One of the most exciting parts of watching new movies is discovering new actors and what their talents bring to the table. Movie stars are one of the biggest draws for a film and can make a break the success of a movie. There is a new wave of talented young actors making a name for themselves in the movies, gaining attention from critics and general audiences alike. Whether it is a new blockbuster film, an indie drama, or a streaming series, here are five of the most exciting male actors working in Hollywood today under the age of 35.
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet might be the most obvious choice for a list like this. Still, his filmography more than justifies his placement as one of the most exciting new talents working in Hollywood. Chalamet first made an impression with general audiences in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” in 2014, where he played a supporting role as Matthew McConaughey’s son. Since then, Chalamet has only risen in popularity. Following “Interstellar,” Chalamet played a series of roles for arthouse films like “Lady Bird” and “Call Me By Your Name”. His performance in “Call Me By Your Name” got him his first Oscar nomination. Chalamet has broken through as a major star and has now led blockbuster movies such as “Wonka” and the “Dune” franchise. Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor again in 2025 for his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown”. Later this year, Chalamet will star in the ping-pong sports drama, “Marty Supreme”.
Cooper Hoffman
Cooper Hoffman is the youngest entry on this list at 22 years old. Hoffman is the son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died in 2014 at the age of 46. Philip Seymour Hoffman was the Best Actor Winner and a frequent collaborator with directors like Paul Thomas Anderson. Cooper Hoffman made his acting debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s early ’70s hang-out movie “Licorice Pizza”, which got nominated for Best Picture in 2022. Hoffman plays 15-year-old Gary Valentine, a younger hustler in the San Fernando Valley.
Hoffman also played SNL’s Dick Ebersol in “Saturday Night”, a very high-strung supporting performance that does feel like a role his father would have taken in previous times. Most recently, Hoffman appears in the Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk”, giving what is likely his most intense performance thus far.
Justice Smith
Justice Smith has had a handful of supporting roles in some of the biggest blockbuster movies of recent times. Smith has made appearances in “Jurassic World Dominion” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”; both movies they may have had middling reception, but both films crossed the billion-dollar mark. Smith also starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in “Detective Pikachu”, another moderately successful video game adaptation.
What really makes Smith stand out is his performance in the Lynchian 2024 queer horror film “I Saw the TV Glow”. In this film, Smith is able to show off his range as an actor in a way that the Jurassic World films cannot. Smith gives a rather manic performance, at times quiet and introverted, and at other times, the most anxious you will ever see someone. It is an exciting performance that shows the roots of what will likely be a highly regarded actor one day.
David Jonsson
David Jonsson is a bit different from the rest of the actors on this list. He got his start in TV, breaking out in HBO’s hit show “Industry”, where he had a main role. Jonsson has since made his way into a handful of movies, all of which show great range as an actor.
Jonsson made his feature film debut in the 2023 romantic comedy “Rye Lane”, which is one of the most unique films to come out in the romcom genre in quite some time. Jonsson, alongside the rest of the cast, gives an effective and memorable performance. Jonsson also appeared in “Alien: Romulus” as the android Andy. Jonsson is one of the best parts of “Romulus” as he plays a rather timid character, but it is the physical performance he gives that truly makes him stand out as a performer. Jonsson also appears alongside Cooper Hoffman in “The Long Walk” and gives a very compelling and intense performance.
Alex Wolff
Alex Wolff is one of the busiest actors to make this list. Wolff has been acting for close to 20 years at this point and continues to be an interesting presence in movies. “Hereditary” is a standout performance from Wolff, playing a teenage boy trapped in one of the darkest chapters of his family’s life. He gives both a very terrifying and physical performance in the film. Alongside Toni Collette, Wolff is one of the best parts of the Ari Aster horror film.
Wolff also stars alongside Nicolas Cage in the 2021 drama “Pig”. In this film, he can hold his own against one of the more bizarre Cage performances in recent years.