Top 10 Male Actors of the 21st Century

This is a list of the actors that caught our imagination in the past 13 years.

The Top Ten

1 Tom Hanks Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles in Splash, Big, Turner & Hooch, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, You've Got Mail, The Green Mile, the Toy Story Franchise, Cast Away, The Da Vinci Code, Captain Phillips, and Saving Mr. ...read more.

One of the best actor of all times. Absolutely my favorite no matter what rile his plays.

Most of his films are awesome - belarbi

2 Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. DiCaprio began his career by appearing in television commercials in the late 1980s.

He is the most consistent actor in my opinion.
He takes movies to a whole new level!

There really is no one who can do what this guy does...

There isn't a role this man can't handle excellently and convincingly.

THE BEST!

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3 Johnny Depp Johnny Depp John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer, and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. His role in a movie is often rather big. His character is often on the "loopy side" and his character being in a darker state of mind, etc.

Johny Depp has starred in many brilliant movies including rango, Scissorhands and the most famous of all "the pirates of the carribean series and the latest comedy, dark shadows.

It was a hard decision but I have to say Johnny. He can play any character perfectly. Great as jack sparrow - dragonfly99

Every character he plays is THE SAME. He is always a freaky weirdo and has no charisma or emotion in his acting.

Depth to the depp

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4 Christian Bale Christian Bale Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. He has starred in both blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses.

His greatest work was the fighter transforming from the batman stuff to new england at its best he deserved the academy award

The dark knight trilogy machinist big short American hustle such variety defines greatness of an actor

He is a very talented, hard-working, dedicated and honest actor...

Very good actor... I think he had continued as Batman...

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5 Samuel L. Jackson Samuel L. Jackson Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, Amos & Andrew, True Romance, Jurassic Park and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including Pulp Fiction, Jackie ...read more.
6 Liam Neeson Liam Neeson Liam John Neeson, OBE is an actor from Northern Ireland. In 1976, he joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast for two years. He then acted in the Arthurian film, Excalibur.

I will find you and I will kill you. - Sh8 just got real

Good actor loved the taken trilogy and his role as ra's al Gul in batman begins

Best

AWESOME ACTOR WITH THE BEST VOICE EVER

7 Daniel Craig Daniel Craig Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. Craig trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991, before beginning his career on stage.

Daniel Craig is an amazing actor. Aside from the James Bond series his acting in Defiance and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (adaptation) were excellent. Although I did not like the movies themselves he was good at Dream House and Cowboys vs Aliens.

Well now... You can't beat those eyes.

Babe

8 Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English actor and film producer who has performed in film, television, theatre and radio.

Amazing Actor, Sherlock Holmes

I am voting for Benedict because he certainly took off during this century.

- Sherlock Holmes
- Smaug
- Imitation Game
- Doctor Strange
- etc...

9 David Tennant David Tennant David Tennant is a Scottish actor known for his roles as the Tenth Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who, Alec Hardy in Broadchurch, Giacomo Casanova in the TV serial Casanova, Kilgrave in Jessica Jones, and Barty Crouch, Jr. in the Harry Potter movie series.

Great actor! Has been chosen for many films, series and episodes now that's saying something he was the doctor for 4 years, featured in doctor who, broad church and the escape artist!

Oh God this guy... just ugh.

Talented and my favorite doctor.

Yes, he was THE ALL MIGHTY DOCTOR, and the evil BARTY CROUCH JUNIOR

From 'Glasgow' my City he is...

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10 Robert De Niro Robert De Niro Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. is an American actor, producer, and director. De Niro was cast as the young Vito Corleone in the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The most amazing actor of our generation.

Number 2 next to Pacino

Al Pacino is top actor

Best of all.

The Newcomers

? Pearce Joza Pearce Joza
? Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor, director, and producer. Best known for his distinctive supporting and character roles – typically lowlifes, eccentrics, bullies, and misfits – Hoffman acted in many films from the early 1990s until his death in 2014.

The Contenders

11 Tom Hardy Tom Hardy Edward Thomas Hardy, CBE is an English actor and film producer. Originally a model, Hardy made his film debut in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down.

He is one of the most talented actors of this generation! He is such a versatile actor. Every movie that he is been in has been worth watching just to see him act. First film of his that I watched was "Stuart a life backwards" and since then I have watched all and will continue to watch any film that he is in. :D

He should be top three. Liam neeson should nit be on the list. Hardy is the top method actor of the past 20 years

Love watching anything Tom Hardy is in! Just loved him in "Taboo" & it was not an 'easy watch'!

He’s the best actor ever!

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12 Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Fowler is an American actor, producer and singer. He began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s before obtaining supporting roles in film and television.

I can't believe he is not in the top.. And also matthew mcconaughey

One of the best actors in the world.

13 Martin Freeman Martin Freeman
14 Robert Downey Jr. Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor. His career has included critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, and a resurgence of commercial success in middle age.

He is the best obviously

This list makes no sense. Robert should be the No. 1!

15 Christoph Waltz Christoph Waltz Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor that has won 2 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained.

I love him. His work in Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained is mindblowing. - HysteriXxD

16 Tom Cruise Tom Cruise Tom Cruise is an American actor and filmmaker. Cruise has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards.

Bottom of my list

What about tomm?

17 Guy Pearce Guy Pearce

Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an English-born Australian actor and musician, known for his roles as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, Lieutenant Ed Exley in L.A. confidential, Adam Whitely aka Felicia Jollygoodfellow (a drag queen) in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Mike Young in the Australian television series Neighbours and King Edward VI ("David") in The King's Speech. Pearce has won an Emmy Award, and received nominations for Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Saturn Awards.

18 Will Smith Will Smith Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is best known for his acting career overall. He has been in many popular movies, These include, but are not limited to, the Men in Black franchise, The Pursuit of Happyness, and After Earth. He is ...read more.

Should be #1 you uncluttered swine

Did not know Johnny Depp was so bashful. Love him on his movies and off.

Nobody can beat these - Pursuit of Happyness, Seven Pounds. Best Actor there is!

Just amazing #1

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19 Christopher Walken Christopher Walken Christopher Walken is an American actor of screen and stage who has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows.
20 Denzel Washington Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day.

Dependable performance always. Believable in all of his roles. Training day took him to a new level. Super bad Azzz. But he's able to carry the good guy role too.

21 Chris Evans Chris Evans Christopher Robert Evans is an American actor. Evans is best known for his superhero roles as the Marvel Comics characters Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Human Torch in Fantastic Four.

He is amazing

22 Don Cheadle
23 Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper is an American actor and producer. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, three for acting and one for producing, and one Tony Award.
24 Kevin Bacon Kevin Bacon Kevin Norwood Bacon is an American actor and musician whose films include musical-drama film Footloose, the controversial historical conspiracy legal thriller JFK, the legal drama A Few Good Men, the historical docudrama Apollo 13, and the mystery drama Mystic River.
25 Jude Law Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972), is an English actor. He has received nominations for two Academy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and two British Academy Awards, winning one. In 2007, he received an Honorary César and was named a knight of the Order ...read more.
26 Brad Pitt Brad Pitt William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and three Academy Award nominations in acting categories and received three further Academy Award nominations, winning one, as producer under his ...read more.

It's a shame I had to scroll down to the 20th spot to find Brad Pitt.

His legendary roles in Fight Club, Troy, 12 Monkeys, Inglorious Basterds etc have been overshadowed by his extremely good looks.

He deserves to be on the 2nd spot after Leo.

27 Nicolas Cage Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola, known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and producer. He is well known for his roles in Raising Arizona, Moonstruck, Vampire's Kiss, Wild at Heart, Honeymoon in Vegas, Red Rock West, Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, City of Angels, 8MM, Bringing ...read more.
28 Russell Crowe Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe is an actor, film producer and musician. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has lived most of his life in Australia and identifies himself as an Australian.

His body of work speaks for itself. Thoroughly a craftsmen and artist at work. Definitely in the all-time top 10.

29 Gary Oldman Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, filmmaker, musician and author. Renowned for his "big" acting style, Oldman is one of the most celebrated thespians of his generation, with a diverse career encompassing theatre, film and television.
30 Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure.

The ultimate tough guy! Him and John Wayne were the cowboys

31 James McAvoy James McAvoy James McAvoy is a Scottish actor. He made his acting début as a teen in 1995's The Near Room and continued to make mostly television appearances until 2003, when his feature film career began and he continued to work in both areas from then on.
32 Shahrukh Khan Shahrukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan, also known as SRK, is an Indian film actor, producer, and television personality. Referred to in the media as the "Badshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood", "King Khan", he has appeared in more than 80 Bollywood films, and earned numerous accolades, including 14 Filmfare Awards.

Greatest actor of all time.The king of Bollywood.

33 Suriya Suriya Saravanan Sivakumar, better known by his stage name Suriya, is an Indian film actor, producer and television presenter, who is currently working in the Tamil film industry.

One of the greatest Indian actors

Versatile, handsome, great actor, action packed, experimental what more do you need- By Kaushik

34 Mickey Rourke Mickey Rourke Philip Andre Rourke Jr., known professionally as Mickey Rourke, is an American actor, screenwriter, and retired boxer, who has appeared primarily as a leading man in drama, action, and thriller films.
35 Christopher Lee Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (1922-2015) was an English actor, singer, and author. He was best known for his villainous roles in films such as Dracula in the Hammer Horror films, Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, Saruman in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit ...read more.
36 Ryan Gosling Ryan Gosling Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor, musician, and producer. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs including Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Two words... Six pack.

37 Orlando Bloom Orlando Bloom Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom is an English actor. After having his breakthrough as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he rose to fame by further appearing in epic fantasy, historical epic, and fantasy adventure films.
38 James Norton James Norton James Geoffrey Ian Norton is an English actor best known for playing Reverend Sydney Chambers in the ITV period crime series Grantchester and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in the 2016 BBC mini series adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.
39 Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor and narrator. Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby (2004), and he has received Oscar nominations for his performances in Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus. ...read more.

I guess he should be number 1

40 Viggo Mortensen Viggo Mortensen

He's. a great actor puts emotions into his movie. Ice: The Road

41 Colin Farrell Colin Farrell
42 Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender is a German-Irish actor of stage and screen whose career includes roles in both independent and blockbuster films, most notably; Hunger, Inglourious Basterds, Shame, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus, 12 Years a Slave, Frank, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Steve Jobs.

Words don't describe the combined style and intensity he brings to the screen. His expressions tell a thousand words, and his words a thousand expressions. The perfect blend of character and personality to fit him in with greats such as Jack Nicholson and Jeff Bridges.

43 Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix

Jensen Ackles above this guy. Joaquin is top 10 easily.

44 Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence as the title character in the Harry Potter film series.

This guy is the definition of awesomeness, especially in Harry Potter.

Love you

45 Mads Mikkelsen Mads Mikkelsen
46 Alan Rickman Alan Rickman Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (February 21st 1946 - Janurary 14th 2016) was an English actor and director known for playing a variety of roles on stage and screen, most notably Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2016
47 Simon Pegg Simon Pegg Simon John Pegg is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Pegg came to public prominence in Britain as the co-creator of the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced, directed by Edgar Wright.
48 Jensen Ackles Jensen Ackles Jensen Ross Ackles is an American actor and director. He is mostly known for his role as Dean Winchester on the CW fantasy series Supernatural. He is also known for his roles in television as Eric Brady in Days of Our Lives, which earned him several Daytime Emmy Award nominations, as well as Alec/X5-494 ...read more.

He's fantastic! 9 seasons of his outstanding portrayal of Dean Winchester on Supernatural say it all!

49 Mel Gibson Mel Gibson Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson AO is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his action hero roles, namely his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films in the Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series, and as Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon buddy cop film series.
50 Bryan Cranston Bryan Cranston Bryan Lee Cranston is an American actor, voice actor, screenwriter, director, ordained Pastor and producer.
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List Stats

1,000 votes
121 listings
5 years, 298 days old

Top Remixes (9)

1. Suriya
2. Shahrukh Khan
3. Will Smith
kaushikhariharasoonu
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
2. Johnny Depp
3. Christian Bale
Adham
1. Christian Bale
2. Leonardo DiCaprio
3. Johnny Depp
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