Top 10 Best Performances After a Long Hiatus
#10: Jennifer Lawrence “Don’t Look Up” (2021)
Top 10 Funniest Jennifer Lawrence Moments
Jennifer Lawrence ended the 2010s with a string of action films and an "X-Men" sequel. She decided to take some significant time off for personal reasons and to work with nonprofits. A few years and a pandemic later, Lawrence and her acclaimed role in "Don't Look Up" landed on Netflix. Her astronomist hero tries to warn the world about an incoming comet. Through a satirical lens, the actress gives her scientific character heart and humor in the face of a doomsday scenario. The challenging part allows for her to explore humanity through serious issues. At the same time, it also reveals a different side to the actress that's inspirational and politically engaged.
#9: Lauren Bacall “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974)
Lauren Bacall was one of the great actresses of the classic Hollywood era. Her acting partnership with Humphrey Bogart produced several classics, but her parts became more sporadic as she grew older. That all changed when she came off an eight year hiatus starting in the mid-’60s and joined the cast of "Murder on the Orient Express" in the 1970s. Her intricate role as a suspect in the Agatha Christie murder mystery flick reminded everyone that she never lost her star power. After close to a decade away from moviemaking, Bacall's work in this ensemble made it all the more glamorous and entertaining.
#8: Marlon Brando “A Dry White Season” (1989)
Marlon Brando might have been the most influential modern actor of his or any generation. When he went into a hiatus after 1980 (then announced as his retirement), there was a void left behind in the entertainment industry. He returned nine years later in the movie "A Dry White Season." The film's plot about apartheid in South Africa has Brando playing a key role as a lawyer. His older and wiser demeanor generated a new dramatic move for the performer. In only a supporting part, the artist managed to draw in the audience with every word. Along with his return to movies, the actor was nominated for an Oscar for his work in the drama.
#7: Eddie Murphy “Dolemite Is My Name” (2019)
Eddie Murphy conquered much of the comedy and film world by the time he reached the 2010s. He also took periodic breaks as his leading roles in traditional comedies failed to capture his earlier success. In 2019, the performer made an official comeback with "Dolemite Is My Name." After several years away from mainstream movies, the actor returned in top form as the cult entertainer Rudy Ray Moore. Murphy draws on his best instincts to produce humor and pathos as the lead character. Gaining praise and a renewed interest in his career, the comedian officially proclaimed that he's back with this hilarious performance.
#6: Brendan Fraser “The Whale” (2022)
Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser is a fan-favorite actor, in everything from comedies like "Encino Man," to action franchises, such as "The Mummy." After allegedly being harassed by an HFPA member as well as undergoing other personal problems, the performer acted less in films following the incident. It would then be several years before Fraser returned in a major leading role for Darren Aronofsky's drama "The Whale." Telling the heartbreaking story of an obese man coming to terms with his mortality, the project helped to thrust the actor back into the spotlight. The award-nominated movie allowed for him to showcase his most dramatic side yet in a role that garnered raves.
#5: Renée Zellweger “Judy” (2019)
In the early 2000s, Renée Zellweger was on a string of commercially and critically successful films. She starred in award-winning projects like "Chicago" and won an Oscar for her performance in "Cold Mountain." Instead of continuing her hot streak, Zellweger took time off after growing tired of Hollywood. She later came back to acting in 2016, but it was “Judy” that was lauded as her return to form. The 2019 biopic allows Zellweger to remind everyone of her versatile presence. Not only does she embody the late Hollywood star, but she also humanizes her for a whole new generation. The acting part earned her a second Academy Award that officially welcomed her back to the business.
#4: Joe Pesci “The Irishman” (2019)
Top 10 Most Memorable Louis Gossett Jr Performances
Thanks to his inclusion in Martin Scorsese films, Joe Pesci became a legendary and Oscar-winning actor. By the end of the 90s, the "Goodfellas" actor was slowly entering retirement. After sporadic appearances in the 2000s, Pesci came back for the mob story "The Irishman" with his greatest collaborators from the past. His role as a calm and controlling crime boss contrasts sharply with his previous hothead characters. Acting opposite Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, the performer reveals through the role that he hasn't lost any of his vitality as an artist. Whether or not he works again, the part and the subsequent nominations solidify his legendary status.
#3: Ke Huy Quan “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022)
Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Ke Huy Quan
A former child-actor, Ke Huy Quan made his film debut in the blockbuster "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." He followed that up with "The Goonies" a year later, before pursuing a path behind the camera in adulthood. He rarely acted until the performer finally received a role worthy of his talents. "Everything Everywhere All at Once" reintroduced the actor to the fans that grew up with him, giving him his first significant role in decades. Quan received the best reviews of his career for playing the complicated part of husband Waymond Wang. Not only does he get to do stunts, he also has several heartwarming moments that sell the drama of the inventive film.
#2: James Stewart “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
Top 10 Actors Who Almost Played James Bond
James Stewart entered the 1940s as one of Hollywood's next great leading men. When World War II called, Stewart put his acting career on hold to serve his country, enlisting in 1941 and receiving a second lieutenant commission the next year. He then followed up his war efforts with one of his defining works. His role as George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" wasn't a great success at the time, but it became an annual favorite for Christmastime. He also provides one of the indelible male characters of the Golden Age. In many ways, his part as Bailey is actually one of the more complex and emotional of its kind. The timeless film and performance later contributed to the legend's incredible legacy.
#1: Daniel Day-Lewis “Gangs of New York” (2002)
Daniel Day-Lewis remains one of the most well-regarded actors of the last several decades. In his roles, Day-Lewis reveals his impeccable determination as he disappears into characters. After his work in the 1997 film "The Boxer," the actor stepped away from acting to pursue shoemaking. Luckily for movie fans, director Martin Scorsese enticed the performer back for "Gangs of New York." He returned with the universally praised part of Bill the Butcher. As both a terrifying and captivating figure, he manages to make the most of every second on screen. The artist showed no signs of rustiness as he delivered one of his most memorably tense appearances in any of his projects.