The year has seen many big releases but not all of them have had breathtaking performances. With this list we are taking look at some of the best performances which shined not only with a well-rounded script but also drove the film with their acting skills. Not only did Bollywood performances leave us speechless this year but also Hollywood actors like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande with their chemistry in Wicket Part 1. Meanwhile, regional films like Aavesham and Maharaja have also left a massive impression long after the film was over.

Take a look at the top performances of the year 2024.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked Part 1
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba and Ariana Grande plays Glinda (or Galinda) in the musical based on Wizard of Oz and a Broadway play of the same name. Apart from the duo belting some of the best songs of the year, they also added an unexpected love and glory to their roles. However, truly it is their chemistry on and off screen which drove the film’s narrative.

Hugh Grant in Heretic
The film has been praised for its thought-provoking plot and has great performances by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, however, the best performance in the film is by Hugh Grant who plays the Heretic and it is his mood and thoughts that drive the story forward. Grant isn’t just the creepy old guy in the film but plays the voice behind logic and hearsay, both. He adds to the creepy tone of the film but also brings a bit of charm and smoothness with his performance which make it even more threatening.

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Zendaya in Challengers
Almost every year, Zendaya is part of a project that’s the talk of the town. However, for this year, it was Challengers instead of the big-budget film Dune Part 2. Challengers showed her playing the role of a genius tennis player who loses her chance at the game due to an injury and it changes the course of her life along with two best friend boys, also tennis players.

Demi Moore in The Substance
Demi Moore with her performance embodied the hate, anger, societal expectations and many more emotions of an actress, as well as all that a female has to go through during the course of her character’s life. Putting herself through the stress on camera and showcasing it vulnerably makes her performance extraordinary.

Timothee Chalamet in Dune 2
With Dune 2, Chalamet didn’t just showcase his talent but also shed his character’s skin into a new role. When compared to his performance in the first film, it shows him growing into a completely different unrecognizable character, without jarring the audience. The complexity of Dune, his character Paul Atreides and shouldering the franchise is done extrordinarly by Timothee and he deserves to be on this list.

Diljit Dosanjh in Amar Singh Chamkila
The film is based on the life of a singer and his wife who not only changed the game for Music industry in India but also put the industry on an international level in the 70s. His vivid language, high-pitched vocals and brash lyrics had also earned him the name of ‘Elvis of Punjab’. Diljit plays the character through the ups and downs of his life with charm and simplicity.

Kartik Aaryan in Chandu Champion
Chandu Champion follows the story of a self reliant Indian para Olympic medalist who was lost in Indian history, but decides to get this worth from the government for the sake of his villain. To bring roads and development to his people, when all fails he takes it upon himself to do that too. Kartik Aaryan’s performance is as resilent as his character’s passion for life.

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Vijay Sethupathi in Maharaja
The film led by Sethupathi along with Anurag Kashyap follows the story of a father and a local goon who cross paths unexpectedly. Selvam sets out to get revenge on the man who he believes sent him to jail and destroyed his family. Meanwhile, Selvam sets out to look for the goon who destoryed his home and life, by raping his daughter. Sethupathi’s performance in the film is one of a kind, the mix of helplessness and anger is unmissable.

Fahad Faasil in Aavesham
Aavesham has been called one of the biggest releases of the year in comedy, pan India. The film led by Fahadh Faasil, follows the story of three friends who are looking for a way out of being bullied at school. However, the only support they can find in is a local goon with a massive influence in the industry. As the kids get more entangled in their work, the risk to their lives becomes more evident. While the three kids are expected to be the leading characters of the film, Fahadh’s performance trumps every other aspect of the film.

Lakshya in Kill
The film reacted to quite the buzz for its gore and action sequences making it one of the most talked about films for the month. However, fans were most impressed by debutante Lakshya who played the role in sync with the film’s screenplay instead of focusing on it as his debut project. His chemistry with Raghav Juyal, the villain of Kill also made it an unmissable watch of the year.

Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India