Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Glen Powell

What was the first movie you saw Glen Powell in? You might say in “Hidden Figures” where he portrayed astronaut John Glenn or in the 80s throwback “Everybody Wants Some!!” But no. Your introduction to Powell was actually a 2003 blockbuster you didn’t even realize he was in. “Spy Kids 3-D” featured big names like Sylvester Stallone and established child stars like Daryl Sabara. Powell was Waiting in the wings as “Long-fingered Boy”... whose fingers aren’t that long. His screen time isn’t long either, but Powell immediately showcased a pizzazz that hungers for more. Thankfully, it wasn’t game over for his career. As far as Powell has come, he reflects on the “Spy Kids” shoot as “one of the best days of [his] whole life.”

Several rising stars were in the running for Han Solo in the 2018 prequel, including Glen Powell. Ironically, Powell previously auditioned for “Cowboys & Aliens” to play Harrison Ford’s son, which ultimately didn’t pan out. Likewise, the Solo role went to Alden Ehrenreich, but Powell walked away with a funny story. Since much of the film centers on Han forming a bond with Chewbacca, the filmmakers had to see how convincingly each actor worked off a Wookiee. Powell didn’t get to read lines with Chewie. Instead, the casting director had a button that made a dog sound effect. While Powell came close to piloting the Millennium Falcon, he “blew” his final audition. Fittingly enough, Powell would get a Han Solo moment in “Top Gun: Maverick.”

“Scream Queens” only lasted two seasons, but it spotlighted several young stars on the cusp of stardom. Among them was Powell as Chad Radwell, whose name speaks for itself. Chad merges the toxicity of fraternities and the elitism of golf into one preppy package. Yet, we can’t help but love Chad. His self-entitlement is complemented by a witty self-awareness, distinguishing Chad from the stock jocks we see in other college comedies. While the writers clearly have fun crafting his dialogue, Powell infuses the character with a charisma that makes him hard to hate even at his worst. His best scenes are with Emma Roberts’ Chanel, who Chad isn’t above cheating on. Of course, Chanel’s no angel either. In a warped way, they deserve each other.

What’s your favorite animal? It’s a generic question that usually comes with a generic answer like dog or cat. Glen Powell has a unique answer for an interesting reason, however. Despite appearing in “Hidden Figures,” Powell claims he “basically didn’t get invited to the premiere.” He showed up regardless, happy to just be there. Maybe a little too happy, as somebody tweeted that Powell “looks like a capybara who made a wish to become human.” It wasn’t long until the photo became a meme. Powell embraced his resemblance to the South American rodent, joking about it in various interviews. At this rate, we wouldn’t be surprised if a studio greenlit a CG animated movie where Powell voices a capybara. You heard it here first!

“Spy Kids 3-D” wasn’t the last movie that united Glen Powell and Sylvester Stallone. “The Expendables” franchise has assembled an assortment of old-school action stars. In the third film, Powell injected new blood as the tech-savvy Thorn. In a cast featuring Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Harrison Ford, among others, Powell stood out as a fresh face. So fresh that a bouncer at the Cannes Film Festival didn’t recognize him. Powell attended the festival to promote the film with several co-stars. The bouncer apparently didn’t know what Powell was doing in the VIP section, making him leave with physical force. A decade later, Powell is able to laugh about it, especially since the bouncer would probably recognize him now.

By the time he was a high school senior, Powell had already booked a few small roles in movies and TV shows. Powell was still contemplating his future when he was cast in 2007’s “The Great Debaters.” Director and star Denzel Washington would help cement Powell’s career path. Although Powell didn’t have the largest role as a Harvard debater, Washington recognized his potential. He even introduced Powell to his agent, Ed Limato. During Powell’s freshman year at the University of Texas, Washington and Limato convinced him to pursue acting full-time in L.A. Limato passed away in 2010, but his instincts about Powell proved correct. The same goes for Washington, who hasn’t hesitated to remind Powell that he owes him.

Powell’s career so far can be divided into two eras: before and after “Top Gun: Maverik.” He originally auditioned to play Goose’s son Rooster, competing against Austin Butler, Nicholas Hoult, and Miles Teller. That role naturally went to Teller, but Powell was offered another part as Rooster’s rival Hangman. Powell initially hesitated to play such an unlikable character, describing him as “Navy Draco Malfoy.” However, Tom Cruise wanted to work with Powell to flesh out the character. The producers took Powell’s input to heart, expanding Hangman’s role and giving him more of an arc. While he mirrors Iceman to an extent, Hangman’s evolution throws a few curveballs that leave you rooting for him by the climax. It was the moment Powell officially skyrocketed to A-tier.

After “Top Gun: Maverik” broke records, Powell seemingly became the go-to guy for legacy sequels. In “Twisters,” he was upgraded to co-lead with Daisy Edgar-Jones. Like its 1996 predecessor, this disaster film primarily succeeds thanks to the chemistry between its leads. Edgar-Jones and Powell don’t merely feel like stand-ins for Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton. Powell, in particular, brings his signature energy to the role of Tyler Owens, a stormchaser who’s smarter and more sentimental than he looks. It’s been argued recently that social media stars have killed the movie star. Powell is the counterargument. In “Twisters,” Powell proves once and for all that he’s a certified movie star… ironically playing a character who has a YouTube channel.

In 2022, Powell presented an MTV Movie & TV Award to Sydney Sweeney. They didn’t get a chance to talk, but Sweeney thought Powell might be a good fit for a movie she was getting off the ground. Casting can make or break a film like “Anyone but You.” On paper, you can dissect why Bea and Ben aren’t exactly the healthiest romantic pairing. When you have Sweeney and Powell as the leads, though, it’s hard not to be won over. This modern Shakespearean romantic comedy became 2023’s sleeper hit with its success extending well into 2024. The chemistry between Powell and Sweeney hasn’t been limited to the film either. From interviews to “SNL,” these two are bringing back the movie star and the rom-com.

No film thus far has provided a better showcase for Powell’s range than Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man.” Loosely based on a real person, Powell is not only convincing as modest college professor Gary Johnson, but also the revolving door of hitman personas he adopts while working undercover. As over-the-top as the premise sounds, Powell keeps the film surprisingly grounded. His chemistry with co-star Adria Arjona also knows no end. Powell co-wrote the screenplay, further demonstrating his knack for crafting characters. Where many actors accept whatever high-profile role comes their way, we’re glad that Powell has been more selective, pursuing projects he’s passionate about and helping to make each one better. “Hit Man” is Powell’s best piece of pie yet, and all pie is good pie.

Would you describe Glen Powell as a movie star? Let us know in the comments.