Film Fixation: We're Thankful For Breakout Movie Stars

Sacha Baron Cohen

Breakout Roles: 'Borat,' 'Talladega Nights'
Why We're Grateful: He killed as a gay French NASCAR driver in 'Nights,' and his hilariously offensive satire 'Borat' changed the face of comedy, perhaps forever. But we like anyone who wrestles a 450-pound naked dude for their art.

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Discuss Hollywood Aussies

Abbie Cornish

Breakout Roles: 'Candy,' 'Somersault,' 'A Good Year,'
Why We're Grateful: The rising young Aussie blew us away as a sultry teen in 'Somersault,' and she's the 'Candy' everybody wants in her heroin-junkie love story with Heath Ledger. We loved Ryan & Reese, but if the rumors are true, Ryan's one lucky man. Again.

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Brandon Routh

Breakout Role: 'Superman Returns'
Why We're Grateful: Few would admit it, but Routh brought just as much charisma to Superman and as much comically endearing befuddlement to Clark Kent as Christopher Reeve did way in 1978. Plus, chicks dig the way he looks in a red banana hammock.

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Eva Green

Breakout Role: 'Casino Royale'
Why We're Grateful: Unlike some Bond girls we won't name, Green was believably beautiful AND brainy (Denise Richards comes to mind? no comment). We get why 007 fell so hard, and we can't wait to see her in the '07 fantasy epic 'Golden Compass.'

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Channing Tatum

Breakout Roles: 'Step Up,' 'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,' 'She's the Man'
Why We're Grateful: Even if you discount the way he rocks a wifebeater, Tatum can act, move and woo. Whether he's a down-and-out alpha male, juvie-bound dancer or prep-school player, he's always mighty fine.

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Jacinda Barrett

Breakout Roles: 'The Last Kiss,' 'School for Scoundrels,' 'Poseidon'
Why We're Grateful: She saved 'Poseidon' from complete disaster and made us want to pummel Zach Braff in 'Last Kiss' (cheating bastard!) -- proving she's the most talented 'Real World' alum BY FAR. Sorry, Puck.

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Derek Luke

Breakout Role: 'Catch a Fire'
Why We're Grateful: Though Luke won an Indie Spirit Award for his debut role in 2002's 'Antwone Fisher,' Oscar has yet to take notice -- we hope his stirring portrayal of a regular South-African man-turned-freedom-fighter will 'Catch' their attention.

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Vera Farmiga

Breakout Roles: 'The Departed,'
Why We're Grateful: Her turn as ambivalent police shrink Madolyn, caught between a bad guy playing good and a good guy playing bad, deliciously serves up a long-fave indie darling for some blockbuster attention. (P.S. She's loopy fun as a thick-accented hooker in 'Breaking and Entering.')

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Patrick Wilson

Breakout Roles: 'Little Children,' 'Hard Candy'
Why We're Grateful: As the object of Kate Winslet's lustful affection in 'Little Children,' Wilson perfectly embodies (or rather "hot-bodies") the kind of sexy dad next door any woman would love to shag. But as a creepy pedophile in 'Hard Candy,' not so much.

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Paula Patton

Breakout Roles: 'Idlewild,' 'Deja Vu'
Why We're Grateful: Outkast no doubt impressed in their glittery big-screen jaunt, but the stunning Patton stole our attention. No wonder Denzel obsesses over her posthumously in 'Deja Vu.' Fun fact: She's married to pop star Robin Thicke, son of Alan.

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James McAvoy

Breakout Role: 'The Last King of Scotland'
Why We're Grateful: After his scene-stealing role as Mr. Tumnus in 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' the Scottish up-and-comer dropped the furry facial hair and hooves for his impressive turn opposite Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin's personal physician.

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Abigail Breslin and
Paul Dano

Breakout Role: 'Little Miss Sunshine'
Why We're Grateful: As the Nietzsche-loving Dwayne, Dano had us in stitches with every mute look of horror. But the indie hit wouldn't have worked without Breslin as sunny, awkward Olive. She's a beauty queen in our book.

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Emilie de Ravin

Breakout Roles: 'The Hills Have Eyes,' 'Brick'
Why We're Grateful: Having already found great success on TV's primetime phenom 'Lost,' the Aussie actress seamlessly moved on to edgy movie fare, as a high school murder victim ('Brick') and mutated cannibal ass-whooper ('Hills Have Eyes').

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Ellen Page

Breakout Roles: 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' 'Hard Candy'
Why We're Grateful: At 19, the Canadian Page is older than she looks, thus ideally cast as an anti-pedophile vigilante in 'Candy' and mutant pupil in 'X3.' She's got six movies lined up for '07. Now if we could only get over her eerie resemblance to Haley Joel.

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Ivana Baquero

Breakout Role: 'Pan's Labyrinth'
Why We're Grateful: This strange, wonderful film stars the wide-eyed Baquero as a girl who may be the princess of an underground world. Whether she's being terrorized by her fascist stepfather or searching for the golden key in a toad's belly, she makes us believe in fairy tales all over again.

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And the TV Team's Thankful For ...

You've seen Moviefone's reasons to be thankful this year, now check out what our cousins at AOL Television are grateful for in 2006, like super-agent Jack Bauer of '24,' the beloved late Steve Irwin and everyone's favorite fashion victim, 'Ugly Betty.'
See TV's picks