Ryan Reynolds' portfolio of character-driven comedies and dramas proves he is a talented all-around actor. It's hard to pinpoint what specific role put him on the path to stardom, but there is little debate about who he is most famous for playing on screen.
Recently some lists have emerged on Letterboxd.com asking a different question other than "What is your favorite Ryan Reynolds movie?" Rather, "What are some other films that contributed to his ascension to Hollywood A-lister?" Some examples are fairly recent, while others stretch back to a time when his name did not entice moviegoers to head to the theater on opening night.
Updated on November 28th, 2022 by Shawn Lealos: While Ryan Reynolds often seems to play the same character in every movie, it is a character that many movie fans love and feel comfortable watching. This was proven spectacularly with his role as Deadpool, a character that should have failed, but Reynolds turned into a major success. Now, Deadpool will return again, this time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Reynolds' take on the character won't change, with the movie remaining R-rated. Not only that, but Reynolds just announced that he convinced Hugh Jackman to return to the role of Wolverine in Deadpool 3, and that movie has a chance to become the most beloved Ryan Reynolds movie of all time.
The Amityville Horror (2005) - 2.6
Stream now on Starz
A remake of the 1979 film of the same name based on the of the real-life protagonist, George Lutz. It follows the Lutz family's transition to living on Long Island, New York in the mid-1970s. However, they underestimate the paranormal phenomenon inhabiting the house. Not long after the Lutzs settle, the ghosts of a mass murder that took place a year prior, manifest. What follows is a month-long terror marathon.
Ryan Reynolds' presence in this horror film is inconsistent with his resume. This fact, though, adds intrigue to an already frightening premise. The bad (frat) boy from National Lampoon's Van Wilder exercised some acting gusto to bring this "based on a true story" Amityville movie to life. He demonstrates ability to take on a dual personality brought on by the evil that exists in the house. This no doubt prepared him for the future.
Smokin' Aces (2007) - 2.9
Stream now on DirecTV
A witness against Sin City's mafia named "Aces" is a target for every hired gun west of the Rockies, and it's up to FBI Agent Ryan Reynolds to protect him in this 2007 actioner. The film takes a two-pronged approach with the assassins not only after the bounty on the title character but also their competition.
It is, at its core, an ensemble shoot 'em up that at times comes off as comical and fun to watch. Asking Reynolds to be in such a movie and not be the comic relief is unusual. Yet, he manages to provide it anyway, sneaking in his usual brand of one-liners and f-bomb marathons.
Safe House (2012) - 2.9
Stream now on TNT & TBS
The true test of a rising star might be how he performs alongside household names. Here, we see Ryan Reynolds paired with Denzel Washington in an intense never-ending struggle between his character, Matt Weston, Washington's Tobin Frost, and a band of mercenaries in a relentless pursuit across South Africa.
Sometimes when an actor is out of their element, it raises eyebrows in the industry and gains the attention of the masses. Reynolds is clearly transitioning into more action-intensive roles but appears humbled alongside Washington playing a renegade and Ryan the rookie agent. The plot seems to be capitalizing on the success of the Jason Bourne series with slight modifications.
The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) - 3.1
Rent now on Prime Video & Apple TV
In 2017, Ryan Reynolds teamed with Sam Jackson in the buddy action comedy, The Hitman's Bodyguard. The movie sees a hitman planning to testify in a court case hiring a bodyguard to keep him safe until the trial. Jackson is the hitman and Reynolds is the bodyguard, and they have to put their own differences aside if they are to survive.
The best part of the movie is the rivalry between these two actors. The hitman has tried to kill the bodyguard's clients more than once, and they argue and fight almost as much as they work together in the movie. The chemistry was so strong that a sequel arrived with Salma Hayek ing the fray.
The Adam Project (2022) - 3.1
Stream now on Netflix
Ryan Reynolds took a role in a movie that went straight to Netflix called The Adam Project, and it wasn't just a highly-watched streaming movie but also a great story as well. In the movie, Reynolds is a time-traveling fighter pilot named Adam who crash lands in the past and teams up with his 12-year-old self to save the future.
This was a movie where Reynolds had to play off a child actor in Walker Scobell, and the two turned in great performances as the older and younger Adam. Reynolds also didn't project as much of his crass humor and personality here. It was a different performance by the actor in a movie that seemed like a throwback to Steven Spielberg sci-fi family flicks.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) - 3.1
Stream now on TNT & TBS
Ryan Reynolds is one of those actors where people will instantly recognize his voice. He has done some major voice roles in animated movies, such as the Croods franchise. However, he also took on a CGI character in a live-action movie.
In Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Reynolds played Pikachu, who took on the role of a detective and teamed with a former Pokémon trainer named Tim (Justice Smith). Reynolds gave his typical slacker performance as Pikachu, but as always, he was charming in the role and helped turn the movie into a relative success, one of the best video game movies in history.
Free Guy (2021) - 3.2
Stream now on Disney+ & HBO Max
In Free Guy, a bank teller realizes after screwing up a robbery attempt that he is a non-playable background character in a popular videogame. Based on an AI by one of the designers, Guy them sets out to make his own way in his world, much to the chagrin of the game's creator.
Reynolds did a good job in this movie, playing a normal guy thrown into ridiculously dangerous situations. When he meets up with a hacker who is trying to gain evidence that the game was a stolen idea, he plays well off the more OP characters around him. What resulted was one of the best videogame movies, even though it wasn't based on a real game.
The Voices (2014) - 3.2
Stream now on Starz
If there's anyone who can make an unpleasant subject like mental illness humorous, its Ryan Reynolds. As Jerry, a lonely laborer, he articulates both "voices" of his pets in an angel and the devil dynamic. Bosco, the dog, advocates taking Jerry's medication. Mr. Whiskers, the cat, however, is full of violent motives and relentlessly tempts (with a Scottish accent) his owner to commit heinous crimes against young women who reject his advances.
Over the course of the film, it becomes clear Reynolds is psychoanalyzing himself to find the light and shadow of his unconscious mind to further define Jerry. He is able to sell the inner conflict by appearing to be a belligerent foul-mouthed murderer one minute and then becoming charmingly mellow the next. The onslaught, at times, is overwhelming. Being a dark comedy, you could argue that's the point.
The Proposal (2009) - 3.3
Stream now on Hulu
This dramedy marked another high-profile team up for Reynolds, following a publisher, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), who is about to be deported. She recruits assistant Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) to marry her in a bid to maintain her US citizenship. Paxton counters with a trade that Tate must accompany him to meet his family in Alaska. They must also thwart an INS official's inquiry.
Reynolds brought charm and grace to the role that thoroughly challenged him to keep up with not only Bullock but the late Betty White, with whom he became friends. As Andrew, he holds his own in a conversation with his father (Craig T. Nelson) regarding his current state of happiness. Against White, however, each is constantly competing for the title of scene stealer.
Mississippi Grind (2015) - 3.3
Stream now on HBO Max
Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story might be the most unusual pairing in recent memory. Reynolds is Curtis in Mississippi Grind, a hot shot card player who teams up with Mendelsohn's Jerry, a gambling addict in pursuit of the highest stakes poker game in New Orleans where the Mississippi River terminates.
In a "Huck Finn" adventure as Jerry calls it, him and Curtis visit many establishments racking up funds to buy into the $25,000 game. Slowly Reynolds goes from a confident, rambling scoundrel to a reinterpretation of Charlie Babbitt from Rain Man. At times, it is difficult to know whether he is being humorous or serious.
