10 Actors Who Just Recently Did Their Best Work Ever

Once upon a time, '90s heartthrob Josh Hartnett was tipped as a future mega-star, but that isn't how things panned out. Hartnett has become one of those unlucky actors who can be good yet has struggled to find their way into too many decent movies - Pearl Harbour, anyone? - and he's also chosen to step back from Hollywood in more recent times. He hasn't been much in evidence in more recent years, and as such, M. Night Shyamalan's decision to cast Hartnett as the lead in his thoroughly enjoyable 2024 flick Trap came out of left-field somewhat. 

Nevertheless, it turned out that Shyamalan knew exactly what he was doing, for Hartnett is genuinely fantastic and plays one of the most memorable film serial killers in recent memory. 

Harnett plays Cooper, a serial killer trying to escape the police presence at a pop concert he's taken his daughter to, and in this role, he echoes Hannibal Lecter in the best sort of way. The actor masters Cooper's duality, being equally convincing as a loving father trying to give his daughter a good time and as a chillingly evil psychopath who could snap at any moment. He's simultaneously kooky and frightening, a deliciously entertaining villain who always feels like a palpably lethal threat to everyone around him. Even in a year full of stellar horror film performances, Josh Hartnett's star turn here is one of the greatest. 

Here's hoping more directors will start to take advantage of Hartnett's long-underutilized acting chops.