10 Best Method Actors and the Movies They’re Known For

Marlon Brando was one of the best method actors of his time. He brought a new level of realism to his performances, which was not commonly seen in Hollywood during the 1950s. Brando’s portrayal of Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront is considered one of the best performances in cinema history. His raw emotion and naturalistic acting style made the character come alive on screen.

Furthermore, Brando’s work in The Godfather was also remarkable. He played the patriarch of the Corleone crime family, Vito Corleone, with such gravitas that it became the defining role of his career. Brando’s iconic delivery of the line “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” has become one of the most famous quotes in movie history.

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As many of us know, Jim Carrey is known for his extreme take on method acting. In a documentary called Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, we get a first-hand look into how he went about learning his role as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon. He’s done several interviews since then admitting that his method tactics left him feeling unlike himself. He would rarely break character even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

While this is common in Hollywood, his commitment and level of extremism are definitely rare. However, it does lead to performances that make us forget Carrey isn’t the character he is portraying. His more famous roles include The Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Stanley in The Mask, and Truman in The Truman Show.

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Robert De Niro is another one of the best method actors who has left an indelible mark on the film industry. He is known for his immersive performances and his ability to transform himself into his characters. In Taxi Driver, De Niro plays the lonely and disturbed Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran who is unable to connect with society. His nuanced portrayal of Bickle’s descent into madness was both disturbing and captivating.

De Niro’s work in Raging Bull is also considered one of his best performances pulling from method acting techniques. He played the boxer Jake LaMotta, whose personal demons ultimately destroyed his career. De Niro’s physical transformation for the role was astounding, and his performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1981.

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Daniel Day-Lewis is widely regarded as one of the best actors of all time let alone one of the best method actors on our list. He is known for his extreme dedication to his craft and his ability to disappear into his roles. In There Will Be Blood, Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, an oil tycoon who is consumed by greed and power. His commanding presence on screen and his ability to convey the character’s complex emotions made the film an instant classic.

Day-Lewis is also well known for Lincoln in which he played the 16th president of the United States during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Day-Lewis’s performance captured both the gravitas and humanity of Lincoln, and it earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

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Al Pacino is another one of the best method actors known for his powerful performances. In The Godfather, Pacino played Michael Corleone, the reluctant heir to the Corleone crime family. His portrayal of Michael’s transformation from a war hero to a ruthless mob boss is considered one of the best character arcs in film history.

Pacino’s work in Scent of a Woman is also noteworthy. He played Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a blind and embittered veteran who takes a young man under his wing. Pacino’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, demonstrating his immense talent and method acting skills.

Dustin Hoffman is a versatile actor known for his ability to bring depth and nuance to his characters through method acting. In Rain Man, Hoffman played Raymond Babbitt, an autistic savant who has an incredible memory. His portrayal of Raymond was both emotional and complex, and it earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

In The Graduate, Hoffman played Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who is seduced by an older woman. His performance captured the angst and confusion of young adulthood, and it made him a breakout star in Hollywood. Hoffman’s ability to inhabit such diverse characters has made him one of the most respected actors in the industry.

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Heath Ledger was an Australian actor who tragically passed away in 2008 at the age of 28 but was one of the best method actors we’ve seen. Despite his short career, he left a lasting impression on the film industry with his unforgettable performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger’s performance was unique and unsettling, and he used method acting to fully immerse himself in the character.

The intensity of his performance was so powerful that he posthumously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His death was a great loss to the film industry, and he is still remembered and celebrated for his talent and dedication.

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Christian Bale is known for his dedication to his craft and his willingness to undergo extreme physical transformations for his roles. He is best known for his performances in The Fighter and American Psycho.

In The Fighter, Bale played Dicky Eklund, a former boxer who becomes his half-brother’s trainer. He underwent a drastic weight loss to accurately portray the character, and his performance was outstanding. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Additionally, Bale played Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker who is also a psychotic serial killer, in American Psycho, which has remained a cult classic over the years. Bale’s performance was chilling and intense, and it solidified his reputation as a dedicated actor.

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One of the best method actors is Joaquin Phoenix who is known for his ability to fully immerse himself in his characters and his intense and transformative performances. You may have seen him in Gladiator where Phoenix played Commodus, the unstable and power-hungry son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His performance was convincing and memorable, and it helped launch his career as a leading actor.

In the more recent film, Joker, Phoenix played Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian who becomes the infamous villain. His portrayal was raw and powerful, acting as an homage to those who have used method acting to play the role of the Joker in the past.

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The best method actor is Jack Nicholson by far. He’s a legendary actor with a career spanning over five decades. He has appeared in numerous iconic films, such as Chinatown, The Departed, and As Good As It Gets, but he is best known for his roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Shining.

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nicholson plays the rebellious Randle McMurphy, who fakes insanity to avoid prison and is sent to a mental institution. His performance was outstanding, and he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role. In The Shining, Nicholson famously played the main character, Jack, who becomes possessed by evil spirits of a haunted hotel during a brutal winter. Nicholson’s performance is still remembered as one of the greatest horror movie performances of all time. You won’t be able to understand how he slept at night after using method acting in that movie.