Let’s be real: awards season is a roller coaster of emotions, and it can really make you mad if you think about the countless times the Academy has ignored Black artists. Every year, there are incredible performances that don’t get any recognition, which makes fans extremely angry (and willing to express their feelings on the internet). Therefore, we decided to highlight 10 outstanding acting performances of Black actors that most definitely should have gotten an Oscar or, at the very least, been acknowledged.
10. Sound of Metal
Few movies draw you in so thoroughly as Sound of Metal. Riz Ahmed’s gut-punch of a performance as a drummer whose career and identity collapse when he loses his hearing is abetted by sound design that’s so immersive, you experience every second of his confusion. With remarkable supporting turns from Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci, and Oscars for Best Sound and Best Film Editing, this one stays with you long after the credits.
9. Saltburn
Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn is sloppy, chic, and impossible to turn away from. Barry Keoghan heads an ensemble cast that also features Rosamund Pike and Jacob Elordi in a sinister tale of obsession and entitlement among Britain’s upper class. The film turned into a viral sensation due to its outrageous third act and that infamous Murder on the Dancefloor monologue. Hate it or love it, you’ll never forget it.
8. The Vast of Night
Like your sci-fi creepy and subtle? The Vast of Night is a budget miracle that relies on mood and narrative rather than spectacle. In 1950s New Mexico, it centers around a switchboard operator and a radio DJ who discover a mysterious radio frequency that may not be of this earth. With witty dialogue, smart camera work, and sheer atmosphere, it’s indie sci-fi at its best.
7. Air
A sneaker movie is a tough sell until you see Air. Ben Affleck directs the behind-the-scenes tale of how Nike wagered everything on a then-young Michael Jordan. With Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Affleck along for the ride, the film makes corporate deal-making a high-stakes, unusually emotional trip. You’ll never glance at Jordans the same again.
6. My Old Ass
This coming-of-age dramedy takes a wild premise, an 18-year-old meeting her older self during a mushroom trip, and spins it into something funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound. Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella share a unique chemistry that makes the story of regret, advice, and self-discovery all the more moving. It sneaks up on you in the best way.
5. Deep Cover
Picture if improv comedians were forced to go undercover in London’s underworld, yep, that’s Deep Cover. Starring Orlando Bloom, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Nick Mohammed, it’s half heist, half parody, and pure anarchy. The premise is ridiculous, but that’s the point: it’s a daring comedy that’s as dedicated to the gag as its misfit cast.
4. American Fiction
Witty, acerbic, and laugh-out-loud funny, American Fiction is a scathing critique of the publishing world and the clichés it pays off. Jeffrey Wright stars as a writer who writes a spoof book in despair, only to watch it become a bestseller. Part comedy and part commentary, it’s one movie that both entertains and engages you, which is why it’s raking in the awards.
3. Heads of State
If you’re craving a throwback action-comedy, Heads of State delivers. John Cena as the U.S. President and Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister are forced to team up after a disaster strikes mid-flight. Their constant bickering is half the fun, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas rounds out the chaos as an MI6 agent. It’s big, loud, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
2. Challengers
Leave it to Luca Guadagnino to make tennis seem downright operatic. Challengers features Zendaya as a fallen prodigy caught between her husband (Mike Faist) and her former (Josh O’Connor). It’s sensual, taut, and emotionally intense, with performances that almost justify award consideration. Love tennis or care not, this one’s a knockout.
1. Conclave
Leading the pack is Conclave, a tense drama of election season for a new Pope. Featuring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, it’s a power, secret, ambition-filled tale set in the Vatican. Directed by Edward Berger, it’s a prestige cinema that’s as dramatic as any political thriller.
So, next time you’re scrolling endlessly, wondering what to watch, skip the debate. Prime Video has already done the work for you. These films are the kind of lineup that justifies your subscription all on their own.