While the climate keeps heating up, these 12 men made 2024 even hotter.
From desert battles to streaming sensations, chart-topping albums to viral moments, this year’s lineup of leading men had us constantly reaching for our fans.
Get ready to revisit the stars who turned up the temperature and kept us thoroughly entertained. Let’s count down 2024’s most swoon-worthy celebrities…
1. Timothée Chalamet: From Desert Prince to Hollywood King
Timothée Chalamet dominated 2024 with his powerhouse performance in Dune: Part Two, which not only earned critical acclaim with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score but also crushed the box office with $714 million worldwide.
Later in the year, he showcased his versatility in A Complete Unknown (which will only be released to wide audiences in January 2025), proving once again why he’s Hollywood’s most captivating leading man.
Beyond the big screen, Timothée’s surprise appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay revealed his playful side and sent social media into a frenzy. And listen – I have no idea what he’s talking about, but the straights are saying he knows his stuff:
Between collecting award nominations, gracing the cover of UK Rolling Stone, and signing major deals with Warner Bros., he’s proven he’s more than just those magnificent cheekbones (though we’re not complaining about those either).
2. Shawn Mendes: The Voice That Made Us Melt
Shawn came back stronger than ever in 2024, dropping his self-titled album Shawn. It unfortunately missed the #1 spot on the Billboard 200, but Shawn’s long absence from the spotlight may have had something to do with that.
The album showcases a more mature sound and deeply personal lyrics that had fans swooning all over again.
His intimate tour and concert film For Friends and Family Only, gave us a closer look at the man behind the music, while his Best Canadian Act win at the MTV EMAs proved he’s still one of pop’s most beloved stars.
Plus, after a hiatus of a couple of years – in 2024, Shawn went back to the days of never wearing a shirt – and we’re all for that.
And yes, we can’t ignore all those hints he’s been spreading around this year, saying he’s “still exploring” his sexuality, and sending us gays into meltdown mode.
3. Troye Sivan: Pop’s Brightest Star
2024 saw the openly gay Troye absolutely dominating the music scene, with his European tour packing arenas, becoming his biggest yet.
The Australian heartthrob swept the ARIA Awards, taking home Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, and Best Pop Release, all while serving looks that had us questioning our workout routines.
Between his stunning GAP campaign and that iconic i-D Magazine cover with Charli XCX, Troye proved he’s mastered the art of being both talented and criminally photogenic.
And of course, we’ll never forget how he gave us all the present of Ross Lynch as the ultimate straight-to-drool-over (and then Vinnie Hacker as his replacement in one of the live shows).
4. Paul Mescal: The New Action Hero of Our Dreams
Paul Mescal proved he could do more than steal our hearts with intense dramatic roles when he took on Gladiator II this year.
While the film was a huge success with the critics, they were still raving about Paul’s portrayal of Lucius Verus, praising his ability to bring emotional depth to such a physically demanding role.
The film’s impressive $403.3 million worldwide box office confirms what we already knew – everyone wants a piece of Paul.
When he wasn’t wielding swords and stealing scenes, Paul graced the cover of GQ and kept us entertained with his charming press appearances, including an amusing appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
5. Michael Evans Behling: Rising Star Alert
The All American heartthrob kicked off 2024 with Season 7’s premiere in January, but it was his voice work for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES that showed us a different side of his talent.
His ongoing commitment to mental health advocacy has made him even more attractive – because who doesn’t love a man who’s both gorgeous and caring?
6. Ryan Gosling: Hollywood’s Golden Boy
Ryan proved 2024 was his year to shine, starting with that viral reaction at the Critics Choice Awards and his unforgettable “I’m Just Ken” performance at the Oscars.
His action-comedy The Fall Guy showcased his versatility (and those abs), earning $181.1 million worldwide and rave reviews for his chemistry with Emily Blunt.
Between hosting Saturday Night Live, earning an Emmy nomination, and making a surprise appearance at the Paris Olympics, Ryan kept us thoroughly entertained.
And just when we thought he couldn’t get any more endearing, he welcomed a new dog named Magic into his family.
7. Manny Jacinto: The Villain We Can’t Help But Love
Manny broke bad in the best way possible as Qimir in Disney+’s The Acolyte, which broke records with 4.8 million views for its two-episode debut (but alas, was eventually canceled).
Critics couldn’t stop praising his ability to balance mystery and charisma, with The Hollywood Reporter dubbing him a “scene-stealer” – and honestly, he can steal our scenes any day.
His nomination for People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive and those stunning covers for Vogue Man Philippines and NUVO Magazine only confirmed what we already knew back when he was the dumb pretty boy in The Good Place: Manny Jacinto is having his moment, and we’re here for it.
8. Austin Butler: The Man Who Has It All
Fresh off his epic performance in Dune: Part Two, Austin continued to dominate screens in The Bikeriders. While the film may have had modest box office returns, critics praised his magnetic performance, proving once again that everything he touches turns to gold.
His Esquire cover shoot had us all checking our pulse rates, while his charming interview moments during The Bikeriders Australian premiere reminded us why he’s one of Hollywood’s most captivating leading men.
And if all that’s not enough – we recently learned that he’s going to be the next Patrick Bateman in the new American Psycho reboot.
9. Michael B. Jordan: Director’s Chair Never Looked So Good
Michael B. Jordan continued to elevate his game in 2024, winning the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor for his work in Creed III (which was released in 2023, but we’ll let that pass).
The judges particularly praised his ability to balance intense physicality with emotional depth, and we couldn’t agree more.
With the announcement of Sinners and his involvement in the development of the Rainbow Six movie, it’s clear he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
10. Pedro Pascal: The Internet’s Daddy Gets Even Hotter
Starting the year with a bang, Pedro took home the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for The Last of Us, delivering an acceptance speech that had us all in our feelings.
His 2024 lineup read like a dream with Freaky Tales, Drive-Away Dolls, The Uninvited, and Gladiator II, proving he can do it all – and look absolutely incredible doing it.
Whether he was gracing the covers of Total Film and Entertainment Weekly or attending premieres with his equally fabulous sister Lux, Pedro continued to be the internet’s favorite crush.
And yes, he’s still single – not that we’re keeping track or anything.
11. Theo James: The Gentleman Who Stole Our Hearts
Theo dominated streaming screens as Eddie Horniman in Netflix’s The Gentlemen, which pulled in an impressive 12.2 million views in its first week.
Critics praised his “zen amid constant madness” performance, and with those looks and that talent, who are we to argue?
His stunning spreads in Gentleman’s Journal and Vogue Greece had us all hitting the save button, while buzz about him potentially being the next James Bond has us shaken AND stirred.
12. Kelvin Harrison Jr.: The Rising Star We Can’t Take Our Eyes Off
2024 proved to be a breakthrough year for Kelvin Harrison Jr., who received the Rising Star Award at the American Black Film Festival Honors in March.
The award recognized his exceptional talent and growing impact in Hollywood, setting him up for even bigger things to come.
Between his stunning spreads in Justsmile Magazine and Pause Magazine and his highly anticipated role in Mufasa: The Lion King, Kelvin is proving himself to be one of Hollywood’s most promising talents – and let’s be honest, one of its most photogenic too.