Menu

Skip to content
  • Awards
  • Gala
  • Student Grants
  • Features
  • Est. 1909
  • Partners
  • Members
  • Support
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search

Breakthrough Performance  |  Archive

    • Special Achievement In Filmmaking
    • Special Achievement in Producing
    • Creative Innovation in Filmmaking Award
    • Top 10 Independent Films
    • Outstanding Achievement in Special Effects
    • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
    • Best Actor
    • Top 5 Documentaries
    • Career Achievement in Music Composition
    • NBR Icon Award
    • Best Actress
    • NBR Freedom Of Expression
    • Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV
    • Best Film
    • Spotlight Award
    • Producers Award
    • Best International Film
    • Best Supporting Actor
    • Top 5 Foreign Language Films
    • Outstanding Film Music Composition
    • Top 5 International Films
    • Best Supporting Actress
    • Top Films
    • Billy Wilder Award for Excellence in Directing
    • Best Adapted Screenplay
    • William K. Everson Award for Film History
    • Special Citations
    • Best Animated Feature
    • Breakthrough Performance
    • Humanitarian Award
    • Best Director
    • Top Independent Films
    • International Freedom Award
    • Best Directorial Debut
    • Production Design Award
    • Special Award for Visionary Cinematic Achievement
    • Best Documentary
    • Best Ensemble Cast
    • Best Screenplay
    • Best Foreign Language Film
    • Career Achievement in Cinematography
    • Outstanding Dramatic Music Performance
    • Best Original Screenplay
    • Career Achievement Award
    • Outstanding Cinematic Series
    • Breakthrough Performance Actor
    • Career Achievement in Producing
    • Top Foreign Films
    • Breakthrough Performance Actress
    • Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking
    View All Awards
2022 Breakthrough Performance

Danielle Deadwyler 

Till 

2022 Breakthrough Performance

Gabriel LaBelle 

The Fabelmans 

2021 Breakthrough Performance

Alana Haim & Cooper Hoffman 

Licorice Pizza 

2020 Breakthrough Performance

Sidney Flanigan 

Never Rarely Sometimes Always 

2019 Breakthrough Performance

Paul Walter Hauser 

Richard Jewell 

2018 Breakthrough Performance

Thomasin McKenzie 

Leave No Trace 

2017 Breakthrough Performance

Timothée Chalamet 

Call Me By Your Name 

2016 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Royalty Hightower 

The Fits 

2016 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Lucas Hedges 

Manchester by the Sea 

2015 Breakthrough Performance

Abraham Attah 

Beasts of No Nation 

2015 Breakthrough Performance

Jacob Tremblay 

Room 

2014 Breakthrough Performance

Jack O'Connell 

Starred Up  Unbroken 

2013 Breakthrough Performance

Michael B. Jordan 

Fruitvale Station 

2013 Breakthrough Performance

Adèle Exarchopoulos 

Blue is the Warmest Color 

2012 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Quvenzhané Wallis 

Beasts of the Southern Wild 

2012 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Tom Holland 

The Impossible 

2011 Breakthrough Performance

Rooney Mara 

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 

2011 Breakthrough Performance

Felicity Jones 

Like Crazy  

2010 Breakthrough Performance

Jennifer Lawrence 

Winter's Bone 

2009 Breakthrough Performance

Jeremy Renner 

The Hurt Locker 

2009 Breakthrough Performance

Gabourey Sidibe 

Precious  

2008 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Viola Davis 

Doubt 

2008 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Dev Patel 

Slumdog Millionare 

2007 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Ellen Page 

Juno 

2007 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Emile Hirsch 

Into the Wild 

2006 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Ryan Gosling 

Half Nelson 

2006 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Jennifer Hudson 

Dreamgirls 

2005 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Q'Orianka Kilcher 

The New World  

2005 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Terrence Howard 

Crash  Get Rich or Die Tryin'  Hustle & Flow 

2004 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Emmy Rossum 

The Phantom of the Opera 

2004 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Topher Grace 

In Good Company  P.S. 

2003 Breakthrough Performance Actress

Charlize Theron 

Monster  

2003 Breakthrough Performance Actor

Paul Giamatti 

American Splendor  

2002 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Derek Luke 

Antwone Fisher 

2002 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Maggie Gyllenhaal 

Secretary 

2001 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Hayden Christenson 

Life as a House 

2001 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Naomi Watts 

Mulholland Drive 

2000 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Jamie Bell 

Billy Elliott 

2000 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Michelle Rodriguez 

Girlfight 

1999 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Wes Bentley 

American Beauty 

1999 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Hilary Swank 

Boys Don´t Cry 

1998 Breakthrough Performance - Male

Billy Crudup 

The Hi-Lo Country 

1998 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Angelina Jolie 

Playing By Heart 

1997 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Bai Ling 

Red Corner 

1996 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Renée Zellweger 

Jerry Maguire 

1995 Breakthrough Performance - Female

Alicia Silverstone 

Clueless 

National Board of Review © 2013

Menu

Skip to content
  • Awards
  • Gala
  • Student Grants
  • Features
  • Est. 1909
  • Partners
  • Members
  • Support
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Stay In Touch
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook