18 of the best performances by child actors in movie history

The best young stars to have graced the cinema screen

In cinema, it's always a risky bet when casting children in key roles. Pick incorrectly and it could derail the whole enterprise.

Find the right person, though – someone with the right blend of confidence, naivety and unselfconsciousness – and the results can be breathtaking.

This week sees Jacob Tremblay continue his run of impressive roles with Good Boys, which follows three sixth grade boys who ditch school and embark on an epic journey while carrying accidentally stolen drugs. Before that, he starred in the 2015 drama Room, giving a performance that was as deserving of an Oscar as his co-star Brie Larson, who took home Best Actress. And he’s still only 12.

In celebration, we've counted down the 18 most memorable performances by children in cinema. Click through the gallery below to see who made the cut.

Good Boys is in cinemas now