You probably know him as the guy who made everyone swoon—and then feel very conflicted—as Rafael Solano. Or maybe you've seen his face plastered all over the news recently because of that massive, messy legal drama with Blake Lively. Honestly, Justin Baldoni is one of those rare Hollywood figures who seems to exist in two worlds at once: the shiny, abs-heavy land of CW heartthrobs and the heavy, tear-jerking realm of prestige directing.
It’s a weird mix.
If you look at the full list of justin baldoni movies and shows, you'll see a career that basically split in half around 2019. Before that, he was the go-to "handsome guest star." After that? He became the guy trying to make you cry in a dark theater while questioning everything you know about masculinity.
The "Handsome Guy" Era: From Soap Operas to Rafael Solano
Before he was calling the shots behind the camera, Baldoni was grinding in the TV guest-star circuit. We’re talking the mid-2000s classics. He popped up in JAG, Charmed, and even The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Remember Diego the fencing instructor? That was him. He spent a decade being the "hot guy" who shows up for three episodes and disappears.
Then came Jane the Virgin.
Playing Rafael Solano changed everything. It wasn't just a role; it was 99 episodes of a satirical telenovela that let him play every emotion under the sun. He went from a playboy hotelier to a cancer survivor to a pining father. It’s the show that gave him the leverage to start his own production company, Wayfarer Studios. Without Rafael, we probably wouldn't have the director version of Justin Baldoni we see today.
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When He Decided to Make Us All Cry
Around 2012, Baldoni started a digital documentary series called My Last Days. It’s a heavy watch. Basically, he interviewed people who were dying and asked them how to live. It sounds depressing, but it actually became a massive hit on YouTube and eventually moved to the CW.
This was the turning point.
He realized he didn't just want to be in front of the lens. He wanted to tell "disruptive" stories. This led directly to his feature film directorial debut, Five Feet Apart (2019). Starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, the movie focuses on two teens with cystic fibrosis who can't touch. It was a sleeper hit, making over $80 million on a tiny $7 million budget.
He followed that up with Clouds (2020) on Disney+, another true story about a teenager with terminal cancer who writes a viral song. Sensing a pattern? The man loves a good cry-fest.
The It Ends With Us Fallout
Now we have to talk about the elephant in the room: It Ends With Us (2024). This movie should have been his biggest triumph. He directed it, produced it, and starred as Ryle Kincaid, the neurosurgeon who is also a domestic abuser.
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The box office was huge—over $349 million worldwide. But the press tour? Total disaster.
Rumors of a rift between Baldoni and Blake Lively started when they weren't photographed together at the premiere. Then came the lawsuits. As of early 2026, the legal battle is still dragging through the courts. Lively filed complaints alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, while Baldoni counter-sued, alleging a smear campaign and "civil extortion" involving Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. It’s messy. It’s public. And it has completely overshadowed the actual film.
Recent and Upcoming Justin Baldoni Projects (2024-2026)
Despite the court dates, his studio, Wayfarer, is still pumping out content. Here is what he’s been up to lately:
- Code 3 (2025): A comedy starring Rainn Wilson and Yvette Nicole Brown. Baldoni stayed behind the scenes as a producer on this one.
- The Senior (2025): This sports drama stars Michael Chiklis as a man getting a second chance at college football. It hit theaters in March 2025.
- Eleanor the Great (2025): He served as an executive producer for Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut.
- Ezra (2024): A poignant film about a father and his autistic son, which Baldoni executive produced.
What Most People Miss About His Career
Everyone focuses on the abs or the drama. What’s actually interesting is his "Man Enough" project. He’s obsessed with "un-defining" masculinity. He wrote books like Boys Will Be Human and hosts a podcast where he talks about why men shouldn't be "tough guys" all the time.
It makes his role in It Ends With Us even more jarring. He spent years talking about how to be a "good man," then played a character who represents the absolute worst traits of masculinity. Some fans found it brave; others found it hypocritical given the real-life allegations.
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The Reality of the "Baldoni Brand"
If you’re looking through the justin baldoni movies and shows catalog, you’ll notice he’s moving away from acting. He’s becoming more of a mogul. Wayfarer Studios is focused on "socially conscious" content, which is a fancy way of saying they want to make movies that have a message.
Whether the legal battle with Lively ends his career or just becomes a footnote remains to be seen. The trial is set for March 2026, and until then, he seems to be keeping his head down and focusing on the producer chair.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to understand the "true" Justin Baldoni beyond the headlines, don't start with the blockbuster movies.
- Watch My Last Days first. It’s on YouTube and provides the blueprint for everything he’s done since.
- Don't skip Five Feet Apart. Even if you aren't a fan of teen dramas, the direction is surprisingly tight for a first-timer.
- Check out his podcast, Man Enough. If you want to see the philosophy behind the movies, that’s where he lays it all out.
The next year will be the most defining period of his life. With the trial approaching and several Wayfarer projects in post-production, we’re about to find out if Baldoni can survive the Hollywood "cancel" cycle or if he’ll remain a permanent fixture behind the camera.