

The year 2022 was a very rich one when it came to discovering new stars. Whether in fantasy or biopic, sweeping drama or intimate comedy, the year marked a key moment in the careers of some of the industry’s most promising performers. Many of these individuals had fine careers before this year, of course, but very often they managed to fly under the radar, waiting for the one big role that would not only give them a chance to flex their acting muscles but also reach a wider audience.Fortunately for them, and for those sitting in the audience, many got just what they wanted, heralding a bright new future for their careers.

14 Up-And-Coming Actors Who Officially Arrived In 2022

Actor

Up-And-Coming Actors Who Officially Arrived In 2022

Thomas West

Pop Culture

The greatest actors of 2022 have had some awesome movies and TV shows come out this year, whether they&#39;re action-packed or serious dramas, they really show their talent. Of course, you&#39;ll recognize a lot faces from the MCU and adjacent movie universes. You&#39;ll also find actors starring in long awaited sequels/reboots like Tom Cruise in&nbsp;Top Gun: Maverick&nbsp;acting alongside younger talent like Miles Teller. Maybe Ben Affleck will surprise us with another sleeper performance like the one he gave us in&nbsp;The Tender Bar.&nbsp;But now it&#39;s time to determine the best actor of 2022 way ahead of the awards season.

The best part about this list of great actors from this year is that you don&#39;t have to choose just one. You can vote up all your favorite actors and then check back throughout the year to see which one&nbsp;made it to the top of the list or even the top ten.

The Best Actors Of 2022

The Best Actors Of 2022, Ranked By Fans

Jason Bancroft

Historical movies offer viewers a chance to see important events and time periods come to life. With the right script and a strong vision from the director, these films provide insight into the things that have shaped our world. Of course, excellent performances are also a vital part of the equation. You need to have actors who can make the stories feel vivid and urgent. Over the decades, many a star has scored an Oscar for doing just that in a historical movie, whether based on a true story or just a solid piece of fiction.For every case where that's happened, though, there's another where an actor gave an underrated performance. Sometimes it was because they had a supporting role, or one that wasn't as showy as a co-star's. Other times, the movies themselves didn't light up the box office to the degree that they deserved to. Whatever the case, the following actors all brought something incredibly special to the historical movies in which they appeared. Their efforts deserve to be discovered and appreciated.&nbsp;

18 Underrated Performances In Historical Movies

Underrated Performances In Historical Movies

Mike McGranaghan

Entertainment

Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Chan, Willis - when you hear these names, what genre of movie do you think of? It's probably not a kids' movie, is it? Yet, each of these action stars (along with many more) have filmed a kids' flick or two.There's always a risk with actors branching out - maybe it won't be received well, or they won't be believable enough. Even worse, what if they scare the kids? Regardless of any hesitations, some of these films went on to become instant classics, while others got lost in the action star's catalog of movies.&nbsp;Let us know what you think of these films by actors who don't traditionally make kids' films.

20 Times Action Stars Did A Kids’ Movie - And Nailed It

Emily Mast

Looking closer at the '80s movies you've probably already committed to memory.

'80s Movie Marathon

Total Nerd

The 1980s were a very important time for comedy. There were more of the all-time greats working at their peak during that decade than in any other - Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, and so many others. Unsurprisingly, they turned out a series of movies that have gone on to become certified classics. Some they did individually, and others they did in various pairings. Audiences continue to enjoy them many years after their initial releases.Those same actors also had their share of pictures that were overlooked, either because they were a bit too ahead of the curve or got lost amid crowded release dates. In many cases, they're great demonstrations of the stars trying new ideas or showing off sides to their talent that they hadn't been able to show up to that point. Now is a good time to discover any of them that you may have missed. You're guaranteed to get a few good laughs from these overlooked movies.

The Most Underrated Movies Of 1980s Comedy Stars

Film

1990s

The 1990s was something of a golden age for film comedy, and it was particularly notable for the significant number of comedy stars who came to dominate the box office. However, it’s important to point out how even those who achieved true superstardom also had their fair share of flops and underappreciated films.Indeed, there is a great deal to be said for just these types of films, which help to shine an important light on just how talented and hard-working many of the decade’s most important actors truly were. Perhaps just as importantly, even the most underrated films from 1990s film stars managed to be incredibly funny, arguably the most important task of a comedy movie.

The Most Underrated Movies Of 1990s Comedy Stars

Unforgettable Film Characters

Celebrities

&quot;Tough guys&quot;&nbsp;are usually revealed to be big ol&rsquo; softies - something society has shamed them into hiding beneath their muscle-clad, action-hero personas - simply because they can&#39;t just be like everyone else, can they? Not only does Hollywood deal often in this archetype, but it also often tackles a subgenre in which <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-action-stars?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">action movie stars</a> find themselves in charge of kids - in some cases just one kid, in other cases a whole boatload of them.

These family-friendly comedic outings see their stars drop their guns, swords, or&nbsp;shields and trade them in for baby bottles and binkies. This break from the norm often reaches a more mainstream audience, dialing the R rating down to a PG. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Dwayne &quot;The Rock&quot;&nbsp;Johnson,&nbsp;their reluctance doesn&#39;t always make them the best babysitters at first (especially when they allow the kids to engage in violent or otherwise dangerous activities), but eventually, their inner softies take over.

Vote up the tough guys who&#39;ve proven they can handle themselves, in case you ever need an emergency babysitter.

13 Times Tough-Guy Actors Had To Begrudgingly Take Care Of Kids In Movies

13 Movies Where Action Stars Take Care Of Kids

Josh Plainse

Though we're in a golden age of TV now, with many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/90s-movie-stars-who-went-to-tv/tyler-mitchell">movie stars returning to smaller series</a>, the pipeline used to head the other way. For many decades, actors would toil away on the small screen for an indeterminate number of years until they got their big shot in a film, providing a chance to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/debut-performances-that-led-to-instant-stardom/jim-rowley">break out</a> and rebrand themselves from "TV actor" to "movie star."&nbsp;It's hard to imagine some of the names on this list not being stars, but they all started from the bottom before becoming headliners. Even with some notable TV roles under their belt, it took one high-quality film performance to get the world to take them seriously as big-screen actors. Here are the roles that made a splash on the silver screen and transformed TV stars into movie stars.

17 Roles Where TV Stars Officially Became Movie Stars

Fictional Character

Roles Where TV Stars Officially Became Movie Stars

Adina Kruskal

Lists about actors and actresses and the characters they became, how they disappeared into roles, what they really look like, and more.

Doing What Actors Do

There’s an art to playing a romantic lead; just ask Hugh Grant or Kate Hudson. But romance is not singularly for the most beautiful or handsome people in the room. Check out these unexpected actors who played romantic roles and totally nailed it.James Gandolfini will forever be known for playing violent mob boss Tony Soprano. However, the late actor also starred opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the criminally underrated mid-life romantic comedy Enough Said. Gandolfini’s character is a sweet, cuddly teddy bear of a man. He’s so good in the film that within just a couple of scenes, you can forget it’s the same actor who played a guy who killed his own nephew.Which other actors unexpectedly made your heart skip a beat with their winning romantic performances?

Times Unexpected Actors Played Romantic Roles - And Nailed It

Ann Casano

Lists that rank the greatest performers to hit the large and small screens.

The Best Actors and Actresses

Let's be honest for a second: Two heads are better than one. In the world of cinema, the same is true of movie stars and duos. Everyone loves to see a great pairing of actors on screen, but it's even better if the performers find a synergy between each other and continue to appear together in other films. Of course,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-marvel-movie-duos/josh-plainse">the MCU features regular duos</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-dynamic-duos/jonathan-kantor">the&nbsp;Star Wars Universe</a> - but what about the actors who transcend franchises and become cinematic soulmates?From Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as the on-screen couple who go through the most to Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson being the comedic duo we deserve, let's take a look at the movie star tag teams who push each other to the next level of greatness.

Modern Movie Stars Who Bring Out The Best In Each Other

Sergio Pereira

Firsthand Accounts

Imagine being an actor and having the opportunity to be in a Marvel movie, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-lotr-franchise-action-moments/griffin-peters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Lord of the Rings</a> film, or get to play Bond, James Bond. Behind the blockbuster appeal rests some significant drawbacks. Read what these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-nerdy-for-source-material/dom-mitrano">famous actors</a> had to say about the downsides of being in huge movie franchises.Most of these blockbuster movie franchises take a lot of time to film. The average film production lasts 2-3 months. A typical Marvel movie is double that time. Plus, an actor may need to commit to other Marvel movies like the Avengers.These <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/funny-celebrity-interview-responses/matthewcoleweiss">actor interviews</a> reveal the potential negatives that inherently come with movie franchises. Make your voice heard. Vote up the worst aspects of being a blockbuster star.

13 Actors Talk About The Downsides Of Being In A Huge Movie Franchise

Actors Talk About The Downsides Of Being In A Huge Movie Franchise

Most Hollywood actors are in the top one percent of physical attractiveness, meaning audiences are often required to pretend a character in a movie isn’t super hot when they clearly are. Studios want famous faces in their films and sometimes this leads to a person like Halle Berry playing a supposedly nondescript waitress, or Channing Tatum playing a dog-adjacent alien. Sometimes they go&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-extreme-actor-transformations-v2/mark">above and beyond</a>&nbsp;to de-glamorize the actor, like Charlize Theron in&nbsp;Monster&nbsp;or Christian Bale in basically everything except&nbsp;American Psycho. But often, the only proof the character is supposed to be unattractive is a heavy-handed script and minimal makeup.Movies based on books are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-that-are-adaptations-in-name-only/tyler-mitchell">often guilty</a>&nbsp;of this phenomenon. The desire to simultaneously adhere to the authors’ vision and showcase A-list actors puts studio execs in a bind, but they almost always opt for glamorizing an unglamorous character rather than staying faithful to the book by choosing a plain-looking actor. Then there is the vast sub-category of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/nerdy-girl-makeovers-from-teen-movies/candice-darden">movie makeovers</a>&nbsp;in which a beautiful actor is made to look as unappealing as possible to maximize the effect of their on-screen transformation. In all of these instances, the movie relies on its audience to play along and pretend they aren’t seeing the blatantly obvious. But we’re calling their bluff. Vote up the supposedly unappealing characters that aren't fooling anyone.

16 Movies Where We Have To Pretend A Character Isn't Super Hot

General

Movies Where We Have To Pretend A Character Isn't Super Hot

Lily McElveen

Lists of famous people who have something just a little different, like physically.

Distinguishing Features

There’s seemingly a cheat code to making a character instantly appear tough, intimidating, and gritty: a shaved head. Commonly used in action films, this trick to toughen up characters is often used as a signifier to the audience that this person is ready for a fight. If they enter the story that way, it's probably a sign they're not to be trifled with; if they lose their hair mid-movie, it's usually representative of a harsh change in the character. Long a stereotype, it has been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/guys-shaved-heads-seem-tougher-study-says-919445">proven by science</a> that bald people appear tougher and more intimidating than those with hair. And by comparing the typical roles of these actors to those they play with a shaved head, it becomes glaringly obvious that the simple trick is an effective one.&nbsp;However, this shortcut — not a shaved head pun —&nbsp;isn’t only a method of displaying a character's grit, but can also be used as a tool to separate preconceived notions one might have about a character due to the actor portraying them. Once you become a movie star, it gets difficult to separate the face from the name. Whether they typically play the goofy hot guy or the pretty teen star, the last thing an actor wants is to not be taken seriously. Sometimes, when the role permits, the best thing an actor can do is release themselves from those previous bonds and make themselves unrecognizable. Sometimes that means losing or gaining weight or donning a wig and makeup - but when they choose to depart with their hair, it often gives us a new screen presence entirely.

15 Times A Shaved Head Made A Movie Character Instantly Level Up

Times A Shaved Head Gave A Movie Character An Instant Bad-To-The-Bone Makeover

Griffin Peters

Weird History

If show business is all about who you know, nepotism babies have the ultimate hookup getting through the door. Defined as children working in the same industry as their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-stars-with-famous-parents/carly-kiel">famous and connected parents</a>, their presence in Hollywood is controversial because it brings their merit and work ethic into question.&nbsp;However, there is a group of well-connected offspring who have not reached the heights of their parents or what their talent allows. Maybe they are consistently working but <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-should-have-won-oscar/erin-maxwell">have yet to win awards</a> for their efforts. Maybe they are sought after by directors but have failed to find the break-out role to make them a household name. They could be pigeonholed into supporting parts or just not have the credits they should have. Either way, these underrated nepo babies are just waiting for you to discover them.&nbsp;Which of these nepo babies do you think deserve the most success? Vote up your favorites.

14 Underrated Nepotism Babies Who Shouldn't Be Overlooked Anymore

14 Underrated Nepo Babies Who Deserve Their Fame

Cortland Jacoby

2022

In Hollywood, success is a fickle thing. An actor can take home an Oscar one year only to fade into obscurity after a string of flops the next. But <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/90s-actors-who-deserve-comebacks/celebrity-lists">everyone loves a comeback</a>, and the last year had a lot to offer. Some were long overdue, while others were downright surprising. British actress Samantha Morton, for example, has been consistently lauded by critics and peers throughout her career but hasn’t gotten meaty enough roles to showcase her considerable talents since the early 2000s. Ke Huy Quan, on the other hand, was all but forgotten as an actor. Having disappeared from the big screen for over 30 years, the&nbsp;Indiana Jones&nbsp;star made a triumphant return in a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-science-fiction-movies-2022/jason-bancroft">major sci-fi movie</a>, launching one of the most unexpected and delightful second acts of the year.Some of the actors who got their mojo back leaped into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-broke-type-casting/anncasano">brand new territory</a> while others went back to their roots. Brendan Fraser, who will always be remembered as a family-friendly '90s action star, relaunched his career with an emotionally complex role in the latest movie from controversial director Darren Aronofsky. Jennifer Lawrence, by contrast, emerged from a multi-year hiatus to start making indie movies again more than a decade after the low-budget noir&nbsp;Winter’s Bone&nbsp;made her a star. From <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/character-actors/lisa-waugh">underrated character actors</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scream-queens-where-are-they-now/jacob-shelton">iconic scream queens</a>, vote up the performers who truly deserve their comebacks.

14 Actors Who Got Their Mojo Back This Year

Actors Who Got Their Mojo Back In 2022

These&nbsp;actors who started acting later in life all had legitimate careers they gave up in pursuit of the bright lights of Hollywood. The reasons why they needed to change career directions around mid-life are all different. However, every single one of these successful actors took a major gamble so that they could follow their dreams.&nbsp;

Which Emmy Award-winning actress was inspired to pursue her dreams in her 40s following her mother&#39;s passing? Which funnyman gave up being a doctor so he could play a doctor on the big screen? Which famous comedienne/actress left her high-clearance job at the National Security Agency so that she could pursue comedy?

Find out those answers and more. Plus, vote up the most impressive late transitions to Hollywood.

Actors Who Started Acting Later In Life And Totally Nailed It

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of actor lists and rankings.

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Actor lists on Ranker

Actors lists on Ranker

Alan Rickman

Ian McKellen

Michael Caine

Robin Williams

James Earl Jones

Eddie Murphy

Christian Bale

Gary Oldman

Benedict Cumberbatch

Liam Neeson

Cillian Murphy

Richard Harris

England

You'd listen to Michael Caine talk all day, right? And surely you'd watch Ian McKellan in just about any movie Hollywood decided he should be in. Why? Because they're two of the best living English actors, along with the other English men on this list. These <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-actors-working-today/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest living actors</a> from England aren't just handsome and don't just come with a great accent, they're truly talented actors who have all made film history.Who are the top living English actors? These men (whether retired or still working) are still gracing the earth and many are turning out excellent performances in hit movies, like Christian Bale and Benedict Cumberbatch. The best at what they do, these English actors win awards left and right, from BAFTAs to Golden Globes, and are popular with film-going audiences the world over.This list features the greatest living English actors including Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, Michael Cane, Colin Firth, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Sean Bean, John Cleese, Jude Law, Hugh Laurie, and Rupert Everett. Don't see your favorite living actor from England? Add him below so other film fans can vote. Then, be sure to vote and rerank the list according to who you think are the best English <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/old-celebrities-you-didn-and-_39_t-realize-are-still-alive/carly-kiel?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors still alive</a> today.

Tom Hiddleston

The Best Living English Actors

Person in Film

Best Living English Actors | List of Top Actors from England

Ranker Film

Visit Ireland

Ireland

Sure, Colin Farrell is a handsome bad boy, but what about all those other great Irish actors? This list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-irish-actors-working-today/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Irish actors</a> of all time reaches back in film history to rank the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-actors?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest male actors</a> to have ever hailed from Ireland. Hollywood just wouldn't be the same without Lawrence of Arabia and a whole bunch of James Bond films, and those movies wouldn't be what they were without a few of the top Irish actors ranked here.Who are the best Irish actors ever? The land of Erin has given the world many good actors, who have played iconic roles, been part of blockbuster and classic films, and represented Ireland on the big screen for decades. Great classic Irish actors like Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris are listed here, along with more modern talents like Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, and Pierce Brosnan. Think of your favorite movie, and there just might be a good Irish actor starring as the leading man.This list features the top Irish actors of all time including Peter O’Toole, &nbsp;Liam Neeson, Noel Purcell, Tony Doyle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Harris, and Colin Kenny. Don't see your favorite actor from the Eire? Add him below so other film fans can vote. Then, be sure to vote and rerank the list according to who you think are the best Irish actors to have ever graced the screen.

Pierce Brosnan

The Best Irish Actors of All Time

Ranking the 40+ Best Irish Actors of All Time

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

This list contains information about the best animated voiceover performances in film, ranked by your votes. Several famous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have lent their voices to to help create some of the most iconic animated characters of all time. Some of these celebrities voiced Disney characters while others teamed up with Dreamworks. Several Academy Award winners are also among the best voice over actors, and have given great voice over performances.Which Hollywood actors have given some of the best animated VO performances in film? Robin Williams is at the top of the list. Robin Williams's iconic performance as Genie in Aladdin is one of the best vocal roles in any Disney film. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen also gave great performances as Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies. Johnny Depp brought the character of Rango to life with his expressive vocals.Some famous women also voiced animated characters. Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu both gave great performances in Kung Fu Panda. Oscar-winner Meryl Streep did a great job being the voice of reason as Mrs. Fox in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Perhaps one of the the best animated voiceovers from a famous actress would be Cameron Diaz's portrayal of Princess Fiona in Shrek.Which animated voice overs are your favorite? Vote on this list and let your voice be heard in the comments section.

Mark Hamill

The Best Animated Voiceover Performances

Best Animated Voiceover Performances | Actors with the Best V.O. Performances

This list of the greatest British actors of all time has been ranked by fans. What is it about British men that makes them so magnetic on the screen? Is it their sexy accents or&nbsp;distinguished demeanors? Whatever the case, there are many top British actors and great English actors who have achieved fame, success, and won many awards worldwide.

British actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Ben Kingsley are considered to be some of the greatest actors of all time. This list includes British male actors from the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman are also <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-english-actors-working-today/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular British actors</a> you will find on this list.&nbsp;

Who are your favorites among these best British actors? Vote up your favorite famous British actors below. Then check back to see if your beloved UK actors topped the list!