Beyond Deadpool: Ryan Reynolds' Most Unforgettable Movie Roles

Ryan Reynolds has built a career by skillfully navigating different genres. He can be funny, endearing, and chaotic, often all at once, making it look effortless. While his natural charisma often takes center stage, his true strength lies in his willingness to take risks. Some of his most compelling work has emerged from unexpected projects, while other films became major milestones in his career. These selections highlight his evolution into one of today's most consistently entertaining and beloved actors.

Charming Leads and Unexpected Voices

In The Proposal, Reynolds reminded audiences he was made for romantic comedies. As the overworked assistant Andrew Paxton, he finds himself in a fake engagement with his demanding boss, played by Sandra Bullock. Amidst the whirlwind energy from Bullock and the comedic genius of Betty White, Reynolds is the calm center, reacting as if he’s seen even stranger days at the office. The chemistry between him and Bullock feels genuine, making their banter and awkward moments believable.

He showed a more mature side in Definitely, Maybe. Here, he's a true romantic lead, not just the comic relief. He plays Will Hayes, a father recounting his past relationships to his daughter, leaving her—and the audience—to guess which woman is her mother. The story navigates the complexities of love and life, and Reynolds delivers a restrained portrayal that allows the story's heart to shine through. It’s a part that proves he doesn't need constant sarcasm to carry a movie.

Animation offered a different kind of freedom in The Croods. Reynolds voices Guy, a forward-thinking adventurer who joins a prehistoric family. His upbeat and resourceful energy provides a perfect balance to the more cautious personalities around him. It's not a film he leads in a traditional sense, but his voice work adds a surprising amount of heart and humor, fitting seamlessly into the movie's goofy and charming tone.

Exploring the Strange and a New Kind of Hero

Perhaps the most bizarre entry in his filmography is The Voices. He plays Jerry, a gentle man whose quiet life is complicated by the fact that he has conversations with his pets—a kind dog and a cynical cat, both voiced by Reynolds. He portrays Jerry’s loneliness and fear with a touching tenderness, never reducing him to a mere punchline. The film’s bright, candy-colored aesthetic clashes with its dark themes, creating a world that feels both dreamlike and unsettling.

Before he was a household name, Reynolds took a chance on the ambitious indie film The Nines. In this strange, looping narrative, he plays three different versions of a character across interconnected stories. He shifts between a troubled TV star, a writer, and a suburban dad, with each personality bleeding into the next. The film gets progressively weirder, but Reynolds holds it all together, proving he had significant depth long before Hollywood found the perfect box for him.

Free Guy cleverly subverted his typical screen persona. Instead of a witty cynic, he plays Guy, a cheerful background character in a video game who slowly realizes his world isn't real. Reynolds leans into the character's innocence, finding excitement in simple things like ice cream and friendship. We watch him evolve from a simple NPC to a full-fledged hero, and the journey feels both funny and genuinely moving.

The Pinnacle of Action and Drama

In Adventureland, Reynolds gives a much quieter, more subtle turn. He plays Mike, the older, seemingly cool theme park mechanic who everyone thinks has it all figured out. But as the story unfolds, the cracks in his facade begin to show, revealing a man who is simply lonely and stuck. Reynolds conveys this with small, understated choices rather than big speeches, adding a layer of gentle melancholy to the film.

His most intense work is arguably in Buried. The entire film takes place inside a coffin, where his character is trapped with only a phone and a lighter. It’s a harrowing concept that rests entirely on his shoulders. With the camera just inches from his face, he cycles through a raw spectrum of terror, anger, and fleeting hope. You feel his claustrophobia and desperation as he fights for his life, making for an incredibly tense and impressive feat of acting.

Finally, Mississippi Grind offers a chance to see him slow down. He plays Curtis, a smooth-talking drifter who meets a down-on-his-luck gambler, Gerry. On the surface, Curtis is all charm, but Reynolds hints at a bruised soul underneath. His chemistry with co-star Ben Mendelsohn feels completely natural, their rambling conversations and meaningful silences painting a portrait of two lonely men. It's a wise, soft-spoken part that shows he can do far more than just deliver a punchline.