Best Film Lead Actor Nominees (Screen Awards 2025)

by

Despite challenges like disappointing box office results, a major studio takeover, and the usual mix of successful and unsuccessful films, 2025 was still a fantastic year for movies, filled with incredible performances. To celebrate these achievements, the first annual Screen Awards – a collaboration between Collider, ScreenRant, CBR, and MovieWeb – will honor the best films, as chosen by a group of critics and editors from all four sites.

While awards season officially kicks off with the fall film festivals like Venice, Telluride, and Toronto, several potential winners actually gained attention much earlier in the year. It shows how strong a film and its acting can be if it remains a topic of discussion even after the summer’s big blockbusters and the start of festival season. And, as always, there are a few surprises that emerge late in the race – including one we’re highlighting here.

The actors nominated for Best Actor this year showcase the incredible talent Hollywood has to offer, with performances ranging from subtle and emotionally resonant to powerfully energetic and captivating. As Deputy News Editor at ScreenRant, I’m excited to highlight the actors who truly stood out and sparked conversation throughout the year. You can find complete coverage of our Screen Awards here, but first, here are the Best Actor nominees.

Jesse Plemons (Bugonia)

Jesse Plemons, known for his role in Friday Night Lights, further cemented his status as one of today’s best actors in Yorgos Lanthimos’s newest film. Bugonia, a tense and unusual thriller reminiscent of Lanthimos’s earlier work, is a remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet! Plemons plays Teddy Gatz, a man who leads a double life as both a beekeeper/factory worker and a conspiracy theorist. He believes the CEO, Michelle Fuller (played brilliantly by Emma Stone, who expertly delivers corporate jargon and hints at a secret), is an alien and decides to kidnap her.

Beneath Teddy’s often outlandish beliefs lies a profound sadness, and actor Jesse Plemons skillfully shows this complex mix of paranoia, grief, and a lingering hope that he might be right about Michelle. This desperation persists despite everything Teddy has endured, including his mother’s illness (played by Alicia Silverstone), which is linked to the same company run by the film’s antagonist. It’s not until the final act of Bugonia that Plemons powerfully unleashes these pent-up emotions, as Teddy’s paranoia spirals into violence and chaos.

Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams)

Clint Bentley’s film, Train Dreams, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is a quietly powerful adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella. Starring Caleb Edgerton as Robert Granier, a logger in the Pacific Northwest around the year 1900, the movie tells the story of an ordinary man and an ordinary life—and that’s exactly what makes it special. Many viewers are predicting it will be a breakout success.

Extraordinary and difficult events surround Robert, impacting his world and even threatening his life. Throughout it all, Joel Edgerton’s performance keeps the story centered on Robert’s realistic and relatable point of view, subtly conveying both happiness and sadness through small expressions and everyday actions. While some might see grief as the central theme of Train Dreams, the film’s moving conclusion reveals that grief is simply one element within a much larger, complex web of experience – much like the deep, spreading roots of an ancient pine tree.

Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)

As a huge film fan, I’m already seeing One Battle After Another sweep up all the early awards, and it’s so deserved – Paul Thomas Anderson has really outdone himself. While the whole cast is amazing, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson totally carries the movie. He plays this wonderfully complex character – a bit of a stoner dad, but also someone wrestling with a lot of pain – and he’s often genuinely funny. We first meet Bob, who used to go by ‘Ghetto Pat,’ as this fiery activist, caught up in the excitement of protests and a passionate relationship with Teyana Taylor’s Perfidia Beverly Hills.

Bob’s once-dynamic life slows down as he focuses on raising his teenage daughter, and the excitement of his past fades into the routines of parenthood. When he’s unexpectedly thrown back into action, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers some of his most impressive comedic scenes, all while subtly conveying a deep sadness rooted in his failure to shield his daughter, Willa, from the harsh realities of the world he once knew. DiCaprio expertly balances these contrasting emotions, seamlessly shifting from lighthearted moments – like taking selfies with Benicio del Toro’s character – to heartbreaking ones, such as struggling with a simple task like doing his daughter’s hair.

Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Ryan Coogler’s horror film, Sinners, was a huge hit in the first half of 2025, continuing Warner Bros.’ streak of successes in a landmark year for the studio. However, the film’s box office numbers don’t fully capture what makes Sinners special—it’s a deeply moving and disturbing vampire story set in the Mississippi countryside. Michael B. Jordan gives a remarkable performance playing twins, a dual role reminiscent of Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.

Jordan masterfully creates two unique and believable characters, giving each brother individual quirks and habits. Though they’ve returned to town to open a music venue, Smoke and Stack have some explaining to do to the people they left behind. As we see them reconnect with old flames, friends, and family, it becomes clear how easily they once conned money from Chicago criminals before disappearing. Similar to his powerful performance in Fruitvale Station, Jordan demonstrates a hidden talent here, and Sinners finally gives him the opportunity to showcase his complete acting abilities.

Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

Timothée Chalamet caused a stir earlier this year at the Screen Actors Guild Awards when he said he was “in the pursuit of greatness.” He’s continued to express this ambition while promoting his new film, Marty Supreme, with director Josh Safdie. In a recent interview that has since been removed online, Chalamet boldly described his performance in the film as “top-level” and his best work to date. While his confidence has bothered some, it appears to be justified.

I have to say, Timothée Chalamet completely blew me away in this role. He plays Marty Mauser with this incredible, almost frantic energy – it’s unlike anything I’ve seen him do before. Seriously, the guy is always moving and talking! He’s so full of passion, but also kind of a mess who refuses to take responsibility. But somehow, Chalamet makes him totally endearing. It all builds to this really powerful, emotional moment that just floored me, and honestly, it feels like a turning point in his career – he’s clearly on his way to becoming a truly great actor.

Read More

2025-12-14 19:42