6 Best Oscar Best Actor Winners of the 2010s

By Vlad Zakh · June 20, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Actor in the 2010s crowned a decade of transformative, historically resonant leading performances. In Joker (2019): A failed comedian’s descent into madness and violence gives rise to an iconic criminal mastermind. Equally memorable is The King’s Speech (2010): A reluctant king overcomes a debilitating stammer with the help of an unconventional speech therapist.

Joker (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 68% Metacritic 59

A failed comedian's descent into madness and violence gives rise to an iconic criminal mastermind.

Directed by Todd Phillips · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars120 wins & 247 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A withdrawn handyman is forced to confront his tragic past when he becomes guardian to his nephew in his hometown fishing community.

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Theory of Everything (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 71

A brilliant physicist's groundbreaking career and marriage are tested by his diagnosis with a degenerative disease.

Directed by James Marsh · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar25 wins & 128 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 92% Metacritic 77

A homophobic Texas electrician diagnosed with AIDS smuggles unapproved medication to help himself and other patients survive.

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée · 1h 57m · Rated R

Won 3 Oscars85 wins & 88 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lincoln (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.3

President Abraham Lincoln fights to pass the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery before the Civil War ends.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 30m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The King's Speech (2010)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 94% Metacritic 88

A reluctant king overcomes a debilitating stammer with the help of an unconventional speech therapist.

Directed by Tom Hooper · 1h 58m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars109 wins & 206 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Britbox Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Oscar Best Actor Winners of the 2010s

Joker (2019)

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Lincoln (2012)

The King's Speech (2010)

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