Leonardo DiCaprio Wins Academy Award: Who Should We Root For Next?


Leonardo DiCaprio was announced as Best Actor for his role in The Revanent at the 88th Academy Awards. The debate continues on as to whether or not Leonardo DiCaprio’s win is deserved or just for “pity” for losing so many times. Either way, Leonardo took home Oscar gold, and he should be proud. This is also the first time he has taken home a slew of large winnings back to back, as he also won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG for best actor in a drama.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been nominated for an Academy Award four times before his win last night.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting role – What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading role – The Aviator (2004)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading role – Blood Diamond (2006)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading role – The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

But now that Leonardo DiCaprio has his Academy Award, sadly, the party is over. Is there no one to cheer for? What about all those glorious “Leonardo DiCaprio so desperately needs an Oscar” memes? Well, that is over as well. So who can movie fans egg on next to win an Academy Award? Which actor is overdue for winning? Let’s look at some options!

Johnny Depp

Leonardo DiCaprio, Academy Award, Best, Performance by, Leading Role, DiCaprio,
[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images]

Johnny Depp has a lengthy career spanning decades. As the “man with many faces,” Depp is easily one of the best actors of our generation. He even starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Unfortunately, some of those roles have only equaled nominations and not wins.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of The Black Pearl (2003)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Finding Neverland (2004)
Best Performance by an actor in a Leading Role – Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

His career has not been as consistent as Leonard DiCaprio’s, as Depp seemed to have hit a slump when he partnered up with director Tim Burton. The level of his performances wasn’t called into question, but the roles seemed to be redundant. Even Cinema Blend states Depp hit “rock bottom” starring in the box-office flop Mortdecai. It wasn’t until he broke away from Burton that he began to be recognized again. In comes Black Mass, where Johnny Depp stars as Irish mobster Whitey Bulger. The film wasn’t stellar, but Depp was in top form. That became obvious when Depp was nominated for a SAG award. Fans were sure that would equal into an Academy Award nomination, thus giving Leonardo DiCaprio some hard competition, but that it didn’t happen. So now we are left to wonder when it will happen for Johnny Depp. He is too good an actor to not be rewarded. Hopefully, a win for him is coming soon.

Matt Damon

Leonardo DiCaprio, Academy Award, Best, Performance by, Leading Role, DiCaprio,
[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]

Known most famously for his role as Jason Borne, Matt Damon has delivered some great performances during his career, and he is definitely someone who can give Leonardo DiCaprio a run for his money in the future. He has shown he is a rather patient actor who doesn’t jump at every role he is offered. Now, Damon has already won an Academy Award (ahead of Leonardo DiCaprio of course), but not in an acting category.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Good Will Hunting (1997)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Invictus (2009)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – The Martian (2015)

Last year, Damon delivered a stellar performance in The Martian, but between Leonardo DiCaprio being the favorite and Michael Fassbender being the runner-up, Matt Damon didn’t have a chance at winning this year. He consistently gives great performances (even in not-so-great films), so his time for winning an Academy Award will come soon.

When will Leonardo DiCaprio win his next Academy Award? Only time will tell.

[Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images]

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