20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2015

20. James Spader - Ultron (Avengers: Age Of Ultron)

Release Date: April 23 (UK), May 1 (US) The Movie: Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the superhero supergroup's latest adventure, which promises to be bigger (and hopefully better) than 2012's superb comic book classic. The Role: Spader plays Ultron, the AI defense system built by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), which then turns on its creator and decides Earth would be better off if humanity just...didn't exist. Spader provided extensive motion capture for the part as well as his signature voice. Why It'll Define 2015: There's a very strong chance Age of Ultron will be either the highest or second-highest-grossing film of 2015, and the best of these movies (such as The Dark Knight) are so often defined by their villain. Spader's a terrific actor, and while he won't be winning any Oscars for his work here, he'll bring plenty of menace to a movie desperate to top what came before.