Horror Actors Who Deserved Oscar Nominations

After highlighting women snubbed by the Academy, we’re back with ten memorable male performances in horror worthy of Oscar recognition.

Stone-faced, wild-eyed characters, so many different portrayals that have been solidified into legend.

From the wide eyes of James McAvoy to the untethered rage of Nicolas Cage, these actors have achieved some great heights in other genres but didn’t get nearly enough love for their Oscar-worthy performances in horror.

The Academy generally ignores the horror genre for a variety of reasons. Maybe it’s the subject matter that pushes buttons and boundaries, the shocking scenes that require a strong constitution, or the historical perception of genre films as base, tasteless, and undesirable. Perhaps it’s just the dichotomy of seeing a gifted thespian deliver a jaw-dropping performance that feels woefully out of place in an abattoir.

Previously, we celebrated some of the outstanding women of horror and their earth-shattering, unforgettable performances that deserved more recognition.

Here, I’m honoring ten men who gave award-worthy performances in the horror and thriller genres, defying critics’ expectations and giving us some of the best films and characters of the last four decades.

While this list is certainly not meant to be a comprehensive and definitive list of great genre performances, it is a selection of past and present snubs for actors who truly immersed themselves in the roles and became monsters or saviors as part of our wonderfully weird and often misunderstood genre.

1. John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane)

The sequel to the stunning found footage phenomenon Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane took a small ensemble and stranded us in a bunker, not knowing if the world outside is more dangerous than being trapped with strangers in supposed safety.

John Goodman isn’t the face we immediately think of when associating with a villain. However, when this film came around, Goodman put on a show that proved he could play someone to fear.

Hearing someone accept someone’s apology and then immediately shoot them to be dismembered and dissolved was one of the big moments of that film where Goodman remains poker-faced, angry for certain, but unyielding.

His frosty, suspicious attitude is perfect for generating mountains of tension within the safety of the bunker, making our other leads question if outside might actually be the better option.

Unhinged with a hair trigger, Goodman is a villain to fear as much as the end of the world as his safety comes with a price tag of loyalty and belief.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead puts on a fantastic performance of her own. However, compared to Goodman’s frightening, secretive energy, it’s hard to compare. With a man that ferocious at the helm, I don’t know which danger I’d be more eager to brave: a bunker with a paranoid stranger, safe, for now, or the outside world, which could potentially hold otherworldly danger.

With no Oscars to speak of but many Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, Goodman is certainly a decorated actor. Yet, I believe this performance could have been his breakthrough at the Academy.

Earning him a Saturn Award for best supporting actor, let’s say Goodman’s performance is so terrifyingly stoic, surgical, and scary, it could drive you to face the unknown.

2. James McAvoy (Glass)

The tears flow freely at the end of this film every time; that’s how powerful I find this scene and this performance.

James McAvoy takes on the herculean task of 23 alternate identities in Split, the film preceding this, but especially in Glass as he cycles relentlessly through his dissociative identity disorder.

I’m not sure how many personalities made an appearance this round, but old favorites like Patricia rear their heads, showing how one man can singlehandedly create worlds of characters on his own with sheer talent.

James McAvoy has himself confessed in interviews that he can barely keep track of how many personalities he cycled through.

Yet, the climbing, grunting, powerful beast contrasted with wiggling, dancing, happy Hedwig shows the two polar ends of the spectrum McAvoy can go when he was given freedom to create an identity.

He mentions the preparation and brainstorming that goes into creating the mannerisms of a character, describing how he would intentionally lose control of his movements, chaotic like a little child would be as Hedwig dances and skates, singing freely.

With living legends Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson to upstage, McAvoy had an incredible mission to make Kevin Wendell Crumb stand out when all the great forces of the Unbreakable Universe are brought together.

Ignored again by the Academy, he has no nominations for Glass and only a handful of nominations, such as the MTV Movie Awards for his work in Split.

His performances are more than memorable, heartbreaking, and otherworldly, and it’s a shame and a snub to have seen this feat of acting and not acknowledge the skill, talent, and emotion it takes to deliver such a role.

3. Jack Nicholson (The Shining)

What an absolutely unforgivable oversight this was for one of the highest-ranked films of all time.

The most decorated performer on our list, Jack Nicholson, is nothing short of a legend. With three Oscar wins and nine other nominations to speak of, it’s clear that Nicholson is one of those once-in-a-lifetime talents — and he led the Stephen King phenomenon that still shines just as bright today, The Shining.

The film itself received some acclaim for the time, but funny enough, Kubrick earned himself a Razzie nomination for worst direction alongside Duvall’s nomination of worst actress (later rescinded), which perhaps speaks to how misunderstood this film was for the time.

Jack Torrance has taken a caretaker position for the Overlook Hotel for the winter, shutting himself, his wife, and his son in the hotel and attempting to write as the hotel is empty and dead. Soon, Jack’s son begins to see and hear unexplainable things, and it appears the hotel has more guests than the Torrance family could have ever imagined.

Nicholson is the dutiful father, the recovering alcoholic, and the enraged writer. His past is key to his present in that alcohol is his vice and changes him viciously, and later, in Doctor Sleep, we see his son inheriting the demons of his father.

Everyone knows the line, “Here’s Johnny!” and an imitation is fun, but the real thing is horrifying.

The screams of Shelley Duvall and the wild, maniacally limping Jack are haunting to remember as mother and son flee from a man possessed.

While Nicholson doesn’t need more Oscars and has received a Chainsaw Award nomination for other films, this was an incredible snub to a legendary film, some of Nicholson’s finest work, and some of his only horror genre work.

4. Jeff Goldblum (The Fly)

Cronenberg’s most famous work and some of the best and most iconic body horror to date, The Fly was a triumph and changed the landscape for practical effects while delivering an award-worthy performance.

Based on George Langelaan’s short story of the same name, The Fly tells of an eccentric scientist who becomes a hybrid fly-like creature when his work goes awry. Jeff Goldblum plays the charismatic Seth Brundle in the role of a lifetime alongside Geena Davis.

While the Academy Awards recognized The Fly for Best Makeup, only validating some of its achievements, it overlooks Goldblum’s performance as a man in decline after an unbelievable experience.

Having used his teleporters while drunk one evening, Seth is exposed to a housefly, blending their DNA and causing immediate positive effects such as increased strength and stamina.

Initially emboldened, then horrified as the mutations begin to escalate, Seth is a man first excited by discovery and then desperate to escape it.

As his body and mind morph as the fly DNA wreaks havoc, Goldblum devolves from the energetic inventor to a slowed monster, horrifying those who see him.

His emotional portrayal and ability to act through makeup and prosthetics, still delivering a character through all of the effects, was fantastic.

Goldblum only has one Oscar nomination under his belt, but his work in The Fly was enough to win him the Saturn Award for Best Actor. It’s a shame he didn’t get recognized on cinema’s biggest stage, but at least some outlets were watching Goldblum’s performance instead of being overwhelmed by the cutting-edge visuals of the time.

5. Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer)

The chameleon Barry Keoghan is likely someone you see and say, “Hey, it’s that guy!” His filmography is long and varied, no one genre preferred, but his time in horror has been impactful.

Keoghan plays Martin, a young man who lost his father some years ago, seeking a relationship with a heart surgeon, hoping to be one himself and also fearing he has the heart condition that killed his father. At the start, his interactions are gentle, innocent, and almost dreamy, making his fellow cast members almost seem robotic in comparison to his paradoxical, apathetic passion.

Martin is merely a hanger-on for the beginning of the film until his more sinister motives are realized, and a game of revenge, an eye for an eye, begins.

Keoghan can be menacing in his childlike delivery, speedy, racing through the horrors the surgeon and his family will face if they don’t follow his instructions. His confidence begins to peak as he manipulates people like chess pieces, throwing sharp emotional blows and unimaginable ultimatums.

His chilly yet inviting attitude and everything about his demeanor is an enigma, a mysterious boy with mysterious powers and a face that’s nearly impossible to read.

Sadly, Keoghan went mostly unrecognized for his memorable work in this film save an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male and a win in that same category at the Irish Film and Television Awards.

Keoghan has one well-deserved Oscar nomination for his heartbreaking and beautiful performance in The Banshees of Inisherin — proof that the Academy can recognize his significant acting chops, but only in more “respectable” work outside the genre.

He would have been an excellent Oscar nominee for this A24 gem. Sadly, his most recent, prominent, and much-discussed role in the well-received thriller Saltburn resulted in another significant snub from the Academy. However, at least it made Keoghan a household name and a winner in the eyes of public opinion.

6. Nicolas Cage (Mandy)

Nicolas Cage is a more recent staple in horror, but he sure is a welcome one. Starting with his appearance in Mom and Dad, Cage ramped up the intensity of his roles, starring in mainstream and independent horror films. However, none stand out so much as Mandy.

Psychedelic, action-packed horror ensues as Cage’s character, Red Miller, loses everything in his peaceful life to the mania of a cult leader.

Cage’s gentle, loving demeanor that he holds for Mandy disintegrates along with her ashes after her murder, while Red’s anger burns as she did. Ready to die, determined for vengeance, Cage takes it to the highest level of screaming, grunting, raging massacre as he takes his revenge on the cult and all who support it.

Behind all the practical effects, weaponry, and violence lies one of Cage’s strongest performances in the genre.

From working man to warrior, we watch Red spill blood and raise hell, blending seamlessly with trippy visuals and a blood-stained wardrobe that never overpowers Cage’s delivery.

His tender love for Mandy is crushed and calcifies first into shock and trauma, tears flowing as Cage stands half-clothed, caked in blood, screaming in pain, and then… a blind rage.

While Cage has his Oscar already (for Leaving Las Vegas) and has another nomination under his belt (for the brilliance that is Adaptation), it feels like his career has entered a second era since it began, and Mandy is one of the footnotes, for which he took home the Chainsaw Award for Best Actor.

Other performances that have been nominated outside the Academy include a couple of more recent roles in an illustrious career, which rank among his career-best, Dream Scenario and Pig — proving that he’s aging like fine wine and just getting better and better, despite years of being dismissed and discounted. He even won the Razzie Redeemer Award for Pig. This award is presented to a past Razzie Award nominee or winner who becomes a “respected artist” and comes back from critical or commercial failure.

Mandy is an unorthodox movie, and they picked the perfect eccentric, explosive performer to blend seamlessly into the chaos. Sadly, Cage received no reward for this artistry, though it did do a great deal to signal to film fans that the Oscar-winning actor was back in top form, proving he still has A-level acting chops.

7. Matthew Lillard (Scream)

This may be an interesting take and an unusual pick, but you can’t deny the screen presence, endless quotability, and frenetic energy of Matthew Lillard. Happy side note: he was just as energetic in person when I met him this year, giving high fives with charm up and down the line.

Stu, as a character, sometimes plays second fiddle to Billy, but his over-the-top performance and delivery make him stand out as a supporting character to drink up. His frenzied excitement at being stabbed, his wisecracks about the killings, his physicality — all these details and emotions make Stu more of a well-rounded character than perhaps we see him as.

He becomes an icon in this film and a lover and slave to popular horror, which we can all relate to, but he’s using it to play true crime.

Lillard has no Academy awards and received no recognition that I can find for his role in Scream. Given that the Chainsaw Awards have been recognizing success in horror since 1992, this performance should have earned at least a fringe nomination from those who love, understand, and respect the genre.

Between Wes Craven’s directing and story design and Lillard’s performance, a pop culture symbol was born in Stu.

Still, at the time this film was made, we had no idea what an impact it would make or how many more films it would spawn long after Stu.

The playfulness, creativity, and dream of committing the perfect murder made Lillard a gleeful character to follow.

Unfortunately, maybe an Oscar wasn’t in the cards. A fellow actor on this list, Nicolas Cage, won his Oscar that year, and Lillard would have reckoned with the likes of Kevin Spacey in order to secure the Best Supporting Actor title.

It’s criminal how little attention the brilliance of this first installment and its cast are paid. Regardless, Lillard puts on a fantastic show that’s hard to look away from; he is entertaining and terrifying, hilarious and unhinged, playing one of the most notorious sidekicks of all time.

One thing’s for certain: lack of industry recognition aside, he permanently won over the hearts of horror fans and remains a beloved fan favorite. It’s thrilling to see him returning to the spotlight with his role in the recent megahit Five Nights at Freddy’s.

8. Christian Bale (American Psycho)

Do you like Huey Lewis and the News? I do.

American Psycho, based on the infamous book of the same name, starred Christian Bale as the irreplaceable voice and face of serial killer Patrick Bateman. The film suffered from many setbacks leading up to its release, and Bale was fully immersed in preparing for the role but denies any claims he is a method actor and denies having treated any person like Patrick Bateman would on set.

Some of the inspiration for his huge happy grin, hollow laugh, and empty eyes is a strange one: Tom Cruise. Though not totally his basis for the character, Bale said he noticed a vacancy even when Cruise was happy that he wanted to mimic.

Precise, cold, thoughtful, and menacing, Bale brought all of these qualities to the perfectly toned and moisturized mask of Bateman.

His mood swings, penchant for violence, and stealth in hiding his true nature are remarkable to watch as his inner monologue struggles with a pleasant outer presentation.

It’s hard to imagine who else could have played the role so flawlessly as Bale, who has been known to do extensive physical preparations for roles.

His utter and uncompromising commitment to every performance shows in this film, as Bale is a well-oiled machine draped in muscle.

Charismatically terrifying, this was the role of a lifetime that deserved an Oscar nod.

While Bale has already won an Oscar and earned three other nominations in his career, he merely took home the Chainsaw Award for Best Actor for his work in American Psycho. Besides that, there are hardly any other accolades for this landmark performance.

It’s an inexcusable misunderstanding of talent worsened by the Academy’s distaste for the genre.

9. Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse)

But you’re fond of me, lobster!

Willem Dafoe is a gem no matter what film he’s in, and he’s defied genre, appearing in films from Spider-Man to Antichrist.

This black and white period piece from Robert Eggers (The Witch), inspired by an unfinished Poe story of the same name, paid homage to the lighthouse keepers of yore, specifically set in the 19th century.

Dafoe is a charismatic, sometimes unhinged counterpart to Robert Pattinson’s younger character. Committed to the accent, mannerisms, and speech, Dafoe takes us back 200 years to a stormy lighthouse stranded in a quickly changing strange place.

Between the storm and the hallucinations, it’s hard to say what’s more terrifying when you’re moored in a tower, losing your sanity.

Dafoe is a man possessed, clinging to sanity and vying for control between himself and the young lighthouse keeper, the two creating some magnetic and wild chemistry as their connection to reality weakens.

The Lighthouse and its artsy nature seemed like food for the Academy, yet received no nods for its powerhouse performances and stunning visuals.

Dafoe has earned himself four previous Oscar nominations for work in films such as Shadow of the Vampire and At Eternity’s Gate, and his work in The Lighthouse earned him a Critic’s Choice nomination as well as a Chainsaw Award nomination.

His role in this film was singular, and I’m not sure of other actors who would have fit the bill for such an eccentric part in a ludicrous film. Still, the project and its performances went unnoticed by the Academy, and it feels like an unjustified snub.

10. Bill Skarsgård (IT, 2017)

No one could imagine a world where anyone new could be Pennywise the Clown. Nearly 20 years have passed since Tim Curry’s debut, which made Curry an icon and left big — enormously big — clown shoes to fill.

The IT franchise booted back up in 2017 with a new actor to bring the clown to life: Bill Skarsgard. With a character like Pennywise, it would be easy to lose a performer behind the costume and makeup, but Skarsgard pierces through the façade and makes the character his own.

His barely human speech and gestures, the heavy pauses of confusion or hunger, and his sing-song attitude all comprise a very specific villain that’s been stalking our dreams for decades.

To resurrect an icon takes confidence and talent, and those who chose the faraway eyes and gently creeping delivery picked the perfect man to fill the clown suit.

Skarsgard is slowly becoming a genre favorite, appearing in Barbarian and the upcoming Nosferatu film from Robert Eggers. He has put on nothing but rock-solid performances.

While no Oscars were on the table, he did receive a nomination for best-supporting actor for the 2018 Saturn Awards.

Though he won’t be returning to the role for the upcoming Welcome to Derry, Skarsgard stands alongside Curry as a legend, breathing life and fear into King’s mythic characters and stories and putting on a performance that could have you weighing which Pennywise portrayal is more powerful.