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Watchmojo's Top 20 Greatest Acting Debuts in Movies

These actors turned in career-defining performances on their first try! For this list, we'll be looking at the best debut performances in movie history. Our countdown includes Alan Rickman, Orson Welles, Natalie Portman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Oprah Winfrey, and more! What do you think is the best debut performance of all time?
278 users · 765 views
 
avg. score: 8 of 20 (40%)
required scores: 1, 4, 6, 9, 13 
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1
Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Rotten Tomatoes®   99%
2
Paper Moon (1973)
Paper Moon (1973)
Rotten Tomatoes®   93%
3
The Piano (1993)
The Piano (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes®   91%
4
Leon: The Professional (1994)
Leon: The Professional (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes®   73%
5
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Rotten Tomatoes®   96%
6
Halloween (1978)
Halloween (1978)
Rotten Tomatoes®   96%
7
48 Hrs. (1982)
48 Hrs. (1982)
Rotten Tomatoes®   93%
8
Dreamgirls (2006)
Dreamgirls (2006)
Rotten Tomatoes®   79%
9
Precious (2009)
Precious (2009)
Rotten Tomatoes®   92%
10
Primal Fear (1996)
Primal Fear (1996)
Rotten Tomatoes®   77%
11
The Color Purple (1985)
The Color Purple (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes®   81%
12
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Rotten Tomatoes®   93%
13
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes®   86%
14
No Way Out (1950)
No Way Out (1950)
Rotten Tomatoes®   86%
15
The Witch (2016)
The Witch (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes®   90%
16
True Grit (2010)
True Grit (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes®   95%
17
Funny Girl (1968)
Funny Girl (1968)
Rotten Tomatoes®   93%
18
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes®   93%
19
Rushmore (1998)
Rushmore (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes®   89%
20
Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes®   94%
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