20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2016
19. Chris Pratt - Jim Preston (Passengers)
Release Date: December 21
The Role: Jim Preston, a mechanic who is on-board a spaceship on a 120-year journey to a colony planet, and the drama begins when he's woken out of cryo-sleep 90 years early, along with a beautiful writer by the name of Aurora Dunn (Jennifer Lawrence).
Why It'll Define 2016: We all know that Jennifer Lawrence is an Academy darling who could easily pick up plaudits for this awards season sci-fi drama without surprising anyone, but this could really be the breakout, crossover role which sees Chris Pratt go from a fan favourite to a critical lion as well.
Hopefully the part will allow Pratt to flex his rarely-seen dramatic muscles a little, and remind us he's capable of more than looking awesome and cutting killer quips. With the right level of tension, suspense and romance, this could be a fantastic all-rounder role that gets Pratt similar attention to what Matt Damon got this past year with The Martian.