25 best biopic performances of the past 25 years

In light of the sad state of most over-praised biopic performances of the past few years, I've opted to offer up my favorites of the past quarter-century.

25. Dennis Quaid as Jimmy Morris -- 24. Ralph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren

23. Angela Bassett as Tina Turner  -- 22. Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich

21. Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

20. Reese Witherspoon as June Carter -- 19. Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale, Jr.
18. Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn -- 17. Javier Bardem as Reinaldo Arenas
16. Cate Blanchett as "Bob Dylan"

15. Meryl Streep as "Carrie Fisher" -- 14. Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes
13. Michael Sheen as Tony Blair -- 12. Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler
11. Ian McKellen as James Whale

10. Johnny Depp as Ed Wood -- 9. Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I
8. Sean Penn as Harvey Milk -- 7. Adrien Brody as Wladyslaw Szpilman
6. Daniel Day-Lewis as Christy Brown

5. Peter Sarsgaard as Chuck Lane -- 4. Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth
3. Susan Sarandon as Sister Helen Prejean -- 2. Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II
1. Sean Penn as "Elmo Sonnier"