Our Favorite Sci-Fi Movie Performances of 2024

While 2024 was a great year for science-fiction, it feels as if it might have been a slightly better year for science-fiction television than it was for movies. That’s not to say there weren’t some great sci-fi films, but when it comes to picking the absolute best performances, it feels like there’s a smaller pool to pull from than usual. Of course, while the pool itself might be smaller, films in the genre could reasonably have three or four actors from each film making this list. So while Ella Purnell and Rebecca Ferguson won’t make this particular list since it’s for movies, there’s plenty of other impressive performances out there.

There is also a little bit of crossover with some of these lists with candidates competing for a top of the year type situation in several different genres. That does make things a little bit more complicated. It’s also important to remember that “favorite” isn’t always synonymous with “best.” Some characters might have smaller roles than others and still make the list. Or movies that might be considered the best of a genre, like The Wild Robot might not get someone on the “favorite performance” list. Without further ado, out favorite Sci-Fi movie performances of 2024.

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David Jonsson In Alien: Romulus

Cailee Spaeny gets an honorable mention for this list as she puts together an excellent performance in Alien: Romulus. However, one of the best performances for the Sci-Fi genre this year in this movie comes from David Jonsson, who played the android, Andy.

There’s something very compelling about his sad sack face, even as we’re told that he doesn’t really feel sadness or depression. He also very deftly switched into a mode where he was more worried about making sure the company’s interests were covered. The Alien franchise has done a great job of getting the right actors to play these androids and David Jonsson has kept that going.

Lupita Nyong’o In A Quiet Place Day One

Lupita Nyong’o is one of the best actresses in Hollywood today because she’s quite the chameleon. She can play a dying cancer patient fighting off aliens, she can hold her own in Marvel blockbusters, and she can sell the audience as a mentally deranged person who lived most of her life in a bizarre underground world.

For this list, she gave one of the best performances of the year in the continuation of the A Quiet Place franchise with Day One. She played a cancer patient out on the town with her pet cat when the alien invasion started. She then has to find a way to survive despite the fact that she knows she’s dying. It was a heck of a performance, especially for the third film in an evergrowing series.

Anya Taylor-Joy In Furiosa

This movie, set in the Mad Max universe shows that there are plenty of characters besides Max that can steal the hearts and minds of viewers. Furiosa tells the tale of a character that was actually introduced in the Mad Max reboot and was played by Charlize Theron in that film. However, Anya Taylor-Joy makes the character entirely hers in this prequel.

The biggest let down for this film is that for whatever reason, not that many people went to see this movie. They missed out on one of the better anti-heroine type performances not just in 2024 but in quite some time. Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa isn’t just a young woman who is overcoming the odds, she’s plenty powerful, even going up against a very charismatic villain.

Chris Hemsworth In Furiosa

Speaking of that charismatic villain, Chris Hemsworth puts life into Dementus in a way that makes him look like a compelling character but also someone who fits into the absolutely ridiculous setting of this particular post-apocalyptic world.

Yes, it might feel a little unfair to have two people from the same movie on this list, but the fact of the matter is that Furiosa is simply not getting enough love because of when it was released and how few people went to see it in the theaters. This flick is one that everyone needs to run out and watch, and not just for Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. But they’re definitely the icing on the cake.

Kevin Durand In Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes

Kevin Durand actually gave several great performances in 2024 and is turning into quite the versatile character actor. On the heels of playing a rather lovable oaf of a criminal in Abigail he plays a decidedly not lovable, over the top villain in Proximus Caesar who, despite being totally CGI on screen, still has one heck of a personality.

Durand’s Proximus is a evolved monkey who is taking over the planet by essentially lying about his role in things and what the monkeys that came before him wanted from this brave new world. Anyone who has seen the trailers for the film have seen him yelling “what a wonderful day” and that perfectly encapsulates a leader that seems to be upbeat and caring, but is in fact ruthless and powerhungry. Not everyone could bring this villain to life as effectively as Durand does.

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