# Best Actor nominees at the 2022 Oscars: the full list

> All five Best Actor nominees at the 2022 Oscars, from winner Will Smith to Javier Bardem, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Garfield and Denzel Washington.

Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/oscars-2022-best-actor-nominees
Published: 2026-10-14
Author: Rankiew
Tags: oscars, oscars 2022, best actor, will smith, benedict cumberbatch

Best Actor in 2022 brought together a tennis father, a TV star, a Montana rancher, a composer and a Scottish king. Will Smith won his first Oscar for playing Richard Williams.

# The five Best Actor nominees of 2022

## 1. Will Smith, King Richard · Winner

::film[King Richard|2021]

Richard Williams plans the tennis careers of his daughters Venus and Serena.

- **Director:** Reinaldo Marcus Green
- **Genre:** Biography, Drama

**Worth it if:** you love inspiring true stories about sports.

**Oscars:** Winner: Best Actor

## 2. Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

::film[Being the Ricardos|2021]

One stressful week on I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

- **Director:** Aaron Sorkin
- **Genre:** Biography, Drama

**Worth it if:** you enjoy fast dialogue and backstage drama.

**Oscars:** Nominated: Best Actor

## 3. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

::film[The Power of the Dog|2021]

A cruel Montana rancher torments his brother's new wife and her son in 1925.

- **Director:** Jane Campion
- **Genre:** Drama

**Worth it if:** you want a slow, tense western with a sting.

**Oscars:** Nominated: Best Actor

## 4. Andrew Garfield, tick, tick... BOOM!

::film[tick, tick... BOOM!|2021]

Jonathan Larson, the future creator of Rent, races against time to write a musical in 1990.

- **Director:** Lin-Manuel Miranda
- **Genre:** Musical, Biography

**Worth it if:** you love musical theater and creative anxiety.

**Oscars:** Nominated: Best Actor

## 5. Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

::film[The Tragedy of Macbeth|2021]

A Scottish general, pushed by a prophecy and his wife, kills to become king.

- **Director:** Joel Coen
- **Genre:** Drama, Thriller

**Worth it if:** you want Shakespeare in stunning black and white.

**Oscars:** Nominated: Best Actor

# Who won Best Actor at the 2022 Oscars?

Will Smith won Best Actor for King Richard, his first Oscar.

# Which one is your favorite?

Pick your favorite on Rankiew: rate every film, write reviews, build lists and start clubs to talk movies with friends.

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**More from the series:** [Oscars 2022: every nominee and winner, category by category](/blog/oscars-2022-all-nominees)