The Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor is one of the annual awards given by the American professional organization the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Saturn Awards are the oldest film-specialized awards to reward science fiction, fantasy, and horror achievements (the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, awarded by the World Science Fiction Society who reward science fiction and fantasy in various media, is the oldest award for science fiction and fantasy films).
The category was first introduced for the 1984 film year, specifically to reward young actors and actresses in films, and was the first acting award of the Academy to reward both males and females. Tom Holland is the only actor to have won it three times, to have won it three years in a row, and to have won three times for the same role. Haley Joel Osment and Chloë Grace Moretz have each won the award twice. Moretz and Daniel Radcliffe have received the most nominations, with 5 each. Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, and Tobey Maguire are the only actors to have won both Best Performance by a Younger Actor and later a Saturn Award for adults.
Winners and nominees
1980s YearActorMotion Picture CharacterNoah HathawayThe NeverEnding StoryAtreyu Drew Barrymore Firestarter Charlene "Charlie" McGee Nick Corri A Nightmare on Elm Street Rod Lane Corey Feldman Gremlins Pete Fountaine Ke Huy Quan Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Short RoundBarret OliverD.A.R.Y.L.Daryl Fairuza Balk Return to Oz Dorothy Gale Jeff Cohen The Goonies Lawrence "Chunk" Cohen Ilan Mitchell-Smith Weird Science Wyatt O'Donnelly Amelia Shankley Dreamchild Young AliceCarrie HennAliensRebecca "Newt" Jorden Joey Cramer Flight of the Navigator David Freeman Lucy Deakins The Boy Who Could Fly Amelia "Milly" Michaelson Scott Grimes Critters Brad Brown Jay Underwood The Boy Who Could Fly Eric GibbKirk CameronLike Father Like SonChris Hammond / Dr. Jack Hammond Scott Curtis Cameron's Closet Cameron Lansing Stephen Dorff The Gate Glen Andre Gower The Monster Squad Sean Crenshaw Corey Haim The Lost Boys Sam Emerson Joshua John Miller Near Dark HomerFred SavageVice VersaCharlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour Warwick Davis Willow Willow Ufgood Rodney Eastman Deadly Weapon Zeke Lukas Haas Lady in White Frankie Scarlatti Corey Haim Watchers Travis Cornell Jared Rushton Big Billy Alex Vincent Child's Play Andy BarclayAdan JodorowskySanta SangreYoung Fenix Thomas Wilson Brown Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Russ Thompson, Jr. Gabriel Damon RoboCop 2 Hob Jasen Fisher The Witches Luke Eveshim Charlie Korsmo Dick Tracy Kid Bryan Madorsky Parents Michael Laemle Robert OliveriHoney, I Shrunk the Kids Nick Szalinski Jared Rushton Ron Thompson Faviola Elenka Tapia Santa Sangre Young Alma
1990s YearActor / ActressMotion Picture CharacterEdward FurlongTerminator 2: Judgment DayJohn Connor Jonathan Brandis The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter Bastian Bux Chris Demetral Dolly Dearest Jimmy Wade Corey Haim Prayer of the Rollerboys Griffin Candace Hutson Dolly Dearest Jessica Wade Joshua John Miller And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird Josh Carson Justin Whalin Child's Play 3 Andy BarclayScott WeingerAladdinAladdin (voice) Brandon Adams The People Under the Stairs Poindexter "Fool" Williams Edward Furlong Pet Sematary Two Jeff Matthews Robert Oliveri Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Nick Szalinski Christina Ricci The Addams Family Wednesday Addams Daniel ShalikarHoney, I Blew Up the KidAdam Szalinski Joshua ShalikarElijah WoodThe Good SonMark Evans Jesse Cameron-Glickenhaus Slaughter of the Innocents Jesse Broderick Manuel Colao Flight of the Innocent Vito Joseph Mazzello Jurassic Park Tim Murphy Austin O'Brien Last Action Hero Danny Madigan Christina Ricci Addams Family Values Wednesday Addams Ariana Richards Jurassic Park Lex MurphyKirsten DunstInterview with the VampireClaudia Luke Edwards Little Big League Billy Heywood Joseph Gordon-Levitt Angels in the Outfield Roger Bomman Miko Hughes Wes Craven's New Nightmare Dylan Porter Jonathan Taylor Thomas The Lion King Young Simba (voice) Elijah Wood North NorthChristina RicciCasperKathleen "Kat" Harvey Kirsten DunstJumanji Judy Shepherd Bradley Pierce Peter Shepherd Max Pomeranc Fluke Brian Johnson Hal Scardino The Indian in the Cupboard Omri Judith Vittet The City of Lost Children MietteLucas BlackSling BladeFrank Wheatley Kevin Bishop Muppet Treasure Island Jim Hawkins James Duval Independence Day Miguel Casse Lukas Haas Mars Attacks! Richie Norris Jonathan Taylor Thomas The Adventures of Pinocchio Pinocchio (voice) Mara Wilson Matilda Matilda WormwoodJena MaloneContactYoung Ellie Vanessa Lee Chester The Lost World: Jurassic Park Kelly Curtis Alexander Goodwin Mimic Chuy Sam Huntington Jungle 2 Jungle Mimi-Siku Dominique Swain Face/Off Jamie Archer Mara Wilson A Simple Wish Anabel GreeningTobey MaguirePleasantvilleDavid / Bud Josh Hartnett The Faculty Zeke Tyler Katie Holmes Disturbing Behavior Rachel Wagner Jack Johnson Lost in Space Will Robinson Brad Renfro Apt Pupil Todd Bowden Alicia Witt Urban Legend Natalie SimonHaley Joel OsmentThe Sixth SenseCole Sear Emily Bergl The Rage: Carrie 2 Rachel Lang Jake Lloyd Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Anakin Skywalker Justin Long Galaxy Quest Brandon Natalie Portman Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Queen Padmé Amidala Devon Sawa Idle Hands Anton Tobias
2000s YearActor / ActressMotion Picture CharacterDevon SawaFinal DestinationAlex Browning Spencer Breslin Disney's The Kid Rusty Duritz Holliston Coleman Bless the Child Cody O'Connor Jonathan Lipnicki The Little Vampire Tony Thompson Taylor Momsen How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cindy Lou Who Anna Paquin X-Men Marie D'Ancanto / RogueHaley Joel OsmentA.I. Artificial IntelligenceDavid Freddie Boath The Mummy Returns Alex O'Connell Justin Long Jeepers Creepers Darry Jenner Alakina Mann The Others Anne Stewart Daniel RadcliffeHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Harry Potter Emma Watson Hermione GrangerTyler HoechlinRoad to PerditionMichael Sullivan Jr. Alexis Bledel Tuck Everlasting Winnie Foster Hayden Christensen Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Anakin Skywalker Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter Jeremy Sumpter Frailty Young Adam Elijah Wood The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Frodo BagginsJeremy SumpterPeter PanPeter Pan Jenna Boyd The Missing Dot Gilkeson Rachel Hurd-Wood Peter Pan Wendy Darling Sosuke Ikematsu The Last Samurai Higen Lindsay Lohan Freaky Friday Anna Coleman / Tess Coleman Frankie Muniz Agent Cody Banks Cody BanksEmmy RossumThe Phantom of the OperaChristine Daaé Cameron Bright Birth Young Sean Perla Haney-Jardine Kill Bill: Volume 2 B.B Freddie Highmore Finding Neverland Peter Llewelyn Davies Jonathan Jackson Riding the Bullet Alan Parker Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry PotterDakota FanningWar of the WorldsRachel Ferrier Alex Etel Millions Damian Cunningham Freddie Highmore Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Charlie Bucket Josh Hutcherson Zathura: A Space Adventure Walter Budwing William Moseley The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Peter Pevensie Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry PotterIvana BaqueroPan's LabyrinthOfelia / Princess Moanna Go Ah-sung The Host Park Hyun-seo Jodelle Ferland Tideland Jeliza-Rose Tristan Lake Leabu Superman Returns Jason White Mitchel Musso Monster House DJ Walters (voice) Ed Speleers Eragon EragonFreddie HighmoreAugust RushEvan Taylor / August Rush Alex Etel The Water Horse Angus MacMorrow Josh Hutcherson Bridge to Terabithia Jesse Aarons Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter Dakota Blue Richards The Golden Compass Lyra Belacqua Rhiannon Leigh Wryn The Last Mimzy Emma WilderJaden SmithThe Day the Earth Stood StillJacob Benson Freddie Highmore The Spiderwick Chronicles Jared Grace / Simon Grace Lina Leandersson Let the Right One In Eli Dev Patel Slumdog Millionaire Jamal Malik Catinca Untaru The Fall Alexandria Brandon Walters Australia NullahSaoirse RonanThe Lovely BonesSusie Salmon Taylor Lautner The Twilight Saga: New Moon Jacob Black Bailee Madison Brothers Isabelle Cahill Brooklynn Proulx The Time Traveler's Wife Young Clare Abshire (ages 6 and 8) Max Records Where the Wild Things Are Max Kodi Smit-McPhee The Road Boy
2010s YearActor / ActressMotion Picture CharacterChloë Grace MoretzLet Me InAbby Logan Lerman Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson Frankie and George McLaren Hereafter Marcus and Jason Will Poulter The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Eustace Scrubb Kodi Smit-McPhee Let Me In Owen Hailee Steinfeld True Grit Mattie Ross Charlie Tahan Charlie St. Cloud Sam St. CloudJoel CourtneySuper 8Joe Lamb Asa Butterfield Hugo Hugo Cabret Elle Fanning Super 8 Alice Dainard Dakota Goyo Real Steel Max Kenton Chloë Grace Moretz Hugo Isabelle Saoirse Ronan Hanna Hanna HellerSuraj SharmaLife of PiPi Patel CJ Adams The Odd Life of Timothy Green Timothy Green Tom Holland The Impossible Lucas Bennett Daniel Huttlestone Les Misérables Gavroche Chloë Grace Moretz Dark Shadows Carolyn Stoddard Quvenzhané Wallis Beasts of the Southern Wild HushpuppyChloë Grace MoretzCarrieCarrie White Asa Butterfield Ender's Game Ender Wiggin Sophie Nélisse The Book Thief Liesel Meminger Saoirse Ronan How I Live Now Daisy Ty Simpkins Iron Man 3 Harley Keener Dylan Sprayberry Man of Steel Clark Kent (13 Years)Mackenzie FoyInterstellarMurph (10 Yrs.) Elle Fanning Maleficent Aurora Chloë Grace Moretz The Equalizer Teri Tony Revolori The Grand Budapest Hotel Young Zero Moustafa Kodi Smit-McPhee Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Alexander Noah Wiseman The Babadook Samuel VannickTy SimpkinsJurassic WorldGray Mitchell Olivia DeJonge The Visit Becca James Freedson-Jackson Cop Car Travis Milo Parker Mr. Holmes Roger Elias and Lukas Schwarz Goodnight Mommy Elias and Lukas Jacob Tremblay Room Jack NewsomeTom HollandCaptain America: Civil WarPeter Parker / Spider-Man Ruby Barnhill The BFG Sophie Julian Dennison Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ricky Lewis MacDougall A Monster Calls Conor Neel Sethi The Jungle Book Mowgli Anya Taylor-Joy The Witch ThomasinTom HollandSpider-Man: HomecomingPeter Parker / Spider-Man Dafne Keen Logan Laura Kinney / X-23 Sophia Lillis It Beverly Marsh Millicent Simmonds Wonderstruck Rose Jacob Tremblay Wonder August "Auggie" Pullman Letitia Wright Black Panther Shuri Zendaya Spider-Man: Homecoming MichelleTom HollandSpider-Man: Far From HomePeter Parker / Spider-Man Evan Alex Us Jason Wilson and Pluto Asher Angel Shazam! Billy Batson Millie Bobby Brown Godzilla: King of the Monsters Madison Russell Jack Dylan Grazer Shazam! Freddy Freeman Shahadi Wright Joseph Us Zora Wilson and Umbrae Millicent Simmonds A Quiet Place Regan Abbott2019/2020(46th)Kyliegh CurranDoctor SleepAbra StoneElla Jay BascoBirds of PreyCassandra CainJulia Butters Once Upon a Time in HollywoodTrudi FrazerRoman Griffin Davis Jojo RabbitJojo Bectzler Lexy Kolker FreaksChloe LewisJD McCrary The Lion KingYoung Simba (voice)
2020s