Every Ryan Reynolds Movie Ranked Worst To Best
Ryan Reynolds began his career at the age of 15, acting in the 1991 Canadian teen soap opera "Hillside" before moving onto minor roles in television series like "The X-Files" and "The Outer Limits." He soon made his big break starring in the 1998 hit series "Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place" for four seasons. This success led to starring roles in a myriad of comedy films including "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," "Waiting...," and "Just Friends." Branching even further out, Reynolds went on to star in action films, dramas, sci-fi adventures, comic book films, family animation, and every combination therein. Soon he was headlining diverse blockbusters like "Deadpool," "Buried," "The Croods," and "Free Guy."
But which of the Ryan Reynolds films from his 30+ year career are good and which ones are bad? To answer this question, we have put together a list based on a general consensus culled from critical review, audience response, and box office returns. While your own opinion may vary, this list will hopefully give you an idea of which Ryan Reynolds films to check out and which ones to avoid.
This list includes every Ryan Reynolds film currently released, but does not include cameos or TV movies. So we're not including the completely silent cameos from the Seth MacFarlane films "Ted" and "A Million Ways to Die in the West," the meme-inspiring scene from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," or his role as a love interest in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." We're sticking to only movies where Ryan Reynolds is front and center. With all of these factors in mind, here is every Ryan Reynolds movie ranked worst to best.
44. Boltneck (2000)
The 2000 horror-comedy "Boltneck" (sometimes known as "Teen Monsters") tells an updated version of the Mary Shelley classic "Frankenstein." Teenage genius Frank Stein (Matthew Lawrence) winds up reanimating the corpse of fellow high schooler Karl O'Reilly (Ryan Reynolds) after Karl winds up face planting in an empty pool at a house party. Things go awry when Frank replaces Karl's brain with a serial killer's brain that his father (Judge Reinhold) had chilling in his fridge. Shelly Duvall is also there for some reason.
While Deadpool claims the film is a masterpiece, "Boltneck" is a barely remembered straight-to-video dud. The film holds an audience score of under 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and rates a below 5 on IMDb. Reynolds gives a game performance as both the awkward teenage Karl and later the sinisterly silly serial killer Skeeter Wayne Dobbs, but that's not enough to raise the film out of straight-to-video teen comedy mediocrity.
43. R.I.P.D. (2013)
The first of many comic book films on this list, the 2013 action-comedy "R.I.P.D." sees the recently deceased Boston police officer Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) team up with former civil war soldier and U.S. Marshal Roicephus "Roy" Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges) as afterlife cops in the Rest In Peace Department. Their job is to track down "Deados" who are trying to escape the afterlife and send them onto their just rewards.
Most of the ire for the film seems to be directed at the writing and direction more than the cast, but even a wisecracking Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges seemingly resurrecting his character from 2010's "True Grit" couldn't save "R.I.P.D." On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds is barely above 10% on the Tomatometer, with an audience score of in the high 30s. It was also a financial flop, only making $78 million against a $130 million budget. In a review for the New York Post, the film was compared unfavorably to "Ghostbusters" and "Men in Black," noting that it was "fully predictable and freakishly bonkers at the same time."
42. Coming Soon (1999)
Billed as "American Pie" for girls, the 1999 sex comedy "Coming Soon" follows three female friends as they attempt to achieve a certain type of closure that they've never before experienced in their sexual endeavors. The men they interact with to achieve this goal are played by Ashton Kutcher in his film debut, James Roday of Psych fame, and Ryan Reynolds who factors prominently in the film's final climactic scene.
The film has an abysmal Rotten Tomatoes score, with both critics and audiences giving it under 30%, as well as a rating of 4.5 on IMDb. The consensus is that it's highly predictable and generally unfunny, though no specific negative comments seem to be directed at Ryan Reynolds himself. In fact, Pod Me If You Can described his character Henry Rockefeller Lipschitz, the musician trying to make his own way, as "quite likable."
Sparing yourself from watching this Ryan Reynolds film may be a happy ending of its own.
41. The Captive (2014)
Told over an eight year span, 2014's "The Captive" stars Ryan Reynolds as Matthew Lane, a man whose daughter goes missing. Homicide detectives (played by Scott Speedman and Rosario Dawson) eventually discover evidence of the girls' whereabouts and they, along with Matthew, get tangled in a web of intrigue, child predators, and snowy Canadian vistas.
Many critics felt that the confusing timeline and beautiful cinematography were merely distracting from the film's standard thriller plot with illogical character motivations, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score below 30%. Audiences seemed to agree, giving a similar score to "The Captive." Many noted that the film seems to trivialize real-life issues by putting them in an overly-convoluted and borderline silly story. While Reynolds gives a solid performance, he is let down by the film's over-extending ambitions and structural issues.
You might be better off leaving this one lost in the snow.
40. Self/less (2015)
In "Self/less," billionaire Damian Hale (played by Ben Kingsley) discovers he has terminal cancer. Hale soon discovers a cure of sorts: Professor Albright (played by Matthew Goode) has developed a new technology that can transfer Hale's consciousness into the body of a younger man (played by Ryan Reynolds). Things start off well enough, until Damian starts to have memories of another life -– the life of the man whose body he's stolen.
While the film has an interesting premise, critics and audiences alike were disappointed in how "Self/less" devolved into a lackluster action film by the end, not even cracking 20% on Rotten Tomatoes with a marginally higher audience score in the mid-40s. Ryan Reynolds himself was the focus of some complaints, since he didn't portray any of Ben Kingsley's mannerisms while they essentially played the same character.
39. Fireflies in the Garden (2008)
Ryan Reynolds stars as author Michael Taylor in the 2008 drama "Fireflies in the Garden." Returning to his childhood home, Michael is forced to deal with the sudden death of his mother (played by Julia Roberts), his overbearing father (played by Willem Dafoe), and about a hundred other life changing revelations.
Despite the all-star cast of "Fireflies in the Garden" which also includes Emily Watson and Carrie-Anne Moss, the film's convoluted family melodrama didn't gather much traction with a Rotten Tomatoes score barely above 20% and an audience score in the mid-40s. The film even struggled to make it to theaters, being released nearly four years after its initial premiere at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival. It seems like the film was destined to be forgotten before it was even released.
38. Green Lantern (2011)
In brightest day, in blackest night, 2011's "Green Lantern" failed to take flight. Suiting up in a bright green CG animated costume, Ryan Reynolds took on the role of Hal Jordan, test pilot turned superhero. Before too long, Jordan finds himself protecting the earth from a bulbous-headed Peter Sarsgaard and a gigantic fear cloud called Parallax.
With a critic score in the mid-20s on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience score of in the mid-40s, it seems like no one was super enthused by this attempt at starting a comic book franchise — not even the studio itself. Shortly after the film premiered, all plans for a "Green Lantern" sequel were canceled. While the film was chock full of amazing special effects, it didn't cover up the lackluster script. Ryan Reynolds himself has poked fun at how bad the movie is, even resorting to fatal means to prevent it being made in a hilarious end credit scene in 2018's "Deadpool 2."
37. The Change-Up (2011)
2011's "The Change-Up" is another film that finds Ryan Reynolds swapping bodies, this time with "Arrested Development" and "Horrible Bosses" star Jason Bateman. Bateman plays an overworked, stressed-out family man named Dave Lockwood, while Reynolds plays Mitch Planko, Dave's responsibility-free bachelor friend. While urinating in a public fountain, they wish they had each other's lives and shortly thereafter, they do. They quickly learn to be careful what you wish for.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score in the mid-20s and an audience score just below 50%, it was not well received. The two leads were recognized for their comedic abilities, and the brunt of the criticism lies on the script's formulaic plot and gross-out jokes. The film also contains a surprising amount of computer generated nudity and CGI babies doing weirdly dangerous stunts.
You might want to change it up for a different Ryan Reynolds film.
36. The Amityville Horror (2005)
Based on a true story and a remake of the 1979 horror film of the same name, 2005's "The Amityville Horror" finds Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, and Chloë Grace Moretz in her feature film debut portraying the famous Lutz family. After moving into a house previously owned by a man who murdered his family, the Lutzes begin to experience a series of supernatural events, ultimately resulting in Reynold's character George Lutz being possessed. The family must fight the house and themselves in order to escape the nightmares within their newly purchased home.
With a critic score in the low 20s with an audience score barely above 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, it clearly didn't work that well. Most complaints levied against the film are of it being a mediocre remake of a mediocre movie — complete with generic scares and an illogical plot. You'd be better off looking into a different property.
35. Buying the Cow (2002)
"Sliders" star Jerry O'Connell leads the 2002 comedy "Buying the Cow" as David Collins, a man unsure of whether he wants to marry his girlfriend Sarah (played by Bridgette L. Wilson,) so he begins dating again while she is out of town. Meanwhile, David's friend and womanizing bachelor Mike Hanson (Ryan Reynolds) begins to suspect that he may be gay after waking up with no memory of the prior drunken encounter that led to him being in the bed of another man.
While criticized for being misogynistic and homophobic, Ryan Reynold's comedic performance bumped this film up to an audience score above 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. His numerous nude scenes throughout the film probably didn't hurt either. Though most of them are connected to questionable content, some involving children. You can probably just skip out on the whole endeavor entirely.
34. Criminal (2016)
After CIA Agent Bill Pope (played by Ryan Reynolds) is killed in action, his memories are implanted on the brain of the titular criminal, Jerico Stewart (played by Kevin Costner), in order to complete his mission. Things go sideways when Jerico becomes obsessed with finding and protecting Pope's wife and daughter.
Despite an all-star cast that includes Gal Gadot, Gary Oldman, and Tommy Lee Jones, 2016's "Criminal" was only able to muster up a 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a high 40s audience score. Common complaints included its weak script and lack of effort. It also tanked at the box office, premiering at #6 for its opening weekend and ultimately grossing around $6 million short of its $30 million budget.
33. The In-Laws (2001)
A remake of the 1979 comedy classic, 2001's "The In-Laws" replaces Peter Falk and Alan Arkin with Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks as the unlikely duo of unhinged CIA agent Steve Tobias and neurotic foot doctor Jerry Peyser. When Peyser's daughter (played by Lindsay Sloane) and Tobias' son (Ryan Reynolds) are due to be married, the two soon-to-be father-in-laws find themselves caught in increasingly convoluted shenanigans that threaten to undermine their children's wedding ceremony.
Comparing abysmally to the original film's nearly 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, the disappointing remake only received a score in the lows 30s with an audience score just over 40%. With poor performances and an uninteresting script, this failed reboot of "The In-Laws" seemingly broke off its engagement to join the family of cult comedy classics.
You'd be better off watching the 1979 original instead, even if it doesn't have the charms of Ryan Reynolds.
32. Paper Man (2009)
Ryan Reynolds once again plays a superhero in 2009's "Paper Man," but this time he's an imaginary one named Captain Excellent. Jeff Daniels plays Richard Dunn, a novelist with a superheroic companion. After moving to a small beach community at the urging of his wife Claire (played by Lisa Kudrow), Richard soon befriends a local teenager named Abby (Emma Stone) who has an imaginary friend of her own, Christopher (Kieran Culkin). Working together, they just might help each other grow up.
While most of the reviews praise the cast's performances (especially that of Emma Stone), "Paper Man" couldn't rise above its basic quirkiness to deliver something deeper. With a Rotten Tomatoes score barely above 30% and an audience score just shy of 50%, it just goes to show that Ryan Reynolds putting on tights doesn't always work out.
31. Blade: Trinity (2004)
After two successful films based on the Marvel comic book character, "Blade: Trinity" came along in 2004 and effectively ended the film franchise. In this outing, half-human/half-vampire Blade (Wesley Snipes) must stop the ultimate vampire big bad, Dracula (Dominic Purcell). Along for the ride are a couple of vampire hunters: Abigail, the daughter of Kris Kristofferson's character Whistler (Jessica Biel) and former vampire Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds).
With the initial director dropping out and numerous difficulties on set, the final film in the Blade trilogy was unsurprisingly disappointing. The critics found "Blade: Trinity" a pale copy of the original two films, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes in the mid-20s. Viewers didn't find it much better, with an audience score just shy of 60%. But at least one film executive at a rival company enjoyed Ryan Reynolds' performance, thinking he would be a perfect fit for another Marvel character named Deadpool. This executive introduced him to the comics, Reynolds recalled during an interview with Talks at Google, and Reynolds instantly fell in love with the character.
30. Chaos Theory (2008)
The 2008 dramedy "Chaos Theory" sees Ryan Reynolds take on the role of Frank Allen, a time management expert whose entire life spins out of control when his wife (played by Emily Mortimer) turns his clock back by ten minutes. After missing an important presentation and witnessing a car wreck, a series of even more incredible events occur. Unable to get things under control, Frank decides to instead embrace the chaos.
While the cast (which also includes Sarah Chalke and Stuart Townsend) was praised for their competent performances, "Chaos Theory" proved to be a bit too chaotic with an unbelievable plot and severe tonal whiplash. The creative choices made for the film led to a Rotten Tomatoes score of 30% with only a slightly better audience score just below 60%.
If you watch the Ryan Reynolds film "Chaos Theory," it might just be the end result of a bad string of events.
29. Foolproof (2003)
A trio of friends (played by Ryan Reynolds, Kristin Booth, and Joris Jarsky) plan heists for fun in the 2003 action film "Foolproof." While they rig up simulations to test their plans, they never actually pull of the heists. That is, until they are blackmailed into performing a real heist by an actual criminal named Leo Gillette (played by David Suchet of "Poirot" fame).
The low budget Canadian film garnered some decent reviews on Rotten Tomatoes with an audience score over 60%. While not breaking any new ground, the film is a solid heist film with an engaging cast, including Reynolds in peak form.
In fact, Ryan Reynolds himself must have enjoyed the film as it was briefly featured on the Reynolds-owned Mint Mobile streaming site. Actually promoted as a Mint Mobile Plus Unoriginal, "Foolproof" was the only film on the site at all. It just goes to show how much faith Reynolds has in the film.
28. Ordinary Magic (1993)
In the 1993 family drama "Ordinary Magic," 15-year-old Jeffrey (Ryan Reynolds, in his film debut) leaves his home in India after his social activist parents pass away. He travels across the world to Ontario, Canada, where he moves in with his aunt Charlotte (Glenne Headly). After some generic fish out of water comedy, the film takes a dramatic shift when the new home he shares with his aunt is scheduled to be demolished to make way for a ski resort. Jeffrey utilizes what he has learned growing up in India to begin a hunger strike.
With a nearly 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, "Ordinary Magic" certainly isn't a terrible film. The tale of a peaceful protest bringing down corporate bad guys is decently done, if a bit familiar. It's also interesting to see Reynolds in his first film role, delivering a soft-spoken performance that is vastly different from the more wisecracking and chatty persona he would go on to perfect. However, the film's standard plot and general middle-of-the-road vibe keeps it from ranking higher on the list of Ryan Reynolds films.
27. National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002)
In the 2002 film that shot Ryan Reynolds to movie star status, "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" is a raunchy comedy about the perpetually partying college student Van Wilder. When an article about his partying lifestyle gets out, his father (Tim Matheson) cuts him off. Wilder must now find his own way to successfully graduating college while continuing to party hard, romance Tara Reid, and pull off some truly disgusting pastry-based pranks.
With less than 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics hated what they saw as a crass and unfunny film. However "Van Wilder" was a hit with audiences grossing $38 million against a $5 million budget and earning a Rotten Tomatoes audience score surpassing 70%. The film did so well it led to a spinoff for co-star Kal Penn in 2006's "Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj" and a prequel with 2009's "Van Wilder: Freshman Year." But it all leads back to the charming and phenomenally funny performance given by Ryan Reynolds which will carry you through even gags of the lowest brow.
26. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
In both first "X-Men" spinoff and the first in the "Wolverine" trilogy, 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" fills in the mysterious backstory of Logan aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Wolverine joins a team of mutants led by William Stryker (Danny Huston) that includes his half-brother Victor Creed aka Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), assassin Agent Zero (Daniel Henney), the teleporting John Wraith (will.i.am), heavyweight Fred Dukes (Kevin Durand), electronic manipulator Bradley (Dominic Monaghan), and mercenary with a mouth Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds).
While Jackman and Schreiber received decent praise for their performances and some of the action scenes were well-received, the consensus is that the prequel made no effort to fill in the holes of Wolverine's past in an engaging or interesting manner. Though the film only received a Rotten Tomatoes score below 40% and an audience score just below 60%, comic book fans seemed to enjoy the earlier scenes of Ryan Reynolds portraying Wade Wilson. However, many fans were less than thrilled when the character was transformed into a mouthless mega-mutant who bore little resemblance to Deadpool of the comics. One such disappointed fan was Ryan Reynolds himself, who would pursue a spinoff of the character that would rectify these image problems.
25. Smokin' Aces (2006)
In 2006's "Smokin' Aces," Las Vegas magician Robert 'Buddy Aces' Israel (played by Jeremy Piven) finds himself the target of multiple bounty hunters and assassins after agreeing to testify against the mob. FBI agent Richard Messner (Ryan Reynolds) is assigned to protect Israel, whether he wants to or not.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score just above 30%, critics found the movie loud, confusing, and overloaded with characters (portrayed by stars like Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Ray Liotta, Chris Pine, and Alicia Keys). However, that might just be what the audience was looking for, as the movie made over double its budget back and earned an audience score over 60%. A prequel titled "Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball" followed soon thereafter in 2009.
24. 6 Underground (2019)
Released in 2019, "6 Underground," the $150 million Netflix original directed by Michael Bay, stars Ryan Reynolds as an inventor billionaire named Magnet S. Johnson. He decides to fake his death and the deaths of others in order to put together an off-the-grid team capable of taking down terrorists and other ne'er-do-wells.
This loud, violent, non-stop action film did not score well with most critics, earning only a score in the high 30s on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was these same elements that made "6 Underground" a slightly bigger hit with people who were just looking for a fun movie, cracking a 60% audience score. While it got 83 million views in its first month alone, Netflix canceled plans for a sequel due to the film's mixed reviews.
23. Waiting... (2005)
Ryan Reynolds stars alongside a strong comedic cast consisting of Justin Long, Anna Faris, David Koechner, Luis Guzmán, Chi McBride, Rob Benedict, Andy Milonakis, and Dane Cook in 2005's "Waiting...," the "Clerks."-esque raunchy comedy about the inner workings of a restaurant called Shenaniganz.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 30%, the critics did not enjoy the film's gross-out humor or its lack of direction and plot. However, the audience connected with its relatable (if exaggerated) look at the experience of a food service employee, giving it an audience score in the mid-70s. Much like "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," Ryan Reynolds was tapping into a film that might not have been a critical hit, but was a huge success. In fact, "Waiting..." grossed over double its budget in its opening weekend alone and led to the sequel "Still Waiting..." in 2009, with a lot of the cast returning to reprise their roles.
22. The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021)
2021's "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," the follow-up to the 2017 original, sees Michael Bryce (played by Ryan Reynolds) once again being the bodyguard for hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) and his wife Sonia (Salma Hayek). Throw in Antonio Banderas as the villainous Aristotle Papadopoulos and Morgan Freeman as Reynold's stepdad, and you've got the recipe for a box office smash.
Except it didn't quite get there, only making $70 million against its $70 million budget. The critics were also against the film, citing its overuse of generic tropes and bad jokes, garnering it a mids-20s score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience seemed to enjoy the cast's comedic chemistry and the fun action-packed scenes, giving it an audience score of almost 80%.
21. Just Friends (2005)
After awkward teenager Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) confesses his feelings for Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart), Jamie tells him that she just wants to be friends. Ten years later, Chris has lost weight and become a successful music producer, but still harbors feelings for his childhood crush. Chris goes home for the holidays in an attempt to start things fresh in the 2005 romantic comedy "Just Friends."
With a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating just north of 40%, critics found the film marginally funny but incredibly formulaic. The general audience was a little more forgiving with a score of a bit over 70%. Many reviews have pointed out the body shaming connected to the flashback scenes where Reynolds appears heavier, and the inherent sexism involved in the "friend zone" concept at the center of the film. But the charming chemistry between the leads smooths over some of the rougher patches of the film, as well as a delightful performance by Anna Faris as one of Chris' clients, pop singer Samantha James.
20. The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)
2017's "The Hitman's Bodyguard" tells the humorous action-packed story of bodyguard Michael Bryce (played by Ryan Reynolds), who has been hired to protect hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) after Kincaid agreed to testify against the dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman). It's a difficult job, made even harder by Bryce and Kincaid hating each other's guts.
While the cliched buddy cop vibe of "The Hitman's Bodyguard" may have negatively affected the film, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score in the mid-40s, Reynolds and Jackson's undeniable chemistry was a big hit, bumping the audience score over 65%. It didn't do too shabby at the box office either, making over $175 million against a $30 million budget. This ensured a sequel, "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," was released in 2021.
If you're looking for a hit Ryan Reynolds film, try putting "The Hitman's Bodyguard" in your sights.
19. The Proposal (2009)
In this enemies-to-lovers rom-com, 2009's "The Proposal" teams Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. When stern executive Margaret Tate (Bullock) learns she is being deported, she quickly puts together a scheme saying that she's marrying her overstressed assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds). In order to sell the lie, they both wind up going on a trip to Alaska to visit Andrew's family, where they ultimately fall in love for real.
The generic romantic comedy shenanigans of "The Proposal" seems to be the only thing knocking down its Rotten Tomatoes score to 45% with a mid-60s audience score. However, most reviewers couldn't deny the electric chemistry between the two leads, which led to a Golden Globes nomination for Bullock and an over $300 million dollar gross for the $40 million film.
If you're looking for a breezy Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy, we propose that "The Proposal" would be a good place to start.
18. Safe House (2012)
In 2012's "Safe House," Ryan Reynolds plays Matt Weston, a CIA safe house keeper whose routine life is thrown into chaos when a CIA agent gone rogue, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), is brought in for questioning. When the safe house is attacked and Weston and Frost are forced to go on the run, Weston is no longer sure of who he can trust.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score just past 50% and an audience score in the low 60s, it appears as though a weak script is once again held up by solid performances. While the film was knocked for its predictable plot and frenetic editing, "Safe House" stars Reynolds and Washington both received no shortage of praise. The film performed decently at the box office, grossing over $200 million against an $85 million budget.
17. Finder's Fee (2001)
Written and directed by "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, 2001's "Finder's Fee" begins when Tepper (Erik Palladino) finds a wallet on the street. Inside is a winning lottery ticket. He calls the owner to pick up his wallet, but secretly swaps out the ticket with his own losing ticket. That evening, he is joined by his friends Quigley (Ryan Reynolds), Fishman (Matthew Lillard), and Bolan (Dash Mihok) for a night of poker in which they bet with their lottery tickets, only checking to see if they're a winner until after the game. But things get unexpectedly intense when the wallet's owner, Avery Phillips (James Earl Jones), arrives and joins the game.
While some of the plotting and the ending were criticized, "Finder's Fee" benefits from strong performances from a talented all-star cast, leading to a Rotten Tomatoes score of 60% with a nearly identical audience score. The tension is expertly kept up by Probst putting the majority of the film in one apartment over the course of a singular anxiety-inducing evening, one with plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested.
16. Life (2017)
An amazing discovery soon turns deadly in 2017's "Life." When the International Space Station captures a space probe with signs of life onboard, the team (including characters played by Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Rebecca Ferguson) attempts to study this exciting find, but instead unleashes an all-consuming alien lifeform. Soon, they are not only fighting for their lives, but for the lives of everyone on Earth.
While it didn't turn out to be a "Venom" prequel as some fans hoped, "Life" still doubled its budget and delivered an exciting sci-fi horror story. While it was unfavorably compared to "Alien" and "Gravity" for its similar plot, the film was praised for its solid performances and competent direction. It seems like "Life" found a way, achieving a nearly-70% Rotten Tomatoes score and a mid-50s audience score.
If you're in the mood for Ryan Reynolds as an astronaut, pick up "Life" today. It probably won't hurt you.
15. The Nines (2007)
Told in three distinct but overlapping segments, 2007's "The Nines" stars Ryan Reynolds as Gary, Gavin, and Gabriel; respectively, an actor under house arrest, a writer trying to produce a television pilot, and a video game designer lost in the woods. Each segment also stars Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy in multiple roles (McCarthy even plays herself in one segment). How are these diverse segments related to each other, and why does the number nine keep appearing in each of them?
These tricky questions either annoyed or fascinated viewers, but most generally agreed that the cast of "The Nines" was giving it their all. Reynolds was acknowledged for stretching his range and McCarthy was praised for her varied roles well before she became a household name with "Bridesmaids." The trippy and surreal thriller earned a critic score of 65% on Rotten Tomatoes with the audience generally agreeing for a similar score.
If you'd like Ryan Reynolds to wrinkle your brain a bit, "The Nines" could be just the movie to scratch that itch.
14. Turbo (2013)
The voice of Ryan Reynolds was joined by an all-star cast including Paul Giamatti, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and Samuel L. Jackson for the 2013 computer animated "Turbo." Reynolds stars as garden snail Theo, who dreams of one day becoming a racecar driver. His dream becomes a reality after he is accidentally infused with nitrous oxide and gains the ability to move very quickly. Soon, he finds himself racing in the Indianapolis 500 under the name Turbo.
While acknowledging it wasn't breaking any new molds, critics and the general audience alike agreed that it was pleasantly funny, wonderfully animated, and a film guaranteed to please a younger audience. The fast-paced family film raced up the Rotten Tomatoes chart with both a a critic score and audience score in the mid-60s. While it didn't exactly race up the box office charts (in fact, it lost money), it still inspired a Netflix follow-up show called "Turbo Fast."
13. The Voices (2014)
After Jerry Hickfang (played by Ryan Reynolds) accidentally kills his date Fiona (Gemma Arterton), Jerry's cat (voiced by Reynolds) tries to push him to kill more people while his dog (also voiced by Reynolds) tries to lead him to take a less destructive path in 2014's dark comedy "The Voices." After killing his new potential love interest Lisa (Anna Kendrick), it seems like the cat might be winning.
Critics loved the darkly humorous performances, the bright color palette, and the surreal overtones giving the film a certified fresh Rotten Tomatoes score in the mid-70s. Some viewers were a little turned off by the tonal whiplash and excessive violence, giving it a marginally lower audience score in the high 50s. You'll just have to trust the voices in your own head about whether "The Voices" balances out its horror and comedy or if its just a jumbled violent mess.
12. Woman in Gold (2015)
Based on an incredible true story, 2015's "Woman in Gold" follows Jewish refugee Maria Altmann (played by Helen Mirren) as she enlists lawyer Randol Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds) to aid her in returning a portrait of her aunt — which was stolen by the Nazis — back into her care. What followed were many emotionally charged court battles.
Though the performances of Reynolds and Mirren received favorable reviews, many critics found "Woman in Gold" to be a little slow and unentertaining, earning it a score in the mid-50s on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the general audience found the film's real life story of a Jewish woman's struggle to restore a stolen piece of her heritage more heartfelt, meaningful, and inspiring, lifting the audience score up to nearly 80%.
11. Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Ryan Reynolds stars as Will Hayes, father of Abigail Breslin's Maya Hayes, in the 2008 romantic comedy "Definitely, Maybe." Maya asks her father to tell the story of how he met her mother. Will decides to tell her about three of his past relationships. He uses pseudonyms so Maya will have to guess which of the three women (played by Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz, and Isla Fisher) is her actual mother.
This unique twist on your typical romantic comedy won over critics and audience alike with a certified fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 70% and a slightly higher audience score. "Definitely, Maybe" is as charming as its cast is talented. While Reynolds has plenty of chemistry with his three leading ladies, the real heart of the film lies with Will's adorable relationship with his daughter.
10. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
Based on the popular video game franchise, 2019's "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" follows Tim Goodman (played by Justice Smith) as he tries to solve the mystery of his missing police detective father. Aiding him in his quest is an amnesiac Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) that only Tim can understand, though he sometimes wishes he couldn't.
With nearly 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics were a little harsher on the family film, but praised Reynolds' performance. However, with an almost 80% audience score, fans loved seeing the world of Pokémon come to life in this hybrid live-action/computer animated adventure. The film raked in over $400 million worldwide, appealing not only to a younger audience, but to those people who grew up playing the games.
While you don't have to catch all of Ryan Reynolds' films, "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" is one you'll want to add to your movie collection.
9. The Croods (2013)
In the 2013 computer animated family film "The Croods," Nicolas Cage stars as caveman Grug Crood, the leader of his prehistoric family (voiced by Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman). While the overprotective Grug won't let his family leave their cave, things change with the arrival of the evolved inventor Guy (Ryan Reynolds).
Holding a Rotten Tomatoes score in the low 70s with an even higher audience score, film critics and movie goers alike agree that the film is a fun time for the whole family, bringing in real heart along with clever gags and colorful animation. "The Croods" raked in nearly $600 million worldwide and spawned a successful sequel, the Netflix original series "Dawn of the Croods," and the Hulu/Peacock show "The Croods: Family Tree."
8. Red Notice (2021)
In 2021, Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and Gal Gadot teamed up for the $200 million action comedy Netflix original "Red Notice." In the film, Johnson plays John Hartley, an FBI agent trying to track down Gadot's character, Sarah Black also known as The Bishop. Unwillingly aiding Hartley in his task is another art thief, Nolan Booth (Reynolds).
"Red Notice" is yet another critically divided Ryan Reynolds film with a low Rotten Tomatoes score below 40% and an incredibly high audience score in the 90s. While critics focused on the generic elements of the plot, viewers at home loved the charming leads and the escapist fun on display. The film had the highest opening day numbers of any Netflix film and continued to receive high viewing numbers in the weeks that followed. The enthusiasm for the film led to Netflix greenlighting not just one, but two sequels to be filmed with the same creative team.
7. Mississippi Grind (2015)
In 2015's "Mississippi Grind," gambler Gerry (played by Ben Mendelsohn) finds himself in trouble with his loan shark Sam (Alfre Woodard). He teams up with a luckier gambler, Curtis Vaughn (Ryan Reynolds), and they head to Mississippi to hit up the casinos to hopefully win Gerry enough money to pay off his debts. The two proceed to bond over the road trip, but whether that will be a positive or negative experience is a complicated question to answer.
Holding the highest certified fresh rating for a Ryan Reynolds film, surpassing the 90% mark, critics were enamored with this thoughtful character study and examination of gambling addiction. While the general audience enjoyed the performances and dialogue, some found the plot too meandering, giving it a much lower score in the mid-50s. But with Ryan Reynolds acting at the top of his game, "Mississippi Grind" might just be worth the gamble.
6. Adventureland (2009)
2009's "Adventureland" follows college graduate James Brennan (played by Jesse Eisenberg) as he reluctantly takes a summer job at his hometown amusement park. While working there, James meets a variety of Adventureland staff members, played by an incredibly talented cast including Kristin Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig. Through the course of the summer, James discovers friends, love, heartbreak, and everything else it takes to finally grow up.
With a talented and funny cast, some people were a little disappointed that the film wasn't more broadly humorous, giving the film an audience score of in the low 60s on Rotten Tomatoes. However, with a higher score of almost 90%, critics loved the deeper character study and how the film effectively portrayed the '80s without resorting to overexaggerated nostalgia or overused coming of age tropes.
If you're looking for a solid Ryan Reynolds comedy-drama, buy a ticket and take a ride to "Adventureland."
5. Buried (2010)
Ryan Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, an American truck driver working in Iraq who suddenly finds himself buried alive in a coffin with little more than a cell phone and a flashlight, in 2010's tense thriller "Buried."
Certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score in the high 80s, the film is frequently compared favorably to works by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The cinematography is astounding, especially considering the entire film takes place inside of a coffin buried beneath the sand. With an audience score of 65%, there are a few people who were less than impressed with some of the claustrophobic twists and turns, but "Buried" is a unique film that proves that Ryan Reynolds can carry a movie nearly single-handedly and keep the audience's attention in the smallest of sets.
4. The Croods: A New Age (2020)
Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage, and Emma Stone all returned to portray the prehistoric Crood family in 2020's CG-animated sequel "The Croods: A New Age." On their trek to find a new homeland, The Croods run into a technologically advanced paradise inhabited by the Betterman family (played by Peter Dinklage, Leslie Mann, and Kelly Marie Tran). But this paradise might not be quite paradise after all when other differently evolved creatures show up and attack.
While the film only has a marginally better Rotten Tomatoes critical score than its predecessor, the audience score — in the mid-90s — is far greater. Nearly everyone seems to agree that "The Croods: A New Age" improves on the original with better jokes, a more complex story, and gorgeous animation. It seems like the "Croods" sequel is an evolutionary step up for the whole family to enjoy.
3. Deadpool 2 (2018)
2018's "Deadpool 2" continues the meta-comedy adventures of Ryan Reynold's superheroic-ish Wade Wilson aka Deadpool. This go around, he is trying to protect a young mutant boy named Russell Collins (Julian Dennison) from the time-traveling cyborg Cable (Josh Brolin). To aid in this mission, Deadpool forms a team of superheroes he calls X-Force, which consists of the super lucky Domino (Zazie Beetz), Bedlam (Terry Crews), Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgård), Peter (Rob Delaney), and Vanisher (one of the greatest celebrity cameo appearances of all time).
With a certified fresh Rotten Tomatoes score in the mid-80s and a similar audience score, "Deadpool 2" brings a whole lot of laughs and — with the help of "John Wick" director David Leitch — a whole lot of action. While there is some minor criticism of it being more of the same, it still delivers on being an entertaining take on the comic book genre.
2. Free Guy (2021)
Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy, a non-playable video game character, in 2021's "Free Guy." Unaware that he's in an online video game, Guy's life begins to change when he meets a player named Millie Rusk (Jodie Comer). The truth of his created world is soon revealed, when Guy discovers that Millie thinks the source code of the game was stolen from her by Soonami CEO Antwan Hovachelik (Taika Waititi). Guy decides to help her prove it and, in the process, becomes a popular hero of the game.
Combining elements of "Ready Player One," "The Matrix," and "The Lego Movie" into a brand new exciting film, "Free Guy" wowed audiences with a certified fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 80% and a tremendously high audience score in the mid-90s. Just as Guy became a popular figure in the game, the characters in the film warmed their way into the viewers' hearts. Heartfelt and incredibly funny with loads of meta humor and satire, the film brought Ryan Reynolds to a whole new level of popularity.
1. Deadpool (2016)
After Deadpool's disappointing portrayal in 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Ryan Reynolds took the character off into his own spin-off that would hew closer to the character's comic book sensibilities. 2016's "Deadpool" tells the origin story of mercenary Wade Wilson, who discovers he has cancer. Lured by the promise of an experimental cure, Wilson is tortured and tested, leaving him permanently scarred, incapable of dying, and so mentally broken that he can also break the fourth wall. Donning the identity of costumed vigilante Deadpool, he begins to track down the people responsible for his disfigurement.
Despite its rather grim plot, "Deadpool" balances that out with tons of jokes and meta commentary. They pleased critics and audiences alike by breaking the mold of what could be done with superhero films. The film earned a certified fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 85% and an audience score surpassing 90%, making it Ryan Reynolds' most universally loved film. Plus it has the numbers to prove it, being the highest grossing "X-Men" film — making nearly $800 million worldwide against an incredibly small $58 million budget.
"Deadpool" is a truly unique entry into comic book-based media and quite possibly the best Ryan Reynolds film ever made.