Ryan Reynolds at his best: 13 movies you can’t miss

“I don’t expect success. I prepare for it.” Wise and self-fulfilling words from our guy, Ryan Reynolds, one of Canada’s sweethearts. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Reynolds dreamed of getting out of there early in his life, not to abandon his family or hometown, but to act. True to his words, he and a fellow Vancouver actor impulsively took to the road one night with one destination: Los Angeles.

After taking the first step in following his dreams, his car was stripped and robbed on his first night in L.A. Did that stop our fearless protagonist? Indeed not. After just a few months, Reynolds was landing roles all over town, working whenever he could. Five years later, he finally got a leading role with a recognizable name, a college comedy called Van Wilder: Party Liaison. That movie didn’t make our list today, but it’s only because Reynolds has been busy making an array of better movies ever since.

Most would agree that Ryan Reynolds brings a familiar presence in both appearance and demeanor to most of his films, but when you get a frame that fits just right, you get some great Ryan Reynolds features. That is why we’ve compiled a list of the best Ryan Reynolds movies. It should also be known that these movies were chosen for the movie quality and watchability, not just for the most Ryan of the Reynolds’ performances.

Just Friends (2005)

47%

6.2/10

pg-13

96m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris

Directed by

Roger Kumble

Watch on amazon

One of Reynolds’ more sincerely funny comedy films, this movie is the silly rom-com follow-up for his crude and ridiculous role in Waiting, which makes Just Friends look like a shining light on his career. A coming-of-age tale, a younger, more plump Ryan Reynolds develops a deep-seated fear of “the friend zone” from a scarring high-school experience that broke his heart and turned him into a stone-cold, womanizing, modern-day Ryan Reynolds. Co-starring Anna Faris in her prime, the overtly redundant premise was saved by these characters and their freedom to go wild, resulting in some great moments of slapstick flair and comedic timing.

The Nines (2007)

52%

6.2/10

r

100m

Genre

Drama, Fantasy

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, Hope Davis

Directed by

John August

Watch on Amazon

Part documentary, psychological thriller, and comedy, The Nines really pushes the boundary of sci-fi and try-fi, going a bit too far with the plot twists and turns. The plot, while sufficiently intriguing, could be toned down a bit. Think Memento meets The Number 23 if early Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed it. While this movie isn’t all that director/writer John August dreamed it would be, Reynolds really helps to tie the characters together as they twist and turn through puzzling storylines. Overall, this movie is great for a mind-melting double feature kind of night, since you could definitely make up a movie drinking game for it on the fly.

Life (2017)

54%

6.6/10

r

104m

Genre

Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller

Stars

Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds

Directed by

Daniel Espinosa

Watch on Amazon

A reasonably frightening sci-fi project, Life takes on the premise of a crew that gets trapped out in space. Ryan Reynolds joins the crew as they discover evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars, but it’s not the friendly greeting they were hoping for. Partnered with a group of formidable actors and a commitment to the genre, Reynolds delivers an unforgettably chilling scene that escalates the film to its fear potential. With some moments of questionable physics and flawed characters, this movie isn’t on any list of best sci-fi movies, but it will definitely get you to look around the dark room you are watching it in.

The Voices (2014)

58%

6.3/10

r

101m

Genre

Comedy, Crime, Horror, Fantasy

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick

Directed by

Marjane Satrapi

Watch on Amazon

In this surprisingly overlooked black comedy, Reynolds embodies a psychopath with a child-like outlook and demeanor who just wants to live his life free from disruption. Fair warning: If you are uncomfortable with shameless gore and making jokes about it, maybe don’t watch this one. Filled with murderous naivety and moments of extreme discomfort, there are lots of laughs to be had as well, namely the scenes where Ryan Reynolds was able to get creative voice dubbing for his two house pets. With all that this movie has to offer, Reynolds finishes it by smoothly making this character his own by becoming sociopathic Ryan Reynolds.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

77%

6.4/10

108m

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Stars

Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller

Directed by

Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden

Watch on Amazon

In this A24 production, Ryan Reynolds is a fast-talking gambler who charms another chronic gambler (Ben Mendelsohn), sparking an instantly toxic friendship and a road trip to escape their ever-worsening problems. Boisterous yet graceful, the story unfolds as the lies and the addiction get worse, making the characters become more transparent to each other. A bit slow-paced for the typical movie-goer, Mississippi Grind is a realist drama to check out if you want to peek into the mind of an addict, where “We can’t lose.”

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

59%

7.1/10

pg-13

112m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks

Directed by

Adam Brooks

Watch on Amazon

Definitely a chick flick, maybe one of the best, Definitely Maybe is a touching story with an all-star cast that serves up a creative slice of the rom-com genre. We explore the love life of an almost-divorced Ryan Reynolds as he explains to his daughter (Abigail Breslin) how he and her mom met, omitting the real names of his past lovers in the story for her to guess. This movie is full of sympathetic moments of intimacy and vulnerability, which all of the characters fit right into. We wouldn’t call this a typical Reynolds role, but it’s still the Ryan we know and love.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

53%

6.5/10

pg

105m

Genre

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Stars

Justice Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Kathryn Newton

Directed by

Rob Letterman

Watch on Amazon

Cute, funny, and charming, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is a good time for everyone involved. When a young man is obligated to befriend a Pikachu (Reynolds), he discovers that this little creature can not only talk, but it might be the only way to find his missing father. Hilarious and wacky, this re-imagining of the most famous card-playing/trading game is a worthy tribute, entertaining young and old with plenty of Pokemon cameos and signature Ryan Reynolds jokes. Carrying the majority of the comedy, our superstar actor successfully shows off his voice-acting chops, proving that he can stretch his legs in almost any genre.

Buried (2010)

65%

7/10

94m

Genre

Drama, Thriller, Mystery

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, José Luis García Pérez, Robert Paterson

Directed by

Rodrigo Cortés

Watch on Amazon

Hinging on Ryan Reynolds’ performance alone, Buried is a claustrophobic thriller with an original premise that succeeds in immersing the audience in its anxiety and confusion. Starting with no explanation and in absolute darkness, Ryan Reynolds is a hostage that is buried alive in the desert with very few and random objects at his disposal. Raw and riveting, this film is an excellent example of Reynolds’ ability to bring a wide array of emotions to his role, especially being the only on-screen character.

Deadpool (2016)

65%

8/10

108m

Genre

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein

Directed by

Tim Miller

Watch on Disney+

Full of fourth-wall breaks, brilliant writing, and irreverent violence, this cinematic experience is a splendid portrayal of the off-beat character everyone knows as the Marvel oddball. When an ex-mercenary Ryan Reynolds is diagnosed with cancer, he undergoes an experimental treatment that makes him regenerative and generally invincible, but it comes at a great many costs. After Ryan Reynolds (actual) and friends have vied for the red-suited maniac’s big-screen debut for almost 10 years, Deadpool turned out to be the anti-hero we had no idea we needed.

Deadpool 2 (2018)

66%

7.7/10

120m

Genre

Action, Comedy, Adventure

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin

Directed by

David Leitch

Watch on Disney+

Back for more, Deadpool 2 is a glorious revival of a unique superhero movie adaptation that leaves no sensitive subject untouched, making every obscure reference you may or may not understand. As if the first one wasn’t enough, this sequel takes the universe to new heights of ridiculousness, with more laugh-out-loud moments and jabs at other Marvel characters than some can count. These movies are probably the greatest achievement of Ryan Reynolds’ screen career as he fought hard for them, and he embodies the comic book character with great ease as if he were made for the role.

Adventureland (2009)

107m

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Stars

Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr

Directed by

Greg Mottola

Watch on Amazon

Adventureland is a coming-of-age comedy-drama set in the summer of 1987. James Brennan, a recent college grad with dreams of European adventure, finds his plans dashed when his parents can’t afford to support him. Stuck in his hometown, he begrudgingly takes a job at Adventureland, a run-down local amusement park. Initially miserable, James connects with a quirky group of co-workers, including the sarcastic and charming Mike Connell (played by Ryan Reynolds). Mike takes James under his wing, offering cynical wisdom and guidance through the summer’s misadventures.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Play

128m

Genre

Action, Comedy, Science Fiction

Stars

Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Directed by

Shawn Levy

Watch on Amazon

The third Deadpool movie proved to be just as effective as the first two, and has the added benefit of a central performance from Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. This version of Deadpool is now part of the Marvel universe, and while that does mean that the character loses a bit of its edge, his ability to poke fun at the rest of the Marvel world makes it well worth it. Not every one of the cameos and surprises here works, but Deadpool & Wolverine is remarkably fun, and Reynolds cements his version of Deadpool as one of the great comic book movie performances.

Deadpool & Wolverine | Official Trailer | In Theaters July 26

The Proposal (2009)

Play

108m

Genre

Comedy, Romance, Drama

Stars

Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Åkerman

Directed by

Anne Fletcher

Watch on Hulu

The Proposal is, to its core, a very traditional romantic comedy, and that’s part of what makes it so charming. Reynolds stars as the assistant of a woman in need of a green card who says that the two of them are engaged in order to maintain her marital status. The film is full of hijinks as the two of them attempt to keep the rouse alive. The film was part of the great Betty White craze of its era, but The Proposal relies on Reynolds and Sandra Bullock to keep it afloat from scene to scene.

The Proposal (2009) Trailer #2 | Movieclips Classic Trailers