Top 20 Best Ryan Reynolds Performances

“The Hitman's Bodyguard” franchise (2017-)
In the two films of “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” series, Reynolds plays Michael Bryce: the best protection agent in the world. He’s tasked with guarding his nemesis, a top-tier assassin played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the sequel, he has to protect Jackson’s happy-go-lucky killer wife, Salma Hayek. The films are solid entries in the buddy action movie genre. Reynold’s trademark dry sarcasm blends well with Jackson’s brash charisma. It’s hard to make an aggressively handsome character like Bryce relatable, but Reynolds pulls it off. His deep-seated self-confidence issues somehow make this well-dressed bodyguard feel like a real person.

“Life” (2017)
Coming off the success of “Deadpool,” Ryan Reynolds co-starred in the sci-fi ensemble film “Life” in 2017. An international team of astronauts aboard the I.S.S. make a startling discovery: we are not alone in the universe. They discover a small life form from Mars, but quickly learn that it is a hostile predator. Every once in a while, a Hollywood film likes to shock its audience by casting a big star and killing them off early: Janet Leigh in “Psycho,” Drew Barrymore in “Scream,” and Ryan Reynolds in “Life.” Despite only appearing for a fraction of the runtime, Reynolds manages to portray Rory Adams as a vivacious man. That serves to emphasize the horror and tragedy of Rory’s death.

“Red Notice” (2021)
In 2021’s “Red Notice,” Ryan Reynolds partners up with another familiar face in action comedies, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Johnson plays an FBI agent who teams up with Reynolds’ Nolan Booth to locate some treasure. They get set up and find themselves at cross-purposes with the world’s greatest thief: The Bishop. Played by Gal Gadot, Bishop is more than a match for both men. It’s not often that Ryan Reynolds plays second fiddle let alone third, but he does a fine job in “Red Notice.” He may not have the same level of chemistry with The Rock as Kevin Hart, but when Deadpool, Wonder Woman, and Black Adam team up, fireworks ensue.

“Woman in Gold” (2015)
In 2015, Reynolds co-starred with Helen Mirren in a powerful drama based on a real-life story. Mirren stars as Maria Altmann, an Austrian Jew who fled the Holocaust sixty years prior. The Nazis stole her family’s possessions, including a portrait of her aunt by Gustav Klimt. In the intervening years, the painting became world famous. Mirren’s Maria embarks on a legal quest to get her family’s property back. She enlists the aid of a lawyer, Randy Schoenberg, to help her seek justice. Schoberg, expertly played by Reynolds, is a committed young attorney who takes the fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

“Blade: Trinity” (2004)
After over a decade of acting in comedies, “Blade: Trinity” was Ryan Reynolds’ first major Hollywood role as an action star. He went from a pretty boy to a muscular bad boy only two years after starring in “Van Wilder.” While “Blade: Trinity” is easily the worst of the trilogy, it put Reynolds on the map as a potential action lead. He cemented his brand as a bankable wise-cracking, butt-kicking hero. Hannibal King is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise unremarkable movie, and served as an excellent audition of sorts for the Merc with a Mouth.

“Paper Man” (2009)
“Paper Man” is a 2009 indie dramedy starring Jeff Daniels as a frustrated novelist struggling to make a human connection. Since he was little, the man’s best friend has been an imaginary superhero, Captain Excellent. Despite the hair bleached so blonde it's nearly white, Reynolds Excellent is a fictional man played poignantly. He’s spent decades as the emotional crutch of a vulnerable writer. “Paper Man” is the story of that man finally learning to let go. When he finally does, Captain Excellent is palpably afraid. While a lesser-known entry in Reynolds’ filmography, it truly is a sleeper when it comes to his acting chops.

“Safe House” (2012)
We’ve all been in situations that we aren’t prepared for, whether it be an unexpected school speech, a job interview, or stopping a safe house assault by armed and highly-trained individuals. Okay, maybe not that last one. What starts as a somewhat comical performance turns into a serious one, and Ryan gives it his all in this film, as we watch him become a hardened killer. His character is a markedly different person by the end of the movie, and it clearly shows in his performance.

“Just Friends” (2005)
Transforming from an awkward teen to the suave and successful producer that we see for most of the movie deserves some merit. While trying to seduce his childhood friend, he has to keep the annoying pop singer Samantha at bay. He finds himself flustered at times, talking to himself in disappointment, and raging at his current predicament, but also manages to squeeze in some romance. It’s this versatility that makes this role one of his most memorable.

“Adventureland” (2009)
There’s just something about Reynolds’ character Mike Connell that won’t let us hate him, even if some of the stuff he says makes him come off like a major jerk. Despite his not-so-pure intentions, he’s got a certain charm, and that’s thanks to Reynolds being able to bring a lot of subtlety to the character. Whether he’s talking himself up as a musician to girls or giving life advice, we can’t help but shake our heads at the stories that come out of his mouth.

“The Voices” (2014)
Playing a unique character is one thing. Playing a psychopath who thinks his pets are actually talking to him is something completely different. Jerry is almost as perplexed by everything that happens to him as the audience is, yet he can’t stop listening to his cat telling him to kill people. As he converses with the voices in his head, the trauma he has inflicted on himself continuously breaks him down, and we’re somehow able to sympathize with this murderer, which is a testament to Reynolds’ performance.

“Spirited” (2022)
In 2021, Reynolds put out a TikTok video for the Grace Kelly challenge with a surprise cameo from Will Ferrell. It was our first hint that in addition to being an actor, funnyman, and mogul, Ryan Reynolds could sing. The video was taken from the set of “Spirited,” an Apple TV+ musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” Reynolds plays Clint Briggs, a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge who must contend with the three ghosts of Christmas. He goes on a musical journey with Ferrell’s Ghost of Christmas Present. Reynolds is a surprisingly good singer and dancer, and he delivers a performance with his trademark mix of wit and pathos.

“Definitely, Maybe” (2008)
Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to romantic comedies. One that isn’t full of physical gags and slapstick moments is hard to come by for him though, but thankfully, “Definitely, Maybe” is much more than that. As Will tells the story of his past relationships to his daughter, we get to see how charismatic he is with each of the women, and the chemistry he has with each of them is also on point. You can’t be a great actor without working well with your peers, and Ryan is able to hit every beat no matter who his costars are.

“The Proposal” (2009)
Character transformations, if pulled off effectively, make for a good movie, and it’s up to the actors to carry that thread convincingly throughout the film. As Ryan’s character, Andrew, spends more time with his boss, who he hates, they slowly grow to appreciate one another. Andrew acts as a surrogate for the audience as he discovers more about Margaret’s personal life. As he maintains the charade that they’re a couple, the nuances in his performance hint at real feelings, and it’s a journey that we take right along with him.

“Mississippi Grind” (2015)
“Mississippi Grind” is a sober tale about a pair of itinerant gamblers that enter one another’s lives like ships passing in the night. Reynolds plays Curtis, the younger of the two, who meets protagonist Gerry at an Iowa casino. The pair become fast friends and soon embark on a gambling road trip down the Mississippi River. They share a handful of highs and many more lows as they ride the rollercoaster of gambling addiction. With Curtis, Reynolds shows how his usual sarcasm and wit can just be a facade to hide his character’s pain. Despite the relatively happy ending, “Mississippi Grind” is a bittersweet film that acts as proof that Ryan Reynolds is more than just comic relief.

“Detective Pikachu” (2019)
In addition to adapting the famous game series, at its core “Detective Pikachu” is a film about fathers and sons. Tim Goodman is a young man who, after the death of his mother, gave up his dream of training Pokémon. When he learns of the death of his estranged father and detective, Harry, he travels to Harry’s apartment to investigate. Tim discovers an amnesiac Pikachu, voiced by Reynolds. As the pair battle their way through a mystery and uncover a conspiracy, Reynolds really steals the show. His Pikachu is earnest, charming, and adorable. He plays a character full of heart and tones down his usual sardonic quips.

“The Adam Project” (2022)
In “The Adam Project,” Reynolds stars as Big Adam, a pilot who travels back in time to reset the timeline after his evil boss uses the technology to enrich herself. He is out to save his wife, Laura, from assassination. On the journey, Adam meets both his twelve-year-old self and his widowed mother. Eventually, Little Adam comes along for the ride and they go back again to enlist the aid of their dad. Despite the high concept time travel gimmick and the spectacular action, “The Adam Project” is a movie about grief, trauma, and forgiveness. Big Adam represents the culmination of Ryan Reynolds’ skills as an actor. His usual sarcasm is only a paper-thin mask hiding a deep wellspring of guilt, self-loathing, and regret.

“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” (2002)
Ryan Reynolds was at his peak when it came to playing this young and popular heartthrob. His charisma shines as his character befriends almost everyone around him. He’s able to seduce girls easily, and hell, he even has people lining up to be interviewed to be his personal assistant. Why would anyone want to leave school if it was like this? His one-liners about life always make us laugh, and his situational and comedic timing when it comes to making sarcastic remarks always entertain. He’s the type of guy you want to hate, but never can bring yourself to.

“Buried” (2010)
When you’re one of the only actors in the film, and you’ve literally got no room to move, the movie’s success is riding on your performance. The fact that Ryan can maintain audience fixation on him throughout the runtime of “Buried” is a testament to his onscreen presence. We’re able to relate to this man just from knowing him in a coffin, and care about his predicament. As his situation becomes more dire, we can’t help but hold our breath with him while he’s running out of air.

“Free Guy” (2021)
In "Free Guy," Reynolds plays a bank teller in a cartoonishly violent city who discovers he is actually an NPC in an open-world video game. Upon achieving sentience, he embarks on a quest with his programmer Millie to hunt down her original code. They need the code to expose its theft by the game’s creator, the evil Antwan, and to save Free City from destruction at his hands. Guy spreads free will to his friends and neighbors as he fights for their survival. In “Free Guy, Reynolds eschews his typical snark and leans all the way into earnestness and innocence. It’s a reminder that, in addition to playing cynical characters like Deadpool, Ryan is a very convincing nice guy.

“Deadpool” franchise (2016-)
Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool. After seeing his performance in this superhero flick, you can almost see the character in every other role he has ever played. It’s almost like Deadpool was created with Ryan Reynolds in mind from the get-go- that’s how much it works. His performance is a culmination of all his previous films, seamlessly combining humor and drama. Funny, sarcastic, and a total badass, this is Reynolds exploring every aspect of his acting skills and delivering on a whole other level. This franchise is definitely here to stay.