Busiest movie actors of 2016

Isla Fisher has been keeping busy, starring in four films in 2016, including fashion designer Tom Ford's sophomore effort "Nocturnal Animals," where she portrays a novelized version of her doppleganger Amy Adams. Fisher seems to find herself doing more comedic work, and as the wife of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen she finds herself in some of his projects, which in 2016, included "The Brothers Grimsby."

Performance to Watch: "Nocturnal Animals"

Performance to Avoid: "The Brothers Grimsby"

Gal Gadot managed to plant a serious flag as a leading actress in bigger budget fare with appearances in four high profile films in 2016. Gadot will have a chance to continue her rise with the lead in 2017's "Wonder Woman," a prequel to her appearance in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," in which she first played Wonder Woman. 

Performance to Watch: "Keeping Up With the Joneses"

Performance to Avoid: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Triple 9"

Eisenberg found himself in four films from various genres, with each of his four screen credits showing off a different facet of his personality. He lights up the screen in Woody Allen's "Cafe Society," and also hams it up as comic book villain Lex Luthor in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

Performance to Watch: "Cafe Society"

Performance to Avoid: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"

Since winning an Oscar for her performance in 2011's The Help, Octavia Spencer has been in high demand. In 2016, Spencer has four (and a brief cameo in "Bad Santa 2") credits to her name in a variety of genres from animated to live-action drama.

Performance to Watch: "Zootopia"

Performance to Avoid: "The Divergent Series: Allegiant"

The quirky, always-entertaining Christopher Walken had himself a busy 2016, accepting four quality supporting roles and demonstrating his propensity for the off-beat and inspired parts that have made him a cinematic icon.

Performance to Watch: "The Family Fang," "The Jungle Book," "Eddie the Eagle"

Performance to Avoid: "Nine Lives"

Nic Cage found himself in five films this pas year, with only one, Oliver Stone's Snowden, getting a wide release in theaters. At this point in his career, half the entertainment from any film he's in comes from the over-the-top performances that are a hallmark of his persona. 

Performance to Watch: Everything because it's Nic Cage

Performance to Avoid: Everything because it's Nic Cage

In 2016, Maria Bello was at her busiest with five films and a new Amazon original series, the legal drama "Goliath." Though her films this year failed to catch much buzz beyond "Lights Out," "Goliath" has garnered some good reviews.

Performance to Watch: "Goliath" (TV)

Performance to Avoid: Every single film

A consummate professional, Jeremy Irons is enjoying quite the resurgence in theaters. After a three-year hiatus, he's come back with a vengeance with five films in 2016 alone, managing to snag himself a nice franchise role as a reimagined Alfred Pennyworth in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," a role guaranteed to continue in 2017's "Justice League" and 2018's "The Batman."

Performance to Watch: "Race," "High Rise"

Performance to Avoid: There isn't one, even his turn as Alfred in "Batman v Superman" is watchable.

Toby Jones has carved out an impressive resume as a character actor on two shores, with a deft ability to melt into just about any role, regardless of accent. In 2016, Jones appeared in five films, most notably receiving praise for his performance in "Anthropoid" and the dark fantasy "Tale of Tales."

Performance to Watch: "Anthropoid," "Tale of Tales"

Performance to Avoid: "Morgan," "Dad's Army"

While she might be best known to audiences by her portrayal of Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live," Kate McKinnon, like many of her fellow castmates past and present, is starting to carve a nice niche for herself on screen. In 2016, Kate has been pretty busy, with five appearances.

Performance to Watch: "Ghostbusters: Answer the Call"

Performance to Avoid: "Masterminds"

Being busy is nothing new for Ewan McGregor, who never fails to keep his plate full with projects both in the US and the UK. 2016 was no different for McGregor, with appearances in five films, including "American Pastoral," his directorial debut, and the more well-received "Our Kind of Traitor."

Performance to Watch: "Our Kind of Traitor"

Performance to Avoid: "American Pastoral," "Jane Got a Gun"

While she's usually selective with her roles Kristen Stewart appeared in five films in 2016. In a wealth of solid perfomances, Stewart's role in director Kelly Reichardt's "Certain Women" is particularly a choice one, and should only help to elevate Stewart's profile.

Performance to Watch: "Cafe Society," "Personal Shopper," "Certain Women"

Performance to Avoid: "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk"

Ben Foster is simply a wildly underrated actor who, after an impressive run with five roles in 2016, finally seems to be coming into his own as a reliable character actor. Whether it's an Oscar-worthy performance in "Hell or High Water," or a scenery chewing turn in the poorly received "Warcraft," Foster is doing the best work of his career right now.

Performance to Watch: "Hell or High Water"

Performance to Avoid: "Inferno"

For many, Aaron Paul will always be "Breaking Bad's" Jesse Pinkman. In 2016, Paul set out to escape the shadow of that popular character by appearing in six films and premiering a new and critically acclaimed series, "The Path," on Hulu.

Performance to Watch: "Eye in the Sky," "Central Intelligence," "The Path (TV)," "Bojack Horseman"

Performance to Avoid: "Triple 9," "The 9th Life of Louis Drax"

Anna Kendrick is slowly becoming a go-to in romantic comedies and musical projects. Immensely talented and quirky, Kendrick was featured in six films in 2016, the best of which was indie action-comedy "Mr. Right," followed closely by the Ben Affleck actioner "The Accountant."

Performance to Watch: "Mr. Right," "The Accountant"

Performance to Avoid: "Get a Job," "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates"

Ethan Hawke has had a busy year, with an impressive six film credits to his name. These include two westerns: the big budget "The Magnificent Seven" remake, as well as the well-received "In a Valley of Violence."

Performance to Watch: "In a Valley of Violence"

Performance to Avoid: "Regression"

As character actors go, it would be hard to top Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, who in 2016 scored an impressive seven credits in a variety of films, most notably Disney's "Zootopia," where he voices Mayor Leodore Lionheart. Not only does Simmons put in overtime in theaters, but he also maintains a rather hefty schedule on stage and on TV as the primary pitchman for Farmers Insurance.

Performance to Watch: "The Accountant," "Zootopia"

Performance to Avoid: "The Late Bloomer"

Danny Glover has kept his plate full with supporting roles. In 2016, Glover booked a total eight films, with "Almost Christmas" making a mark as a modest hit for an ensemble holiday comedy.

Performance to Watch: "Almost Christmas"

Performance to Avoid: "Dirty Grandpa"

Without question, Michael Shannon is one of our finest and hardest working actors today. In 2016 alone, Shannon appeared in a whopping nine films, nearly half of Day-Lewis' entire filmography. Of the nine films to his name in 2016, there's not a single film that doesn't merit a watch. From a surprisingly endearing turn as Elvis Presley in "Elvis and Nixon," to yet another successful collaboration with director Jeff Nichols in "Midnight Special," Michael Shannon simply can't do wrong.

Performance to Watch: Every film

Performance to Avoid: This is Michael Shannon we're talking about. Stop it.

Who would've thought in 2016, the hardest working actor in Hollywood would be James Franco? As an actor, Franco is certainly capable, largely due to his level of fearlessness in the roles he chooses. Sometimes, as in the case of bleak and underrated Goat, Franco sheds his usual affably smarmy persona for something much darker.

Performance to Watch: "Goat"

Performance to Avoid: "Sausage Party"