At the dawn of the 2010s, Sebastian Stan was going in the direction of your typical TV heartthrob. He played Carter Baizen in 11 “Gossip Girl” episodes, scored a six-episode run as The Mad Hatter on “Once Upon a Time,” and then secured a supporting superhero movie role as Bucky Barnes in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Since then, though, Stan has taken his career in fascinating directions, especially compared to some of his fellow “Avengers” leading men. While many of his big screen exploits have involved reprising Bucky Barnes in assorted Marvel Studios features, he’s also delved deeply into the indie cinema scene, giving us new layers to the depths of his talent.
This has culminated in 2024 with his two most recent leading man roles, Edward in “A Different Man” and Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.” Both films are deeply unorthodox indie motion pictures tasking Stan with complex lead roles allowing him to show off new depths as a performer. As Stan scales new heights as an actor, it’s worth looking back at his career up to this point and figuring out what his ten best performances have been. Yes, one of those performances is a separate reprisal of Bucky Barnes across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and two have even come from this year alone. But the others show his increasingly impressive ability to wring nuanced performances rich with detail and personality out of anything he gets afforded the opportunity to play, making him one of the most exciting actors working today.
10. The Devil All The Time (2020)
Do you remember this 2020 Netflix movie? That’s alright if you don’t. 2020 cinema kind of blurs together into a COVID-informed fog. Additionally, “The Devil All the Time” isn’t especially exceptional in its quality. In fact, it’s often downright difficult to sit through. Across an ensemble cast trying too hard to be serious and nefarious, Stan (along with Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland) stands out as a highlight. His portrayal of a corrupt law enforcement officer radiates lived-in weariness. There’s more tangible corruption within Stan’s work than most of “The Devil All the Time‘s” tiresome grim ambiance.
9. Logan Lucky (2017)
Stan’s movie star good lucks were put to good use playing “Logan Lucky‘s” fictional racecar driver Dayton White. It’s instantly believable that he comes from a totally different world than the other ramshackle rural characters. Plus, his performance stands out as extra commendable, considering he must play one pivotal scene opposite a wildly miscalculated Seth MacFarlane performance as cocky businessman Max Chilblain.
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Stan doesn’t get to do a lot of talking in his debut appearance as Bucky’s Winter Soldier persona. However, that just allows him to really shine in terms of conveying an imposing physicality as the masked version of the character. There’s an instantly intimidating quality just to the way he walks as this character. You truly believe he can go toe-to-toe with beefcake Chris Evans. With this performance, Stan revealed a talent for dialogue-free acting that audiences still yearn for to this day from the 42-year-old actor, whether it’s on the big or small screen.
7. Monday (2020)
Sebastian Stan delivers a charismatic and layered performance in “Monday,” playing Mickey, a laid-back DJ whose charm makes his character likable despite some obvious red flags to the audience as to the character’s true nature. Stan’s natural appeal allows the audience, like Chloe, to initially overlook Mickey’s flaws, while his chemistry with co-star Denise Gough sweetens the film’s sensuality and expressive profundity. His work captures the self-destructive tendencies of someone struggling to maintain a relationship due to his inner chaos. From playful moments like cooking in his underwear to some powerfully raw scenes, Stan’s performance anchors the film, making Mickey both endearing and tragic.
6. Fresh (2022)
Most of “Fresh” doesn’t live up to its potential as a piece of provocative cinema. However, Stan’s performance as an unhinged cannibal named Steve is undoubtedly the independent film’s greatest quality. Stan totally throws himself into the part, rendering both the early amiable “normal guy” and sadistic maniac sides of Steve with equal levels of conviction. What’s especially eerie about his performance in this department is how he subtly reveals how small of a gulf exists between these two sides of Steve. That kind of intricate detailing is what “Fresh” desperately needed more of.
5. The Apprentice (2024)
Much like “Fresh,” “The Apprentice” leaves a lot of potential on the table as a standalone movie. Also, like that 2022 film, though, “The Apprentice” does let Stan deliver some terrific work in a lead role. Playing Donald Trump doesn’t unearth new layers in this despised POTUS. However, Stan’s portrayal of Trump gradually adopting his infamous body language and speaking style is an impressive display of slow-burn acting that manifests into the monster we all know by the time the film reaches its third act.
4. Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Stan cemented his dedication to arthouse cinema in an early stage of his career with his role in Jonathan Demme’s 2008 movie “Rachel Getting Married.” His character, Walter, is only briefly in “Married,” but he is one of the first characters the audience sees. In his minimal opening scene screentime, Stan conveys an uneasy air about Walter helps solidify how the titular Rachel can’t escape her horrific past. With one of his very first movie performances, he already demonstrated a deftness in instantly communicating distinctive personalities.
3. Destroyer (2018)
There should be way more Karyn Kusama movies in the world. She’s the kind of filmmaker who should be receiving instant blank checks that filmmakers like McG and Zack Snyder seem to obtain with ease. With the Kusama movies we do have, audiences can experience a bevy of memorable performances, including Stan’s work as Chris in “Destroyer.” As the love interest of protagonist Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman), Stan skillfully supports Kidman’s lead performance. It’s also quite interesting to see the subtle and maximalist ways he demonstrates another level of affection for Erin when they’re both out working undercover together. It’s the kind of finely detailed work in plentiful supply within Kusama’s filmography.
2. I, Tonya (2017)
Unquestionably the performance that put Stan on the map as a dramatic actor and subverted his superhero image (and even his PG-13 mind-controlled supervillain persona) was “I, Tonya,” playing abusive partner Jeff Gillooly. There’s such unnerving intensity just in Stan’s stares or the way he composes his arms here. The toxicity brewing inside this man is tangible in the tiniest aspects of his physicality. When director Craig Gillespie calls on Stan to engage in heightened portrayals of abusive behavior, this performer stands up to the task of selling this material without lapsing into an arch caricature. Stan had delivered notable performances before “I, Tonya.” However, exhibiting such amazing results in an Oscar darling like this one took his career to a new level for good reason!
1. A Different Man (2024)
Examining Stan’s best performances, it’s impressive how much physicality plays into his greatest turns. Whether it’s his first portrayal of The Winter Soldier, his performance as Jeff Gillooly, those Trump hand gestures, or his dancing in a kitchen in “Fresh,” Stan’s externalized acting is critical to his esteemed reputation. That quality once again manifests in his role as Edward in “A Different Man.” Playing a man with neurofibromatosis that eventually undergoes a risky medical procedure to alter his face, Stan communicates Edward’s withdrawn nature just with the way he lets his arms linger on his sides. It’s a quality that fascinatingly endures even after his neurofibromatosis vanishes. This commitment to specific body language ensures enduring consistency for Edward even as he takes on the identity of Guy. Stan thrives with those tiny physical details, as well as the very precise dark comedy in writer/director Aaron Schimberg’s screenplay. This challenging and complicated character could’ve exceeded the grasp of many actors. However, Stan’s been building to this kind of multi-faceted character for his entire career. “A Different Man” thoughtfully utilized every facet of Stan’s acting gifts, including his subtly integral emphasis on deeply specific physicality. Now, that’s how you leave the days of “Gossip Girl” far behind.
What do you think of our list? What’s your favorite Sebastian Stan performance? Have you seen “The Apprentice” or “A Different Man” yet? If so, what did you think? Please let us know in the comments section below or on Next Best Picture’s X account and check out our latest Oscar predictions here to see where Sebastian Stan ranks.
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