Greatest Film Performances
of the 1990s (US/UK)
Criteria: Film Performances of the 1990s are ranked based on initial and lasting acclaim, popular and cultural recognition, plus influence. In order to qualify for this list the performance has to come from a predominately English-language film produced or co-produced by American or British production companies.
Actor - Film Title (Year of Release)
1. Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump (1994)
2. Anthony Hopkins
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
3. Denzel Washington
Malcolm X (1992)
4. Kevin Spacey
American Beauty (1999)
5. Emily Watson
Breaking the Waves (1996)
6. Daniel Day-Lewis
In the Name of the Father (1993)
7. Geoffrey Rush
Shine (1996)
8. Tom Hanks
Philadelphia (1993)
9. Holly Hunter
The Piano (1993)
10. Nicolas Cage
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
11. Frances McDormand
Fargo (1996)
12. Johnny Depp
Ed Wood (1994)
13. Hilary Swank
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
14. Jeremy Irons
Reversal of Fortune (1990)
15. Morgan Freeman
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
16. Ian McKellen
Gods and Monsters (1998)
17. Kathy Bates
Misery (1990)
18. Edward Norton
American History X (1998)
19. Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
20. Jack Nicholson
As Good as It Gets (1997)
21. Cate Blanchett
Elizabeth (1998)
22. Gene Hackman
The Unforgiven (1992)
23. Samuel L. Jackson
Pulp Fiction (1994)
24. Anjelica Huston
The Grifters (1990)
25. Jeff Bridges
The Big Lebowski (1998)
26. Joe Pesci
Goodfellas (1990)
27. Robert Downey Jr.
Chaplin (1992)
28. Emma Thompson
Howard's End (1992)
29. Robert De Niro
Goodfellas (1990)
30. Al Pacino
Scent of a Woman (1992)
31. Tom Hanks
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
32. Brad Pitt
Fight Club (1999)
33. Robert Duvall
The Apostle (1997)
34. Sean Penn
Dead Man Walking (1995)
35. Susan Sarandon
Dead Man Walking (1995)
36. Russell Crowe
The Insider (1999)
37. Robin Williams
Good Will Hunting (1997)
38. Jessica Lange
Blue Sky (1994)
39. Clint Eastwood
The Unforgiven (1992)
40. Nick Nolte
The Prince of Tides (1991)
41. Anthony Hopkins
The Remains of the Day (1993)
42. Geena Davis
Thelma & Louise (1991)
43. Robin Williams
The Fisher King (1991)
44. Robert De Niro
Cape Fear (1991)
45. Kevin Spacey
The Usual Suspects (1995)
46. Ralph Fiennes
The English Patient (1996)
47. Annette Bening
American Beauty (1999)
48. Jim Carrey
Man on the Moon (1999)
49. Edward Norton
Fight Club (1999)
50. Tom Cruise
Magnolia (1999)
51. Angela Bassett
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
52. Tim Robbins
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
53. Edward Norton
Primal Fear (1996)
54. Julianne Moore
Boogie Nights (1997)
55. Ian McKellen
Richard III (1995)
56. John Travolta
Pulp Fiction (1994)
57. Ralph Fiennes
Schindler's List (1993)
58. Bill Murray
Groundhog Day (1993)
59. Susan Sarandon
Thelma & Louise (1991)
60. Emma Thompson
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
61. Meryl Streep
The Bridges of Madison Country (1995)
62. Morgan Freeman
Seven (1995)
63. Julia Roberts
Pretty Woman (1990)
64. River Phoenix
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
65. Julliette Binoche
The English Patient (1996)
66. Anthony Hopkins
Amistad (1997)
67. Matt Damon
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
68. Burt Reynolds
Boogie Nights (1997)
69. Robert De Niro
Awakenings (1990)
70. Emma Thompson
The Remains of the Day (1993)
71. Denzel Washington
Philadelphia (1993)
72. Judy Davis
Husbands and Wives (1992)
73. Michelle Pfeiffer
Love Field (1992)
74. Jack Lemmon
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
75. Al Pacino
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
76. Tommy Lee Jones
The Fugitive (1993)
77. Mira Sorvino
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
78. Brenda Blythyn
Secrets and Lies (1996)
79. Kenneth Branagh
Hamlet (1996)
80. Billy Bob Thornton
Sling Blade (1996)
81. Jodie Foster
Nell (1994)
82. Tom Cruise
Jerry Maguire (1996)
83. Elizabeth Shue
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
84. Warren Beatty
Bugsy (1991)
85. Al Pacino
Dick Tracy (1990)
86. Johnny Depp
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
87. Sharon Stone
Casino (1995)
88. Gwyneth Paltrow
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
89. Emily Watson
Hilary and Jackie (1998)
90. Peter Fonda
Ulee's Gold (1997)
91. Samuel L. Jackson
Jackie Brown (1997)
92. Robin Williams
Awakenings (1990)
93. Martin Landau
Ed Wood (1994)
94. Dianne Wiest
Bullets over Broadway (1994)
95. Woody Harrelson
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
96. Ray Liotta
Goodfellas (1990)
97. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
98. Anthony Hopkins
Nixon (1995)
99. Julianne Moore
Safe (1995)
100. Jane Horrocks
Little Voice (1998)
101. Jim Carrey
The Truman Show (1998)
102. Reese Witherspoon
Election (1999)
103. Steve Buscemi
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
104. Leonardo DiCaprio
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
105. Liam Neeson
Schindler's List (1993)
106. Stephen Rea
The Crying Game (1992)
107. Brad Pitt
12 Monkeys (1995)
108. William H. Macy
Fargo (1996)
109. Ewan McGregor
Trainspotting (1996)
110. Julianne Moore
The End of the Affair (1999)
111. John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich (1999)
112. Lorraine Bracco
Goodfellas (1990)
113. Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves (1990)
114. Helena Bonham Carter
The Wings of the Dove (1997)
115. Helen Hunt
As Good as It Gets (1997)
116. Mercedes Ruehl
The Fisher King (1991)
117. Nigel Hawthorne
The Madness of King George (1994)
118. Gary Sinise
Forrest Gump (1994)
119. Steve Buscemi
Fargo (1996)
120. Dustin Hoffman
Wag the Dog (1997)
121. John Turturro
Quiz Show (1994)
122. David Thewlis
Naked (1993)
123. Marisa Tomei
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
124. Pam Greer
Jackie Brown (1997)
125. Jack Nicholson
A Few Good Men (1992)
126. Hugh Grant
Four Wedding and a Funeral (1994)
127. Harvey Keitel
Bad Lieutenant (1992)
128. Al Pacino
Carlito's Way (1993)
129. John Goodman
The Big Lebowski (1998)
130. Richard Farnsworth
The Straight Story (1999)
131. Val Kilmer
Tombstone (1993)
132. Al Pacino
Donnie Brasco (1997)
133. Angelina Jolie
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
134. Richard Dreyfuss
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
135. Nicole Kidman
To Die For (1995)
136. Harrison Ford
The Fugitive (1993)
137. Al Pacino
The Godfather Part III (1990)
138. Sharon Stone
Basic Instinct (1992)
139. Joan Allen
Nixon (1995)
140. Dylan Baker
Happiness (1998)
141. Kate Winslet
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
142. Judi Dench
Mrs Brown (1997)
143. Jim Broadbent
Topsy-Turvy (1999)
144. Chris Cooper
American Beauty (1999)
145. Russell Crowe
L.A. Confidential (1997)
146. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Happiness (1998)
147. Kim Basinger
L.A. Confidential (1997)
148. Laura Dern
Citizen Ruth (1996)
149. Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Secrets and Lied (1996)
150. Laura Dern
Rambling Rose (1991)
151. Bette Midler
For the Boys (1991)
152. Harvey Keitel
Bugsy (1991)
153. Jack Palance
City Slickers (1991)
154. John Turturro
Barton Fink (1991)
155. Val Kilmer
The Doors (1991)
156. Kate Winslet
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
157. Winona Ryder
The Age of Innocence (1993)
158. Robert De Niro
Casino (1995)
159. Al Pacino
Heat (1995)
160. Joseph Fiennes
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
161. Denzel Washington
Hurricane (1999)
162. Meryl Streep
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
163. Whoopi Goldberg
Ghost (1990)
164. Laurence Fishburne
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
165. Haley Joel Osment
The Sixth Sense (1999)
166. Kathy Bates
Primary Colors (1998)
167. Melanie Lynskey
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
168. Mia Farrow
Alice (1990)
169. Tommy Lee Jones
JFK (1991)
170. Michelle Pfeiffer
The Age of Innocence (1993)
171. Gary Oldman
JFK (1991)
172. Joanne Woodward
Mr.and Mrs. Bridge (1990)
173. Paul Scofield
Quiz Show (1994)
174. Greg Kinnear
As Good as It Gets (1997)
175. Paul Newman
Nobody's Foul (1994)
176. Miranda Richardson
Enchanted April (1992)
177. Minnie Driver
Good Will Hunting (1997)
178. Matt Damon
Good Will Hunting (1997)
179. Ed Harris
The Truman Show (1998)
180. Michael Caine
Cider House Rules (1999)
181. Michael Clarke Duncan
Green Mile (1999)
182. Courtney Love
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
183. Kate Winslet
Hamlet (1996)
184. Elias Coteas
The Thin Red Line (1998)
185. Billy Bob Thornton
A Simple Plan (1998)
186. Michael Caine
Little Voice (1998)
187. Tim Robbins
The Player (1992)
188. Alan Rickman
Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
189. Robert Carlyle
Trainspotting (1996)
190. Aaron Eckhart
In the Company of Men (1997)
191. Stockard Channing
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
192. Robin Williams
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
193. Richard Harris
The Field (1990)
194. Susan Sarandon
Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
195. Christina Ricci
Buffalo '66 (1998)
196. Bill Murray
Rushmore (1998)
197. Tom Cruise
A Few Good Men (1992)
198. Helen Mirren
The Madness of King George (1994)
199. Ralph Fiennes
Quiz Show (1994)
200. Christopher Plummer
The Insider (1999)
1. Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump (1994)
2. Anthony Hopkins
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
3. Denzel Washington
Malcolm X (1992)
4. Kevin Spacey
American Beauty (1999)
5. Emily Watson
Breaking the Waves (1996)
6. Daniel Day-Lewis
In the Name of the Father (1993)
7. Geoffrey Rush
Shine (1996)
8. Tom Hanks
Philadelphia (1993)
9. Holly Hunter
The Piano (1993)
10. Nicolas Cage
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
11. Frances McDormand
Fargo (1996)
12. Johnny Depp
Ed Wood (1994)
13. Hilary Swank
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
14. Jeremy Irons
Reversal of Fortune (1990)
15. Morgan Freeman
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
16. Ian McKellen
Gods and Monsters (1998)
17. Kathy Bates
Misery (1990)
18. Edward Norton
American History X (1998)
19. Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
20. Jack Nicholson
As Good as It Gets (1997)
21. Cate Blanchett
Elizabeth (1998)
22. Gene Hackman
The Unforgiven (1992)
23. Samuel L. Jackson
Pulp Fiction (1994)
24. Anjelica Huston
The Grifters (1990)
25. Jeff Bridges
The Big Lebowski (1998)
26. Joe Pesci
Goodfellas (1990)
27. Robert Downey Jr.
Chaplin (1992)
28. Emma Thompson
Howard's End (1992)
29. Robert De Niro
Goodfellas (1990)
30. Al Pacino
Scent of a Woman (1992)
31. Tom Hanks
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
32. Brad Pitt
Fight Club (1999)
33. Robert Duvall
The Apostle (1997)
34. Sean Penn
Dead Man Walking (1995)
35. Susan Sarandon
Dead Man Walking (1995)
36. Russell Crowe
The Insider (1999)
37. Robin Williams
Good Will Hunting (1997)
38. Jessica Lange
Blue Sky (1994)
39. Clint Eastwood
The Unforgiven (1992)
40. Nick Nolte
The Prince of Tides (1991)
41. Anthony Hopkins
The Remains of the Day (1993)
42. Geena Davis
Thelma & Louise (1991)
43. Robin Williams
The Fisher King (1991)
44. Robert De Niro
Cape Fear (1991)
45. Kevin Spacey
The Usual Suspects (1995)
46. Ralph Fiennes
The English Patient (1996)
47. Annette Bening
American Beauty (1999)
48. Jim Carrey
Man on the Moon (1999)
49. Edward Norton
Fight Club (1999)
50. Tom Cruise
Magnolia (1999)
51. Angela Bassett
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
52. Tim Robbins
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
53. Edward Norton
Primal Fear (1996)
54. Julianne Moore
Boogie Nights (1997)
55. Ian McKellen
Richard III (1995)
56. John Travolta
Pulp Fiction (1994)
57. Ralph Fiennes
Schindler's List (1993)
58. Bill Murray
Groundhog Day (1993)
59. Susan Sarandon
Thelma & Louise (1991)
60. Emma Thompson
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
61. Meryl Streep
The Bridges of Madison Country (1995)
62. Morgan Freeman
Seven (1995)
63. Julia Roberts
Pretty Woman (1990)
64. River Phoenix
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
65. Julliette Binoche
The English Patient (1996)
66. Anthony Hopkins
Amistad (1997)
67. Matt Damon
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
68. Burt Reynolds
Boogie Nights (1997)
69. Robert De Niro
Awakenings (1990)
70. Emma Thompson
The Remains of the Day (1993)
71. Denzel Washington
Philadelphia (1993)
72. Judy Davis
Husbands and Wives (1992)
73. Michelle Pfeiffer
Love Field (1992)
74. Jack Lemmon
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
75. Al Pacino
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
76. Tommy Lee Jones
The Fugitive (1993)
77. Mira Sorvino
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
78. Brenda Blythyn
Secrets and Lies (1996)
79. Kenneth Branagh
Hamlet (1996)
80. Billy Bob Thornton
Sling Blade (1996)
81. Jodie Foster
Nell (1994)
82. Tom Cruise
Jerry Maguire (1996)
83. Elizabeth Shue
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
84. Warren Beatty
Bugsy (1991)
85. Al Pacino
Dick Tracy (1990)
86. Johnny Depp
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
87. Sharon Stone
Casino (1995)
88. Gwyneth Paltrow
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
89. Emily Watson
Hilary and Jackie (1998)
90. Peter Fonda
Ulee's Gold (1997)
91. Samuel L. Jackson
Jackie Brown (1997)
92. Robin Williams
Awakenings (1990)
93. Martin Landau
Ed Wood (1994)
94. Dianne Wiest
Bullets over Broadway (1994)
95. Woody Harrelson
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
96. Ray Liotta
Goodfellas (1990)
97. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
98. Anthony Hopkins
Nixon (1995)
99. Julianne Moore
Safe (1995)
100. Jane Horrocks
Little Voice (1998)
101. Jim Carrey
The Truman Show (1998)
102. Reese Witherspoon
Election (1999)
103. Steve Buscemi
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
104. Leonardo DiCaprio
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
105. Liam Neeson
Schindler's List (1993)
106. Stephen Rea
The Crying Game (1992)
107. Brad Pitt
12 Monkeys (1995)
108. William H. Macy
Fargo (1996)
109. Ewan McGregor
Trainspotting (1996)
110. Julianne Moore
The End of the Affair (1999)
111. John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich (1999)
112. Lorraine Bracco
Goodfellas (1990)
113. Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves (1990)
114. Helena Bonham Carter
The Wings of the Dove (1997)
115. Helen Hunt
As Good as It Gets (1997)
116. Mercedes Ruehl
The Fisher King (1991)
117. Nigel Hawthorne
The Madness of King George (1994)
118. Gary Sinise
Forrest Gump (1994)
119. Steve Buscemi
Fargo (1996)
120. Dustin Hoffman
Wag the Dog (1997)
121. John Turturro
Quiz Show (1994)
122. David Thewlis
Naked (1993)
123. Marisa Tomei
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
124. Pam Greer
Jackie Brown (1997)
125. Jack Nicholson
A Few Good Men (1992)
126. Hugh Grant
Four Wedding and a Funeral (1994)
127. Harvey Keitel
Bad Lieutenant (1992)
128. Al Pacino
Carlito's Way (1993)
129. John Goodman
The Big Lebowski (1998)
130. Richard Farnsworth
The Straight Story (1999)
131. Val Kilmer
Tombstone (1993)
132. Al Pacino
Donnie Brasco (1997)
133. Angelina Jolie
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
134. Richard Dreyfuss
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
135. Nicole Kidman
To Die For (1995)
136. Harrison Ford
The Fugitive (1993)
137. Al Pacino
The Godfather Part III (1990)
138. Sharon Stone
Basic Instinct (1992)
139. Joan Allen
Nixon (1995)
140. Dylan Baker
Happiness (1998)
141. Kate Winslet
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
142. Judi Dench
Mrs Brown (1997)
143. Jim Broadbent
Topsy-Turvy (1999)
144. Chris Cooper
American Beauty (1999)
145. Russell Crowe
L.A. Confidential (1997)
146. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Happiness (1998)
147. Kim Basinger
L.A. Confidential (1997)
148. Laura Dern
Citizen Ruth (1996)
149. Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Secrets and Lied (1996)
150. Laura Dern
Rambling Rose (1991)
151. Bette Midler
For the Boys (1991)
152. Harvey Keitel
Bugsy (1991)
153. Jack Palance
City Slickers (1991)
154. John Turturro
Barton Fink (1991)
155. Val Kilmer
The Doors (1991)
156. Kate Winslet
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
157. Winona Ryder
The Age of Innocence (1993)
158. Robert De Niro
Casino (1995)
159. Al Pacino
Heat (1995)
160. Joseph Fiennes
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
161. Denzel Washington
Hurricane (1999)
162. Meryl Streep
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
163. Whoopi Goldberg
Ghost (1990)
164. Laurence Fishburne
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
165. Haley Joel Osment
The Sixth Sense (1999)
166. Kathy Bates
Primary Colors (1998)
167. Melanie Lynskey
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
168. Mia Farrow
Alice (1990)
169. Tommy Lee Jones
JFK (1991)
170. Michelle Pfeiffer
The Age of Innocence (1993)
171. Gary Oldman
JFK (1991)
172. Joanne Woodward
Mr.and Mrs. Bridge (1990)
173. Paul Scofield
Quiz Show (1994)
174. Greg Kinnear
As Good as It Gets (1997)
175. Paul Newman
Nobody's Foul (1994)
176. Miranda Richardson
Enchanted April (1992)
177. Minnie Driver
Good Will Hunting (1997)
178. Matt Damon
Good Will Hunting (1997)
179. Ed Harris
The Truman Show (1998)
180. Michael Caine
Cider House Rules (1999)
181. Michael Clarke Duncan
Green Mile (1999)
182. Courtney Love
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
183. Kate Winslet
Hamlet (1996)
184. Elias Coteas
The Thin Red Line (1998)
185. Billy Bob Thornton
A Simple Plan (1998)
186. Michael Caine
Little Voice (1998)
187. Tim Robbins
The Player (1992)
188. Alan Rickman
Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
189. Robert Carlyle
Trainspotting (1996)
190. Aaron Eckhart
In the Company of Men (1997)
191. Stockard Channing
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
192. Robin Williams
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
193. Richard Harris
The Field (1990)
194. Susan Sarandon
Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
195. Christina Ricci
Buffalo '66 (1998)
196. Bill Murray
Rushmore (1998)
197. Tom Cruise
A Few Good Men (1992)
198. Helen Mirren
The Madness of King George (1994)
199. Ralph Fiennes
Quiz Show (1994)
200. Christopher Plummer
The Insider (1999)
Edited By: Tim, Bruno
List Begun: 2019-10-21