Every Wesley Snipes Movie Ranked Worst To Best

The 2012 film "Gallowwalkers" saw Snipes take on a new genre: Westerns. Like his famous role in "Blade," there's elements of the supernatural and horror here as well. Snipes stars as a mysterious gunslinger draped in all black named Aman. Flashbacks reveal he was the victim of a brutal attack at the hands of gang of vicious outlaws. After getting his vengeance on the men who did him wrong, Aman was killed, but his mother struck a deal with God to resurrect him ... for a price. Now, Aman is cursed to walk the Earth, and those he kills come back as undead monsters who soon lose their skin and can only be destroyed with a shot through the brain. 

Infamous for being the last film Snipes performed in before his conviction for failing to file tax returns, "Gallowwalkers" took seven years to complete. Sadly, the results are not worth the time and effort. The nonsensical plot and muddled backstory aren't made any better by a lackluster cast giving overwrought B movie performances. There's some interesting ideas, and a few clever moments sprinkled throughout, but the goofy concept and weak action make it a mess of a film only worth watching for being an oddity in Snipe's filmography. 

"The Expendables" is the star-driven adventure franchise led by Sylvester Stallone that's become infamous for assembling past action heroes for one more adventure. After two explosive films, the third, "Expendables 3," added a few major names, including Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson, Rhonda Rousey, and legend Harrison Ford. It also added an infusion of youth in the form of "Twilight" star Kellan Lutz. No matter how many big names are included, these films are judged on the strength of their action and here it's a decidedly "meh" motion picture. 

The story opens with the Expendables getting back together to take on their former founder, Stonebanks (Gibson), now a black market arms dealer. To defeat him, Stallone and his crew bring in some new recruits. Snipes plays Doctor Death, an expert with blades and bombs. Despite being surrounded by major performers who you'd think would keep him on his toes, the actor delivers a lackluster performance, as do most of the others. An underwhelming sequel that's still notable for its broad, star-studded cast, it doesn't even live up to its mediocre predecessors and wastes the reunion of some of the "Demolition Man" stars.

Wesley Snipes continued his foray into offbeat genre movies with "The Recall" in 2017, a science fiction horror movie where he plays a dangerous, one-man army. A classic slasher story with a sci-fi twist, it begins with the cliched setup of a group of friends staying at a remote cabin in the woods for a leisurely getaway.

Amidst their fun and relaxation, the friends have a run-in with a predictably dangerous hunter (Snipes) who seems likely to become the villain. But "The Recall" twists the trope, and the shadowy figure soon transforms into an ally when they realize that the Earth has become the target of sinister alien invaders. Together the teenagers and the grizzled, bitter hunter fight to stay alive, though they soon learn there is more to their new friend than meets the eye.

Despite the fact that there's very little here that anyone would call original or novel, Snipes' over-the-top performance borders on scene-stealing thanks to its hammy nature. Whether the movie was meant to be taken seriously as a sci-fi action adventure is unclear, but there's at least a kernel of enjoyment to be had, especially if you're a Snipes devotee.

The 1994 film "Sugar Hill" sees Wesley Snipes in the kind of role he excels at. In the gritty crime drama, Snipes plays Romello Skuggs, a victim of inner city crime who just can't seem to escape the violence around him. In his youth he watched both of his parents lose theirs live to drugs and violence. While he tries his best to leave this turmoil behind, he finds himself pulled back in once more.

After the death of his best friend. Romello wants revenge and takes on a ruthless Brooklyn dealer named Lolly (Ernie Hudson). Alongside his brother, Ray, Romello is embroiled in a vicious gang war with Lolly's crew and unable to get away from the life he'd tried so hard to put behind him. Meanwhile, Romello's girlfriend wants to leave the city with him once and for all, but even she can't outrun the death and violence that follow the Skuggs family.

"Sugar Hill" is an ambitious movie that doesn't quite live up to the promise of its premise — despite Snipes delivering a strong performance at the height of his dramatic career. Empire Online gave it just two stars, crediting it for trying to do something different but failing to stand out among other films of its type.

Given the number of bad films in Wesley Snipes' past, it might seem odd that a film featuring one of his best and most iconic roles would rank so low. But if you've seen "Blade: Trinity" you definitely understand why. A sad, low end to what could have been one of the most entertaining — if not best — comic book movie trilogies ever, the threequel disappointed in just about every way a capper can. 

Returning to the part that had previously seemed so perfect for him, Snipes delivers a weak performance, seemingly setting the tone for the rest of the cast, most of whom appear to just be going through the motions (with Ryan Reynolds marking the sole exception). Rumors of awful on-set behavior have dogged Snipes for years, with reports surfacing more recently about his alleged tirades and disruptive on-set presence (via The Hollywood Reporter). If true, it could help explain the on-screen results.

Snipes isn't the only problem, as Jessica Biel's half-hearted attempt to become an action star does nothing to help the film. Though Blade's return was highly anticipated after two successful, action-packed entries, the third film was a massive let down. It may be a necessary watch for completionists, and there's an argument to be made that its lame action and laughable performances qualify it as a "so bad it's good" B movie romp. Despite its failure, the franchise continued with a short-lived TV series spin-off that landed in 2006 and fans still hold the original trilogy in high esteem.

With a title that's a little too on the nose, the 1997 romantic drama "One Night Stand" comes from the director of the Nicolas Cage dramedy "Leaving Las Vegas." Featuring Wesley Snipes and Ming Na-Wen as married couple Max and Mimi, the film chronicles the trials and tribulations of an indiscretion. 

Max, a small-time director and photographer based in Los Angeles, spends a fateful evening stuck overnight in New York City where he encounters Karen (Nastassja Kinski) after missing his flight back home. Though his marriage to Mimi is a happy one, Max shares the evening with Karen and the two eventually wind up sleeping together. Regretful of his one night stand, Max tries to move on from his dalliance with a beautiful stranger. Unfortunately, a trip back to New York to visit a dying friend (Robert Downey, Jr.) leads him back into Karen's path, who is now married to his friend's brother (Kyle MacLachlan).

Though the movie aspires to be a heartfelt drama about regret and betrayal, it's a rather ineffective execution of its big ideas. Still, it managed to get a smattering of positive reviews, with Roger Ebert praising its acting and writing.

Re-teaming after their hit film "White Men Can't Jump," Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson starred with Jennifer Lopez in the 1995 action-comedy "Money Train." A classic buddy cop film, the actors play a pair of New York transit officers and foster brothers, John and Charlie Robinson. Charlie (Harrelson) is neck deep in gambling debt and has a daring plan to get out from under it, while John (Snipes) is reluctant to get involved in his brother's criminal scheme. Charlie is convinced he can rob the train that's carrying the Transit Authority's daily stash, which he figures could be as much as four million dollars.

At the same time, the two brothers — along with fellow officer Grace Santiago (Lopez) — are tracking a ruthless serial killer nicknamed "Torch" for his use of fire on his victims. When a police sting to catch him goes wrong, it creates a schism between the siblings and John must decide whether he wants to help or stop Charlie from robbing the train. Though no classic in the action-comedy genre, it offers enough excitement and laughs to make it worth an afternoon watch.

More than 15 years after "Streets Of Gold," Wesley Snipes returned to the ring in "Undisputed," which also stars Ving Rhames ("Mission: Impossible"), Michael Rooker ("Guardians Of The Galaxy"), and Fisher Stevens ("Short Circuit"). This time around Snipes is not the hero prize fighter of the story. Instead, the film centers on world heavyweight champ George "The Iceman" Chambers (Rhames).

After receiving a hefty sentence, Chambers is sent to prison. He meets the king of the ring, Monroe "Undisputed" Hutchen (Snipes), in the state penitentiary. Following a bitter first encounter, a rivalry quickly develops. Convicted mob boss Ripstein (Peter Falk) exploits this, arranging for a prison title fight between the two champs after bribing the warden and a key guard (Rooker). 

With both fighters portrayed as despicable criminals, it's an interesting tack to take, with neither being a particularly lovable character to root for. It's that compelling dynamic that critic Roger Ebert praised, along with the film's seeming self-awareness of the simplicity of its concept. "There is a kind of pleasure to be had from its directness, from its lack of gimmicks, from its classical form," observed Ebert. Though not an exceptional sports movie, it delivers conflict and action in a briskly paced drama.

The 1996 film "The Fan" is a dark and twisted drama directed by Tony Scott (whose previous hits included "Top Gun" and "The Last Boy Scout") that straddles the line between sports movie and psychological thriller. It put Snipes back on the field as Major League Baseball player Bobby Rayburn opposite Robert De Niro. The Hollywood screen legend plays disturbed sports fan Gil Renard. His favorite team signs Rayburn with an eye-popping big money contract, and the athlete quickly becomes the focus of Renard's dangerous obsession. Though Renard was already enamored with the star player, his fixation spins out of control as his own life spirals after the loss of his job and custody of his son.

While Rayburn just wants to perform on the field and live up to the big contract he just signed, Renard descends into madness, quickly becoming a deranged man willing to do anything to prove how great Rayburn is and somehow redeem himself in the eyes of those around him. After meeting his baseball idol and discovering he may not be the person he imagined, Renard goes further over the edge and kidnaps Rayburn's son. A taut, engaging, and gripping drama, De Niro and Snipes are at the top of their game, and the story's unpredictable twists will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Back in the role of noble hero, Snipes plays Washington D.C. Metro Police detective Harlan Regis, assigned to the case of a young secretary found dead on the White House grounds. As Regis pieces together clues, the Secret Service puts up roadblocks to his investigation that lead him to believe their agents might have been involved. Meanwhile, the President of the United States deals with a diplomatic crisis involving North Korea that causes problems at home as even those within his inner circle are unhappy with his handling of the situation. 

While Regis doggedly pursues the murder case, he becomes a target himself and realizes there's more going on than a simple homicide. Uncovering a vast conspiracy, it's up to Regis to find a killer and maybe even prevent a war. Though knocked for being cliched, "Murder At 1600" is nevertheless an effective and exciting action thriller — even if there's nothing terribly groundbreaking about it. Snipes was once again well cast as a determined investigator with the world against him who triumphs against all odds. If you're a fan of Snipes, this is among his best roles, even if it's not his best film. Diane Lane, Ronny Cox, Tate Donavan, Alan Alda, and Dennis Miller round out the cast.

Famous for Snipes' iconic one liner "Always bet on black," the classic hijack film "Passenger 57" saw him in the role of John Cutter, a former cop, soldier, and Secret Service agent who works as a security expert teaching self defense to ill-prepared airline workers. Still dealing with the death of his wife in a botched robbery, he accepts a new, prestigious position as head of an anti-terrorism task force for an airline owned by a friend. Aboard a flight to Los Angeles (as the 57th passenger) Cutter finds himself ferrying international terrorist Charles Rayne to his trial alongside FBI agents. Fate intervenes when the criminal mastermind's henchman break him free and hijack the plane.

It's up to Cutter to fight back, stop a madman, and save everyone on board. With a determined agent alone in an enclosed space against a diabolical terrorist, "Passenger 57" recalls shades of other classic action movies, and was given the nickname "Fly Hard" by Empire in its review. Like many other projects in Snipes' catalog, it's a by-the-book action offering that manages to succeed despite its haphazard story and predictable nature. Fun, fast, and action-packed, it was the movie that helped establish Snipes as one of the '90s biggest action stars.

Following the blockbuster success of the Harrison Ford led action film "The Fugitive," a follow-up came a few years later. With Ford's Richard Kimble proven an innocent man, the movie instead focuses on intrepid U.S. Marshal and investigator Sam Gerard, a role for which Tommy Lee Jones received an Oscar nomination in the first installment. Wesley Snipes takes the part of the target, Mark Roberts, a federal fugitive on the run from a murder charge. Gerard's team includes returning stars Joe Pantoliano and Dan Roebuck, while Robert Downey Jr. joins the cast as Special Agent John Royce. 

After Gerard does some digging, Roberts is revealed to be Mark Sheridan, a former CIA operative who had been suspected as a mole in the agency, but who fled before he could be taken into custody. In an attempt to outrun and outwit Gerard, Sheridan must also prove his innocence and expose the man who was leaking classified intelligence to foreign enemies. Though "The Fugitive" spinoff couldn't quite match the original, it's still a well-executed, high class action thriller. Jones comes back to deliver another strong performance as Gerard, and Snipes proves a worthy successor to Ford's Richard Kimble while being a very different fugitive. With plenty of suspense and mystery punctuated by tense action sequences, narrow escapes, and just enough plot to keep things moving, "U.S. Marshals" makes an effective addition to the franchise. 

It may be hard to believe now but there was a time in the mid 1990s when Marvel Comics superheroes were a rarity on the big screen, with just "Howard the Duck" and "The Punisher" to show for their efforts. A deal with Lionsgate changed that, and the 1998 action horror movie "Blade" — based on a crime-fighting half-vampire hero — became a comic book movie trailblazer. Before "The Matrix" and "X-Men," Wesley Snipes' turn as a black leather-clad superhero turned heads for its lightning quick action, kung fu fight scenes, and techno soundtrack that would influence the genre for the next decade.

The film introduced Eric Brooks and his sidekick Whistler, who made it their personal mission to hunt down and destroy an emerging vampire threat: the villainous Deacon Frost. Out to end humanity's reign on planet Earth, Frost hatches a plan to resurrect an ancient blood god called La Magra. To do it, Frost needs to perform an ancient ritual that uses the blood from 12 vampires, and Blade is the last one on his list. Following his run of action movies in the early '90s, "Blade" turned Snipes into a superhero and set the stage for the flood of Marvel movies that would follow. Proving that Hollywood could enjoy success adapting lesser-known characters, it also sparked a new wave of action-driven vampire movies like "Underworld" and "Resident Evil."

Paired with '80s action star Sylvester Stallone for the first time, Wesley Snipes starred in 1993's "Demolition Man" as the film's main villain. He plays the psychopathic Simon Phoenix, one of the most vile and vicious criminals of the 20th century, who is taken down by LAPD officer John Spartan (Stallone) in 1996. A maverick cop nicknamed "The Demolition Man" for his reckless tactics, the takedown comes with mass casualties and results in both he and Phoenix being sentenced to incarceration. Rather than go behind bars, both are put into cryogenic stasis with the hope of rehabilitating them while in suspended animation using new experimental techniques.

Fast forward to 2032 in San Angeles — a future utopian city that has replaced L.A. — and Phoenix manages to escape his sentence and go on a violent crime spree. In this future peaceful world, law enforcement is unprepared for such a brutal criminal, and Spartan is thawed out to try and stop him. Co-starring Sandra Bullock in the role that put her on Hollywood's radar, the film is a gloriously cheesy action-comedy made indelible thanks to Snipes and Stallone. It proves the "Blade" actor is every bit as captivating and charismatic as a comic book style villain as he is as a hero in a performance that still gets rave reviews today. Though not a great movie by traditional metrics, it's endlessly likable and incredibly fun — a classic guilty pleasure — with Snipes at perhaps the peak of his career.

The 1991 crime drama "New Jack City" is set in the mid 1980s and stars Wesley Snipes as ruthless drug lord Nino Brown. Brown aspires to be the kind of high class kingpin he's seen in the movies, far from the gang member slinging vials on the corner that he's been all his life. Along with his criminal syndicate, the Cash Money Brothers, including his right hand man Gee Money (Allen Payne) and stick-up man Pookie (Chris Rock), Brown ascends to the top of the New York drug scene. As his enterprise grows, he becomes the target of an undercover NYPD operation run by Detective Stone (Mario Van Peebles, who also directed), Detective Appleton (Ice-T, who went on to play a similar character in "Law & Order: SVU"), and his partner Nick Peretti (Judd Nelson), who are determined to take him down.

"The movie was advertised (no doubt wisely) as a slam-bang action adventure, but in fact it's a serious, smart film with an impact that lingers after the lights go up," detailed Roger Ebert, who awarded the film three and a half stars in his review. Praising Snipes' performance, the critic noted Nino as one of the screen's great movie villains, with a sly, sinister charisma. Not without controversy (per The New York Times), the movie proved a trendsetter, igniting a wave of Black crime dramas that included "Boyz N The Hood" and "Menace II Society."

Written and directed by celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee, the 1991 drama "Jungle Fever" centers on the star-crossed romance between Flipper Purify, a New York architect, and a young Italian-American woman named Angie who is hired to be his new secretary at his firm. A happily married family man, it's a whirlwind passionate love affair for Flipper that causes problems not just at home, but for everyone connected to them as their friends and family grapple with the complicated nature of the interracial fling. Flipper's friend Cyrus (played by Spike Lee) counsels him on the myths of so-called "jungle fever" and tells him that the taboo nature of his connection is not true love. Meanwhile, Angie deals with the fallout from her relationship with a Black man and is thrown out of her home by her abusive father.

Featuring an all-star cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and John Turturro, "Jungle Fever" was lauded for its frank depiction of racism, sex, and drugs. Groundbreaking and still lauded today, it tells a complex and layered story about what was then still a taboo topic that had often gone unexplored in cinema.