5 Paul Giamatti Roles That Prove He Deserves Both an Oscar & an Emmy

With a career defined by emotionally rich performances, Paul Giamatti has demonstrated his range in drama, comedy, historical epics, and long-running high-stakes TV shows. But despite his undeniable talent, an Oscar has remained out of reach, although he came close in 2024 with a Best Actor nomination for The Holdovers.

However, fans are sure that with performances like these 5, his Oscar-worthiness is definite, making it only a matter of time. It’s time the Academy takes notice.

1. The Holdovers (2023) – Paul Hunham

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Holdovers has 97% from critics and 92% from viewers.
• On IMDb, The Holdovers has 7.9/10.

In The Holdovers, Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, a grumpy, socially awkward boarding school teacher forced to stay on campus with a handful of not-so-friendly students over the winter holidays.

And what could have been a usual character study turns into a deeply moving exploration of loneliness, unexpected redemption, and the unlikely bond forming between two people forced to live together. Giamatti's performance is both tragic and endearing, sprinkled with humor and a pinch of bitterness.

2. John Adams (2008) – John Adams

• On Rotten Tomatoes, John Adams has 82% from critics and 87% from viewers.
• On IMDb, John Adams has 8.4/10.

Much earlier, Giamatti starred in this historical miniseries that proved the man is perfect for dramatic and complicated roles. As the title character in HBO's John Adams, Giamatti immerses himself in the life of America's second president.

From revolutionary firebrand to aging statesman, Giamatti captures Adams' moral conviction, intelligence and isolation with realism. His performance carries the weight of the series, bringing historical drama to life with stunning directness.

3. Billions (2016-2023) – Chuck Rhoades

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Billions has 87% from critics and 67% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Billions has 8.3/10.

In Showtime's hit drama Billions, Giamatti portrays Chuck Rhoades, a principled yet power-hungry U.S. attorney locked in psychological warfare with financial titans and their king Bobby Axelrod. Over the course of seven seasons, Giamatti develops Chuck into one of television's most complex antiheroes, making fans have a love-hate relationship with him.

He balances fierce intellect with personal vulnerability, moving seamlessly between cold calculation and emotional breakdown. It's a role that showcases his mastery of long-form storytelling, that’s for sure.

4. Sideways (2004) – Miles

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Sideways has 97% from critics and 79% from viewers.
• On IMDb, Sideways has 7.5/10.

Time for a little comedy. In the 21-year-old film Sideways, Giamatti plays Miles, a failed writer and wine enthusiast struggling with depression and lost dreams. His performance is a subtle blend of comedy and tragedy, revealing the quiet desperation of a man stuck in limbo.

Giamatti's ability to portray depth with a single expression or line of dialogue turns this simple story about a mid-life crisis into something timeless. Hence the perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes.

5. Black Mirror: Season 7, Episode 5 Eulogy (2025) – Phillip

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Eulogy has 90% from critics.
• On IMDb, Eulogy has 8.1/10.

One of Paul Giamatti's latest projects, but one that is definitely becoming a fan favorite. In the recently premiered season 7 of the popular anthology series Black Mirror, Giamatti played a man named Phillip in the episode titled Eulogy.

The story follows him as he learns of the death of his decades-old ex-girlfriend and then embarks on a technological journey that leaves him devastated.

“Just watched it last night. The whole episode was great, but Everything from when he finds the note on... very sobering. A whole life that could have been. I hope he gets an Emmy for it,” Redditor Clever_Sean said.