best of 2016 biggest movie breakout stars Lucas hedges performance in manchester-by-the-sea is in a word Wow he's an award season favorite for his work as a Boston tune dealing with the death of his father moonlight brings us a double whammy of breakout stars Ashton Sanders and travante roads Ashton plays the young shy roan a team struggling with his sexuality and he will absolutely break your heart travante plays the older version of the character who's now an ex-con and is desperately searching for his high-school crush our youngest breakout from 2016 is eight-year-old son eep are completely held his own opposite oscar-winning Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel in Lyon we're impressed little valley Janelle Monae made the list twice yes she's a kick-ass musician but who knew she had such impressive acting chops she started into powerful movies this year hidden figures and moonlight coming fresh off HBO the night of reason it is about to be rocketed into a worldwide thing with a starring role in Rwanda Star Wars story it's um rogue haley bennett appeared and not one not two mastery but for movies this year including the girl on the train and the Magnificent Seven hashtag winning Haley 2016 was your year