Researchers Have Determined Who the Best Actor of All Time Really Is

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Feelings about a movie can’t be measured with data; they’re deeply personal and exist beyond simple numbers. Film has always flourished in the space between what we instinctively feel and what we intellectually understand.

We remember and connect with performances for reasons that often have nothing to do with how popular or award-winning they were. In fact, the roles that truly impact us are sometimes those that went largely unnoticed. Trying to capture all of that in a spreadsheet just doesn’t make sense, even before you start trying to quantify it.

A new study set out to determine the greatest actor ever, using a combination of box office revenue, awards recognition, and online reviews. The creator of the study, Daniel Parris, knew it was a challenge – how do you objectively measure something as subjective as artistic talent? It’s difficult to use data to explain why we connect with films like Naked or Irreversible, or why we admire certain actors.

The study first looked at online ratings from sites like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd. While many prefer not to focus on it, box office success was also considered, as it does play a role in the film industry. Finally, the study analyzed data from every Academy Awards ceremony to see which actors consistently won top honors.

The research showed three actors have earned this distinction, with Leonardo DiCaprio being the first. He consistently receives high ratings online and is known for blockbuster films like Titanic, Inception, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Despite winning only one Best Actor Oscar, DiCaprio’s films have collectively received numerous awards and nominations. The second actor recognized with this title is Paul Newman, famous for starring in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and The Verdict, and for his voice work in the Cars movies.

Rounding out the list is Al Pacino, who has portrayed some of cinema’s most memorable leading men in films like The Godfather, Scarface, and Heat. Similar to DiCaprio, Pacino has only won one Academy Award – for Scent of a Woman in 1993 – but his overall work is incredibly impressive.

These three acting legends remain relevant today. Leonardo DiCaprio recently starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 epic, One Battle After Another, which has been a strong awards contender. He’s also preparing to film Heat 2 in September alongside Christian Bale, a movie that will expand on the story of the 1995 classic by serving as both a prequel and sequel.

Al Pacino, at 85, is also staying active, having just finished filming Lear Rex, a modern take on Shakespeare’s King Lear directed by Bernard Rose. The film boasts a fantastic cast including Jessica Chastain, Rachel Brosnahan, and Peter Dinklage, and is expected to be released later this year. Meanwhile, Paul Newman’s influence lives on, as Disney and Pixar have announced a new series, Cars: Lightning Racers, set for 2027, which will introduce his beloved Doc Hudson character to a new generation.

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2026-02-25 12:47