Ryan Reynolds has established himself as an actor with effortless charisma and hilarious comedic timing. Despite being widely recognized for his roles in comedies, the Canadian icon continues to have a fair share of defining different genres in ways where he still could express his humorous persona. With over 120 IMDb acting credits to his name, we narrowed down a list of the five best Ryan Reynolds movies that greatly exemplify the actor’s dynamic talent.
5. ‘The Adam Project’ (2022)
Starring alongside Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ Walker Scobell, Ryan Reynolds plays Adam Reed, a fighter pilot from the future who travels back in time to uncover the disappearance of his wife, Laura (Zoe Saldaña). His mission is then sidetracked when he accidentally crashes into the year 2022 and comes face to face with his younger self (Scobell).
With a slight homage to films like Back to the Future and connections to Reynolds’ personal life, The Adam Project is a heartwarming sci-fi story meant to connect us with the people we love. Additionally, the chemistry between Reynolds and Scobell is delightfully hilarious and makes The Adam Project a worthy film to watch.
4. ‘Definitely, Maybe’ (2008)
Finding love is a common theme in many romantic comedies. In Definitely, Maybe, Ryan Reynolds plays a father in the middle of a forthcoming divorce when his young daughter (Abigail Breslin) questions him about his past relationships leading up to the day he met her mother. Definitely, Maybe, from director Adam Brooks, takes on a unique story about recounting, cherishing, and the love shared between parent and child.
This sweet and simple rom-com is a refreshing watch for Reynolds’ undeniable charm and the cuteness of a young Abigail Breslin. Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, and Elizabeth Banks also star, as they each wonderfully bring their personal style of free-spirited and ambitious romance during their screen time next to Reynolds.
3. ‘Free Guy’ (2021)
Free Guy marks the first collaboration between Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy. Reynolds stars as a funny and warmhearted non-player character (NPC) named Guy in a Fortnite meets GTA-style video game called “Free City.” Guy eventually gains awareness of his NPC existence and falls in love with the girl of his dreams — who’s actually a human player from the real world.
This action-packed family film is complete with unique laughs, iconic cameos, fascinating world-building, and of course, is a love letter to video games. Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi round out the cast to a film that is a must-have on your watch list.
2. ‘The Proposal’ (2009)
Anne Fletcher‘s The Proposal is one of the best enemies-to-lovers romantic comedies to ever exist. The film follows Margaret (Sandra Bullock), an executive at a book publishing firm in New York City, who gets the notice of her deportation to Canada. This leads her to force her assistant Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) to marry her in order to avoid deportation and lose her job forever.
This romcom ranks so high on the list because it contains the special humor and charm for which he’s notably adored. Alongside the flawless chemistry between Reynolds and Bullock, The Proposal excels in presenting the true romance and fun that can be found in an all-timer romantic comedy.
1. ‘Deadpool’ (2016)
You probably saw this one coming. From being shelved by 20th Century Fox to getting green-lit after a supposed “test footage leak,” Ryan Reynolds fought 10 years of his life for Deadpool to be made. This of course happened after his first questionable run as the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Deadpool tells the story of Wade Wilson (Reynolds) a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who undergoes a rogue experiment to cure his cancer, leaving him with accelerated healing powers and a scarred physical appearance. With help from X-Men mutants Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Deadpool goes on a mission to seek revenge on the man responsible for almost destroying his life.
Combined with constant one-liner humor and the level of killer R-rated action sequences, the true essence of a comic book flourishes through Deadpool. Reynolds’ portrayal of the iconic comic book character in his solo flick is captivating, as it truly displays the honest joy and empathy the actor carries when playing Wade Wilson.
What’s Next for Ryan Reynolds?
Ryan Reynolds is on an adventure for his next big project, and lucky for us, he’s booked and busy with many movies in the works. Reynolds is currently slashing through theaters in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, with Hugh Jackman returning as the legendary Logan Howlett, aka Wolverine.
Beyond appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Reynolds will star in the upcoming action-comedy Animals Friends, directed by Peter Atencio, co-starring Aubrey Plaza and Jason Momoa. He will also feature in Mayday, where he stars alongside Kenneth Branagh and Maria Bakalova.
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