Top 10 Breakout Stars of 2024
2024 was another great year for film. Many actors rose on to the scene & many more became certified stars. This list will combine the two a bit & I will list the 10 actors I would consider ‘Breakout Stars’ of 2024 due to their notoriety rising in the film world. As per usual, I’m focusing primarily on film, not television, so keep that in mind. I will also be putting out a list soon of the Top 10 Actors with the Best Year in 2024, which is similar to this, but features actors that had already broken out as well. Some honorable mentions include Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), David Jonsson (‘Alien: Romulus’ & ‘Bonhoeffer’), & Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’).
Glen Powell- Though the rest of these actors will be listed in alphabetical orders, I had to put Powell first because I would say he is THE Breakout Star of 2024. Though he technically only had one new release in 2024, the summer blockbuster ‘Twisters,’ in which he plays the Tornado Wrangler, Tyler Owens. However, he had a 2023 film, ‘Hit Man’ get it’s theatrical & digital release in 2024. These were two of the biggest films of the year, and they, along with Powell’s charming personality, charisma, & dog, Brisket, contributed to his rapid rise to stardom.
Nicholas Galitzine- The 30-year old English actor had already made a name for himself in films like ‘Bottoms’ & ‘Red, White, & Royal Blue,’ but he really broke out in 2024 as the male lead in the rom com ‘The Idea of You’ opposite Anne Hathaway. Following a middle-aged mother who falls in love with a much younger member of a boy band, Galitzine sang, dances, & acted his way into the heart of Hathaway’s character & many viewers. Though I do focus mostly on films, Galitzine also had a lead role as George Villiers in the 2024 limited series ‘Mary & George.’
Gabriel LaBelle- Though his first major role came as the lead in Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’ in 2022, LaBelle built on that in 2024, with two starring roles. One came in the lesser known, but very good, ‘Snack Shack’ and the other came in a Golden Globe-nominated role as Lorne Michaels in ‘Saturday Night.’
Mikey Madison- Madison had a handful of film credits prior to her lead role in ‘Anora,’ but her titular role in the film made her a star. The film has earned her many awards & nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination & she will most likely receive an Oscar nomination as well.
Paul Mescal- Though the Irish actor already had made a name for himself in indie films & with many fans of cinema for his roles in ‘Aftersun,’ ‘All of Us Strangers,’ & the miniseries, ‘Normal People,’ he became a major mega star when he took on the lead role in Ridley Scott’s blockbuster ‘Gladiator II.’ Mescal is now one of the most talked about actors in Hollywood, and has upcoming roles including the lead, Franklin in ‘Merrily We Roll Along,’ as well as playing William Shakespeare & Paul McCartney.
Aaron Pierre- Pierre broke out with his lead role in the action thriller, ‘Rebel Ridge,’ solidifying himself as an action star. He also took on a voice role as Mufasa in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ and a lead role in season 4 of ‘Genius’ as Malcolm X. Pierre will take on a lead role in ‘The Morning Show’ in 2025 & it was announced that he will be DC’s new Green Lantern, John Stewart.
Margaret Qualley- Another actor who was already well known for roles in ‘The Nice Guys,’ ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,’ & ‘Poor Things,’ Qualley had three feature films release in 2024, elevating her to another level. She played four different characters in Yorgos Lanthimos’s ‘Kinds of Kindness,’ while also starring in ‘Drive-Away Dolls’ & ‘The Substance,’ the latter of which has earned her many awards nominations.
Joseph Quinn- Quinn rose to notoriety with his role as Eddie Munson in season 4 of ‘Stranger Things’ and has used that platform to score many more roles. He took on a lead role in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ & played one of the antagonistic emperors in ‘Gladiator II’ marking two well known releases in 2024. 2025 will perhaps be an even bigger year for the actor, as he is set to play the Human Torch in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’
Cailee Spaeny- Towards the end of 2023, Spaeny starred as Priscilla Presley in ‘Priscilla.’ She followed that up this year with the lead role in ‘Alien: Romulus’ & one of the lead roles in ‘Civil War.’
Drew Starkey- Finally we have the actor from ‘Outer Banks’ who has broken out from the Netflix show with a lead role in ‘Queer,’ which has received mass critical acclaim.
