The Most Popular Actors in 2025
Popularity in 2025 is shaped by a mix of global reach, recent box office draws, streaming hits, and major awards. This list focuses on male actors whose work spans franchises, acclaimed dramas, and buzzy series, with careers that keep drawing large audiences across theaters and platforms.
You will find performers who anchor long running universes, lead new prestige projects, and build production companies that develop stories at scale. Each entry highlights key roles, milestones, and off screen work that help explain why these names stay at the center of conversations around film and television.
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet earned an Academy Award nomination for his breakout in ‘Call Me by Your Name’ and went on to headline franchise and event films including ‘Dune’ and ‘Wonka’. He works across independent dramas and large scale productions, with credits that also include ‘Beautiful Boy’ and ‘Little Women’.
He is fluent in English and French and splits time between United States and European productions. He collaborates with directors known for stylized storytelling and literary adaptations, adding stage experience in New York theater to his film and television resume.
Tom Holland
Tom Holland leads the Marvel era of ‘Spider Man’ and carried adventure and drama projects like ‘Uncharted’ and ‘Cherry’. He trained at the BRIT School and made his professional start on the West End in ‘Billy Elliot the Musical’ before moving into screen roles.
He received the BAFTA Rising Star Award early in his film career. He supports charitable initiatives through The Brothers Trust, which directs funding to a rotating set of organizations chosen by his family.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy won the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘Oppenheimer’ and is widely known for the series ‘Peaky Blinders’. His collaborations with Christopher Nolan include ‘Batman Begins’, ‘Inception’, and ‘Dunkirk’.
He began in theater and continues to record audio work including radio plays and narration. He is Irish and often returns to stage productions in Ireland and the United Kingdom between film commitments.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Oppenheimer’ and has two earlier Oscar nominations for ‘Chaplin’ and ‘Tropic Thunder’. He helped build the Marvel era with ‘Iron Man’ and appears in hit franchises such as ‘Sherlock Holmes’.
He co founded FootPrint Coalition to invest in technologies aimed at sustainability. His production work spans streaming and feature projects with long time creative partners.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling earned multiple Academy Award nominations including for ‘La La Land’, ‘Half Nelson’, and ‘Barbie’. His filmography ranges from action in ‘Drive’ and ‘The Nice Guys’ to science drama in ‘First Man’.
He records and performs music through the band Dead Mans Bones and contributes original performances to film soundtracks. He began as a child performer and built an adult career through independent features before returning to large scale studio films.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio won the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘The Revenant’ and has numerous nominations including for ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. His career includes long running partnerships with Martin Scorsese on titles like ‘The Departed’ and ‘Shutter Island’.
He founded a philanthropic foundation focused on conservation and climate issues and serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. He produces films and documentaries through Appian Way, backing projects across genres.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and as a producer for Best Picture winner ’12 Years a Slave’. His leading roles include ‘Fight Club’, ‘Se7en’, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, and ‘Ad Astra’.
He co founded Plan B Entertainment, which has produced multiple Best Picture winners including ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Minari’. His work spans acting, producing, and architecture collaborations tied to housing and design.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson transitioned from championship level professional wrestling to leading roles in ‘Fast and Furious’, ‘Jumanji’, and the voice of Maui in ‘Moana’. He frequently launches family adventure and action titles that play broadly across international markets.
He co founded Seven Bucks Productions, developing films, series, and sports related content. His business ventures include fitness brands and partnerships tied to consumer products and beverages.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds leads the ‘Deadpool’ franchise and added recent hits with ‘Free Guy’ and ‘The Adam Project’. His career includes early television work and a long run of action comedies and thrillers.
He co owns Wrexham AFC with Rob McElhenney and appears in the docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’. He also founded Maximum Effort, a production and marketing company known for fast turnaround campaigns and feature development.
Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth anchors Marvel stories as Thor and stars in action titles like ‘Extraction’ and ‘Rush’. He began acting in Australia on television before moving into global film roles.
He supports conservation and childrens causes through public campaigns and philanthropy. He collaborates with stunt and fight teams to design practical action sequences in his films.
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal headlines premium series with ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’ and previously appeared in ‘Narcos’ and ‘Game of Thrones’. His feature work includes ‘Kingsman The Golden Circle’ and ‘Wonder Woman 1984’.
He was born in Chile and raised in the United States, training at NYU Tisch. He continues to alternate between theater and screen and has appeared on Broadway in productions such as ‘King Lear’.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves leads the ‘John Wick’ series and earlier headlined ‘The Matrix’, ‘Speed’, and ‘Point Break’. He acts in English language films across the United States and Canada and has directed and produced independent projects.
He co founded Arch Motorcycle and performs with the band Dogstar. He donates to charitable causes including initiatives that support healthcare and childrens services.
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill portrayed Superman in multiple DC films and led the series ‘The Witcher’. His credits include ‘Mission Impossible Fallout’ and ‘The Man from U N C L E’.
He is an ambassador for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and supports Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. He is known for hands on preparation for physical roles and for his interest in ‘Warhammer’ tabletop and video games.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan starred in the ‘Creed’ series and in ‘Black Panther’ as Erik Killmonger. He began with acclaimed television work in ‘The Wire’ and ‘Friday Night Lights’ before moving into leading film roles.
He directed ‘Creed III’ and runs Outlier Society, a production company that adopted inclusion standards in its contracting. His producing slate includes features and streaming series across drama and genre.
Adam Driver
Adam Driver moved from the US Marine Corps to Juilliard and then to Broadway and television before leading roles in ‘Star Wars’, ‘Marriage Story’, and ‘BlacKkKlansman’. He balances studio franchises with films from auteurs in the United States and Europe.
He founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a nonprofit that brings theater to service members and families. His stage work includes revivals and new plays that complement his screen schedule.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Doctor Strange in Marvel films and first reached a wide television audience with ‘Sherlock’. His dramatic roles include ‘The Imitation Game’ and ‘The Power of the Dog’.
He holds a CBE for services to the performing arts and charity. His voice work includes ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Grinch’, and he continues to appear on stage in London and New York.
Chris Evans
Chris Evans portrayed Steve Rogers in multiple Marvel films and appeared in ensemble hits like ‘Knives Out’. His other credits include ‘Snowpiercer’ and ‘Gifted’, along with a directorial effort on ‘Before We Go’.
He co founded A Starting Point, a civic engagement platform that shares short videos from public officials. He participates in fundraising and hospital visits in support of childrens health organizations.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt leads two major franchises with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Jurassic World’, and voices the title character in ‘The Lego Movie’. He moved from television success in ‘Parks and Recreation’ to global box office roles.
He works in both live action and animation and records voice roles for family features and series. His schedule includes action training and location work across multiple continents.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy headlined ‘Mad Max Fury Road’, ‘Venom’, and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and created the television series ‘Taboo’. He collaborates frequently with director Christopher Nolan across multiple films.
He trains in Brazilian jiu jitsu and has competed in regional tournaments. His production credits include projects developed through Hardy Son and Baker, covering film and television.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Elvis’ after early television credits and supporting work in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. He plays Feyd Rautha in ‘Dune Part Two’.
He trained extensively in voice and movement for biographical performance. His filmography now spans music centered drama, historical epics, and ensemble action.
Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Aftersun’ and first gained wide attention with the limited series ‘Normal People’. He appears in films that range from intimate dramas to historical epics.
He trained at The Lir Academy in Dublin and performs on stage in Ireland and London. He leads Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’ and continues to add theater between feature shoots.
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan delivered consecutive global hits with ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Dunki’. His earlier filmography includes ‘Chennai Express’, ‘My Name Is Khan’, and ‘Devdas’.
He runs Red Chillies Entertainment, a major production and visual effects company in India. He co owns the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team in the Indian Premier League and appears in international brand campaigns.
Allu Arjun
Allu Arjun became a pan India star with ‘Pushpa The Rise’ after earlier successes in Telugu cinema such as ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ and ‘Sarrainodu’. His dance driven action dramas perform strongly in multiple language markets.
He received the National Film Award for Best Actor in India for his work in ‘Pushpa’. He endorses major brands and maintains a large following across regional and national media.
Ram Charan
Ram Charan reached new global audiences with ‘RRR’, which earned international awards and historic recognition for the song ‘Naatu Naatu’. His earlier films include ‘Magadheera’ and ‘Dhruva’.
He produces through Konidela Production Company and collaborates on Telugu language features with wide distribution. He participates in philanthropic initiatives connected to health care and education in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Dev Patel
Dev Patel broke out with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Lion’. He expanded into action with his directorial debut ‘Monkey Man’, adding stunt and fight design to his skill set.
He works in both British and American productions and appears in projects like ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ and ‘Chappie’. He continues to develop stories as a producer, with a focus on global perspectives.
Share your picks for actors who belong on this list in the comments and tell us who you would add next.
