Ryan Reynolds is currently one of the most charming, naturally funny, and hot movie stars in the business. The Canadian-born Hollywood star began acting at the age of 13. Over the years, Ryan has established himself as a magnificent actor with amazing films in almost all genres.
The quirky and quick-witted 46-year-old is primarily known for his comedy movies, but he has his fair share of incredible serious movies as well. From movies that will make you laugh till you cry to heart-touching emotional films to superhero flicks to sci-fi to even terrifying horrors, Reynolds has done it all. Here we have shortlisted the best 45 films from his more than 30 years of career.
Deadpool (2016)
Coming up with the first, released in 2016, the R-rated marvel movie is considered the best work of Ryan Reynolds. Deadpool for Ryan Reynolds is equivalent to Walter White for Bryan Craston, Patrick Batemen for Christain Bale, and Michael Scott for Steve Carrell – the role was made for him. No one could’ve played the merc with a mouth better than Ryan. The fourth-wall-breaking movie successfully established him as a ‘Hollywood Big Shot.’
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Ryan Reynolds returns to do what he does best – play the mentally defective death dealer! Fans of the first one will really love this edgier, crazier, more violent sequel to the 2012 blockbuster. And everyone will agree that Ryan Reynolds was born into this world to play Deadpool. Sequels are tough to make, but this one holds up to the first one and is truly a great follow-up.
Buried (2010)
Buried is a suspenseful thriller in which Ryan Reynolds is buried underground. The movie is critically acclaimed because of its minimalistic nature, as it is entirely shot inside a coffin box. Ryan Reynolds is highly appreciated for his work in Buried, as he is the only actor in the film.
Yes, he is the sole actor in the movie, though there are voices of other actors involved. Not only that, Reynolds doesn’t have any dialogue for the most part, but he still manages to keep the audience intrigued with his spectacular performance. A man confined in seven by four feet for ninety minutes straight – that’s buried for you, and you’ll not look away.
Adventureland (2009)
Adventureland is a pleasant, smart, and moving romantic comedy-drama which has the feels of a movie from the 80s. The movie is directed by Greg Motalla, who is also the director of Superbad, and because of this, the movie is compared to superbad by many. But truth be told, this underrated drama is even better! The characters are not generically stereotypical and feel real to the watchers. Ryan Reynolds holds back his humourous style and nails the role of Connell.
Mississippi Grind (2015)
Mississippi Grind is considered the most underrated movie by Ryan Reynolds. People really slept on this movie when it came out, and it didn’t receive any proper recognition. The movie is extremely entertaining and highly intelligent at the same time. Ryan Reynolds is paired with Ben Mendelsohn, and you will definitely love the duo. The movie revolves around a gambling addict and a ‘really lucky’ guy and their journey to winning big at gambling.
Free Guy (2021)
The movie free guy revolves around a guy who finds out he is actually an NPC in the popular game Free City, and then he starts learning about his and his world’s existence. The movie uses the modern-day video game culture to its fullest and comes out successfully as a fresh, funny film filled with hilarious moments and crazy antics everywhere. The best thing about the movie is Ryan Reynolds himself, as his organic comic persona adds a lot to the movie.
The Adam Project (2022)
Adam Project is a sci-fi movie based on time travel, and if you’re a fan of this genre, then you’re surely going to love this. There are two Adams, one from 2050 and one from 2022, and both go on a quest through time to fix their lives. The movie is a fun ride with an interesting premise, emotions, intense action, and Ryan Reynolds with his witty comedy shtick.
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Considered the best rom-com movie starring Ryan Reynolds up to this date, Definitely, Maybe is an absolutely wonderful movie from beginning to end. With great acting, scripts, and shots, the movie is able to deliver the message of being always happy. Ryan Reynolds plays the father of a curious daughter and he takes us on the journey of his messy love life, where he talks about all the four loves of his life.
Life (2017)
Life is an alien horror sci-fi movie that takes place on an international space station orbiting the earth, where a group of scientists meets a hostile alien life form. The movie is solid, with amazingly shot visuals and a great cast. It is clearly inspired by Alien but is more focused on the science aspect and, thus, more realistic. The Ryan Reynolds film is intense, and you will be really terrified at times. The gore, the CGI, and the ending make the movie an enjoyable ride.
The Proposal (2009)
The Proposal is an incredible mismatched couple romantic comedy that will make you laugh till your jaw starts hurting. It isn’t any much different from the movies of the same genre but can be considered one of the bests in it. It is pleasant and light-hearted and will make one feel good. The chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock is the best part of the movie.
The Croods (2013)
The Croods is an animated family movie by DreamWorks studio filled with excellent action, humor, characters, and plot. The movie is visually pleasing because of its wonderful animation. The film consists of a pre-historic family that is the last remnants of the desert. Where they then meet Guy, voiced by Ryan Reynolds, and from here, they leave on an adventure for survival. With extremely unpredictable humor, an amazing message, and a satisfying ending, this movie will entertain every member of the family.
The Croods: A New Age (2020)
It’s a difficult job to make a sequel as good as the first part. Not only that, The Croods: A New Age is actually even better than the first. Yes, the film is successful in matching the expectations of the fans of the first film with more beautiful visuals and extremely funny moments. Every scene is well thought out the writing is smart and impressive. Ryan Reynolds adds a lot to this family-friendly animation franchise.
The Nines (2007)
Not one, not two, but three roles – Ryan Reynolds can be seen playing a destructive actor who is under house arrest, an upcoming writer with a new TV show, and a lost video game developer, all in The Nines. The Nines is a movie featuring three short stories. The movie is original and a lot different from anything you have seen. It can be considered as the work that gave Ryan the movie star status. The concept is great, and Ryan Reynolds did his job brilliantly.
The Voices (2014)
The Voices is a highly entertaining dark comedy where Ryan Reynolds plays Jerry, a man who hears voices. He is a serial killer looking for happiness in his life but goes violent due to the voices he hears. Ryan’s performance in this film is considered one of his best of all time. The film manages well to balance comedy and shock. For people who have a weirdly dark sense of humor, this one’s for you!
Just Friends (2005)
Just Friends is a romantic comedy loved by many because of Ryan Reynolds’s charming on-screen persona. The film focuses on Chris, who wants to come out of a 10-year-old friend zone with his high school best friend Jamie, played by Amy Smart. Thankfully, Chris is not that chubby high schooler anymore and is a successful producer. But unfortunately, he is still the same on the inside and wishes for affection from Jamie after all those years.
Finder’s Fee (2001)
Finder’s Fee is an indie film filled with psychological suspense, humor, and amazing characters. The film takes place in one location but does not get boring for once, thanks to the incredible performances by the cast and a fantastic script. The film starts with Tepper, who finds a winning lottery ticket and tells about it to his poker buddies, then later regrets it. There are no good guys in the movie, which makes it a lot more interesting than other psychological films.
Detective Pikachu (2019)
Detective Pikachu is a mystery pokemon live-action movie based on the game of the same name. It is a fun and enjoyable movie that non-pokemon fans would also like. As for the hardcore fans, you would love everything about the film, especially the Pickachu interactions with other pokemon. Ryan Reyolds, with his sassy persona, rocks as Pickachu. With beautiful, pleasing visuals and a crazy storyline, Detective Pickachu wins as a video game-based movie.
Paper Man (2009)
Paper Man is a warm, heartfelt dramedy with clean, good pacing and incredible performances by the cast. The movie is about a mismatched pair of a teen girl and a writer with an imaginary friend becoming fast friends and discovering their inner selves. Ryan Reynolds plays Captain Excellent, the imaginary friend of the writer. The comical interactions between the two are all out hilarious. The movie is a solid flick with a fair share of funny and emotional moments.
Turbo (2013)
Turbo revolves around a snail with a dream named Turbo. It’s a very entertaining kids’ movie, where our main character gains superspeed, and he’s finally able to fulfill his dream – race with the fastest cars out there. The snail, with the help of his new friend Tito, enters the Indi 500 to achieve his dream. The story is predictable but is still fun to watch because of the amazing animation, beautiful colors, and fresh fantastic characters. Ryan Reynold is also a factor that makes the movie great with his awesome job voicing the speedy snail.
Woman In Gold (2015)
Woman in Gold is a true story about the journey of an old woman named Maria Altmann to get back art that was stolen from her family by the Nazis. Ryan plays an enthusiastic young lawyer who teams up with Maria to fight the legal battle for retaining the portrait. The movie is beautiful and even heart-touching at times, as It has three people working hard to attain a common goal.
Safe House (2012)
Safe House is an action thriller that has Ryan Reynolds playing a rookie CIA agent who has to transport a rogue CIA agent, played by Denzel Washington, from one safe house to another. In between, we have that trust-no-one scenario with a lot of action-packed scenes. The movie is filled with shootings, car crashes, and explosions, and if you’re a fan of stuff like that, you’re going to enjoy this thrill fest.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson team up in this underrated action comedy that will make you burst out laughing at many different points. The Hitman’s Bodyguard has great action and great comedy. Having two amazingly charismatic leads adds a lot to the film. The film is about a struggling bodyguard who once had a high-profile security company but hit the bottom line due to one of his clients getting killed, and he then gets a chance to get his life back on track by guarding an assassin.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)
The duo of Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson returns with this amazing sequel. The movie is more action-packed and comically great than the first one. Not that good on the storyline, but everything else will impress you. That’s just how good Ryan and Samuel are. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is filled with violent shootouts and thrilling car chases, making it as crazy as the first one.
Red Notice (2021)
Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot – three Hollywood bigshots come together for this action comedy crime drama known as Red shot. The action scenes are amazingly choreographed, and the comic scenes are highly hilarious. All three actors act as themselves in the movie, which turns out to be good for the film. Rock plays an FBI Agent who teams up with a charming criminal, played by Ryan, and they both set out to catch another hot and clever criminal, played by Gal Gadot.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Before even the first Deadpool movie came out, Ryan Reynolds played Deadpool in this X-Men Franchise movie. But no, he is not the same merc with a mouth because his mouth is surgically sealed shut, and there is no red suit. Unfortunately, it’s not the same Ryan’s Deadpool that will come up in the future years. But fortunately, the movie is still great because it’s the origin movie of fan favorite Wolverine. Also, we have Wade Wilson, who acts as comic relief with his witty and charming personality.
6 Underground (2019)
The 6 Underground movie is a complete action-packed chaos. The action is literally mind-blowing, something you would always expect from a Michael Bay movie. If you want to watch a film filled with no holds barred action sequences, then six underground is definitely what you’re looking for.
The In-laws (2003)
The movie is actually a remake of the classic 1979 film, also known as ‘The In-laws’. The In-laws of 2003 is funny and provides a fair amount of entertainment to the viewer. The story revolves around a kind, friendly foot doctor who joins his in-laws in a CIA operation just before his daughter’s wedding. The movie is not as good as the original, but with a fantastic performance by the main cast, it is still fast-paced and very fun to watch.
Smokin Aces (2006)
Smokin’ Ace is a movie for people who love gruesome killings and grim humor. The film is centered on the character “Aces,” who is going to testify against the mob. The Fed themselves are protecting him, but too bad he is the target of many serial contract killers. A lot of incredibly talented people can be seen in this film, like Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta, Andy Gracia, and many others who delivered spectacular performances.
Waiting… (2005)
Waiting is a brutally honest, incredibly funny, and one of the best comedy movies based on the service industry. Ryan Reynolds plays the head waiter of a restaurant, and he hates his job. Ryan gets away with anything and everything, and he has a friend, played by Justin Long, who is offered an assistant manager position, and he starts seeing things from perspective. The acting is really great, and the movie is successful in depicting what really goes on in a restaurant.
Chaos Theory (2007)
Chaos Theory is a smart comedy film about a man whose life gets upside down because of a sudden revelation. In the movie, Ryan Reynolds plays an organized man who finds out that being all that organized does not provide him any sort of special happiness. The movie is filled with both emotional and comic moments that one will definitely love watching.
Criminal (2016)
The criminally underrated movie Criminal sees Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot together in a film five years before Red Shot. Ryan plays a CIA Agent on a mission where he gets mysteriously killed. His memories are then transferred to the main lead, Kevin Costner, whose mission is now to complete Ryan’s mission. The movie is a sci-fi action thriller that is entertaining, emotional, and violent, with a very satisfying ending.
Captive (2014)
Captive is a film about a man who is in search of a missing girl. The film jumps from present to past to present, which adds a lot to the storyline, and will not bother you. The pacing is good, the cinematography is great, and Ryan Reynolds’s performance is spectacular. The ending can be seen as disappointing by some, but the movie is still good and worth watching due to its emotional impact.
Green Lantern (2011)
Before Ryan Reynold wore the red jumpsuit to play marvel’s merc with a mouth, he wore the green power ring and played DC Universe’s aroused crusader – The Green Lantern. The movie didn’t receive appreciation from the fans, but it is definitely not the worst superhero movie ever made, and also far from the best too. The movie had potential but failed to grab it. The good points are the cinematography, settings, and costumes. It is a decent, at best, superhero movie that can be watched by casuals.
Blade: Trinity (2004)
Blade: Trinity is the underrated third part of the hit trilogy. The film is a great addition to the blade franchise and lives up to the expectations of the last film of the series. The movie is an awesome sci-fi flick with outstanding performances by Wessely Snipes, Ryan Reynolds, and the entire main cast. The movie is as violent, as thrilling, and as fun to watch as the first two parts.
The Change-up (2011)
The chang-up is a movie with an unoriginal concept but still extremely entertaining to watch. Ryan Reynolds, who plays an unemployed aspirant actor, magically switches with his lawyer friend, played by Jason Bateman, and the film is a rollercoaster of emotions from there on. The concept is repeated, but the movie doesn’t fail to deliver at all, and you will definitely be left entertained.
The Amityville Horror (2005)
The Amityville Horror is another remake with Ryan Reynolds on it. The film is a remake of the 1979 film of the same name. It is a great horror flick with an amazing, nice atmospheric style. The film is not for hardcore Amityville novel fans, as it is very different from the original work. This does not mean that the film is bad or anything. It still holds itself as an entertaining horror fest.
Fireflies in the Garden (2008)
Fireflies in the Garden is a dark drama about a totally messed up family, and sadly, there’s no happy ending for them. If one can handle the sad ending, then there are a lot of terrific performances for them in this film. The cast is stacked with amazing actors like Ryan Reynolds, William Defoe, and Emily Watson. The movie is not like your everyday Hollywood film and is captivating and unique.
National Lampoon’s Van Wilder (2002)
National Lampoon’s Van Wilder is a millennium teen comedy that is going to surpass your expectations. The movie is focused on Van Wilder, played by Ryan Reynolds, who is a cool and likable college student who is in his seventh year as a senior and has no future goals. That’s until he meets a girl who makes him realize his true potential. The movie is filled with loads of sexual humor and will definitely keep the laughs coming.
Self/Less (2015)
Self/less is a fun sci-fi movie in which the consciousness of a billionaire industrialist suffering from lung cancer is transferred from his body to a healthy one. The healthy body is played by Ryan Reynolds, and the old one with cancer by Ben Kingsley. With a nice plot, good screenplay, and excellent performances by the actors, Self/less makes an inventive and entertaining science fiction film.
R.I.P.D (2013)
Meet the Rest in Peace Department in R.I.P.D, which recruits skilled dead people to eliminate the “Deados”. Deados are souls that have refused to leave the land of the living, and it’s R.I.P.D’s job to catch them. The movie is an action comedy, which has some elements of Men in Black in it but is still spectacular to watch. The pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges is amazingly fun and a treat to watch.
Ordinary Magic (1993)
Ordinary Magic is a genuine, honest, and unusual indie movie about a teenage boy who has lived in India and learned spiritual ideas there. He then moves to Canada with his Aunt, where he transports the knowledge and practices he learned to a totally different culture. The movie’s name is the full form of the acronym OM, which is also a sacred Hindu chant. The movie is refreshing, and you will get to see a teen Ryan Reynolds in this.
Boltneck (2000)
Boltneck is a funny and slick film where a teen returns a dead student to life by giving him the brain he founds in his father’s laboratory. Too bad, the brain belonged to a serial killer, which has now turned the student into a terrifying monster that has gone haywire. It’s a nice, good-paced film where we can enjoy Ryan’s amazing performance as the serial killing monster.
Coming Soon (1999)
Coming Soon is a cute, sweet, and funny movie about three teenage girls who are searching for sexual satisfaction but are not finding it. The best thing about the movie is it does not resort to nudity at all, even though the plot deals with sex. This indie movie is smart, witty, relatable, and funny.
Foolproof (2003)
Foolproof is a witty, fun, underrated heist movie. The movie is about a game called foolproof, in which college friends plan foolproof non-violent heists without the intention of carrying them. But due to some circumstances, they have to carry the heists. The movie is brilliant, with a lot of twists.
Buying the Cow (2002)
Buying the Cow is a well-written, enjoyable comedy film about games that our main character plays to get his hands on the “perfect girl.” It also revolves around the positives and negatives of commitment and marriage. It is a very thoughtful, fresh, and realistic film with hilarious performances by the leads.
