By: Johnny Cruz

2025 was a highly successful and impactful year for movies. $8.87 billion was made from grossing movies in the last year alone. This was also a year of movies where we saw brilliant performances by many actors and actresses. On March 15, 2026, the Oscars will host their 98th Academy Awards on live television. 5 lucky actors have been nominated for Best Male Actor. I will be ranking and predicting my winner for this prestigious award.  

5. Wagner Moura: The Secret Agent 

In a category full of iconic A-list celebrities, Wagner Moura stands as the least known of the 5. Though that does not take away from his ecstatic performance in the crime thriller. “Wagner Moura’s withheld but emotionally vivid embodiment of a political refugee,” said the Empire online. Throughout this 2-hour 40-minute movie, Moura’s performance as Armando remains the standout performance for the duration of the entire movie. Unfortunately, I cannot place Moura any higher on this list, as these next 4 guys had outstanding performances of their own.  

4. Ethan Hawke: Blue Moon  

Even after 4 decades of acting, Ethan Hawke is still giving out very solid acting performances. Blue Moon, directed by Richard Linklater, follows Hawke’s character in the movie Lorenz Hart. Portraying him as a real-life famous songwriter in the 1940s. Hawke successfully nails the feeling of loneliness, helplessness, and jealousy. Throughout the movie reminiscing about his success, as well as explaining the concept and feeling of falling in love. This performance makes the audience feel remorse and sympathy for him. An impressive performance in his long and prosperous catalogue, just not the best role I have seen from him. Giving him number 4 on this list. 

3. Leonardo DiCaprio: One Battle After Another 

One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson was no doubt my favorite movie of the year 2025, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Bob Ferguson was a big reason for that. It is insane to think about how long DiCaprio has been giving incredible performances, and he has not slowed down even in 2025. DiCaprio perfectly plays the part of a drunken, paranoid father, desperate to find his daughter. This was also one of his funniest performances. However, I put him at 3, because even though he gave a dazzling performance, there were some scenes where he was outacted by his co-stars, such as Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro. Those two guys are also nominated for Supporting Actor of the Year.  

2. Michael B. Jordan: Sinners 

For many actors, it is extremely hard to master just one singular performance. Though, for Michael B. Jordan, he showed off his acting range in Sinners. Playing 2 identical twin brothers, Stack and Smoke. Smoke is a more serious and strategic brother. While Stack plays the charismatic and enthusiastic brother. Jordan finds a way to masterfully perform so many emotions on screen, making this his best performance of his career.  This is his first Oscar nomination for his career. So, it will be interesting to see if he can retrieve it on March 15th.  

1. Timothee Chalamet: Marty Supreme 

It’s no surprise to see one of the greatest actors of our generation at the 1 spot. Timothee Chalamet absolutely carried the movie, embracing the role of Marty Mauser as a professional table tennis player in 1952. He perfectly embodies such a conceited, self-centred person that you cannot help but root for throughout the movie. Courtney Howard from Fresh Fiction said, “Chalamet is phenomenal, delivering daring, Oscar-calibre work.” The reason I gave Chalamet the 1 spot on this list is that not only is this the best performance of his career, but this has the potential to be up there as one of the best performances of the decade so far. Phenomenal acting, which I believe, gives him the best odds to take home the award out of anybody on this list. 

In conclusion, you must give their flowers and respect to all 5 of these actors. They each had very stellar performances that are noteworthy to touch on. The performances and range of these actors give all the reasons to tune into these films. The remarkable thing about movies is that they give us the opportunity to form our own opinions. Nonetheless, it will be a great competition to see who will win the prestigious award on March 15th.  

I (Johnny Cruz) am a first-year student who is majoring in Criminal Justice. He reads, writes, and has a deep love for movies. Johnny will be graduating from Holy Family University in the Spring of 2029 and will be pursuing a career in law.