Honestly, it feels like Ryan Reynolds has been in every third movie released over the last decade. You turn on Netflix, there he is in a red suit or a tight polo. You go to the theater, and his face is plastered on a poster for a high-concept action flick. But if you actually sit down to look at a list of movies with Ryan Reynolds, you realize his career isn't just a straight line of "snarky guy does backflips." It’s actually kinda chaotic.
Most people think he just showed up as Deadpool and called it a day. In reality, the guy spent years in the "Green Lantern" trenches and the "Van Wilder" party circuit before he found that sweet spot where his Canadian politeness meets a R-rated mouth.
The Early Days (When He Was Just "That Guy")
Before he was the king of meta-humor, Reynolds was basically the king of the "friend zone" rom-com. Or, if it wasn't a rom-com, it was a weirdly earnest indie flick. Look back at 1993. He was in a movie called Ordinary Magic. He played a kid raised in India who moves to Canada. It’s about as far from Deadpool as you can get. No katanas. No chimichangas. Just a lot of feelings.
Then came the late 90s and early 2000s. This is the era of Dick (1999) and Coming Soon (1999). Small roles, mostly. But then National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) happened. This is where the Ryan Reynolds we know today started to bubble up. He was charming, gross, and somehow still likable.
The Mid-2000s Identity Crisis
This part of his filmography is a bit of a fever dream. You've got:
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- Blade: Trinity (2004) – He got shredded for this. Like, eight-pack shredded. He played Hannibal King and basically stole the movie from Wesley Snipes.
- The Amityville Horror (2005) – A rare horror turn. He looked great without a shirt, but the movie was... fine?
- Waiting... (2005) – If you’ve ever worked in food service, this is your Citizen Kane.
- Just Friends (2005) – The fat suit era. Honestly, it’s a Christmas classic at this point.
He was bouncing between genres like a pinball. One minute he's a serious detective in Smokin' Aces (2006), the next he’s a time-traveling father figure in Definitely, Maybe (2008). That last one is actually one of his best. It’s sweet, smart, and proves he could have been the next Hugh Grant if he hadn't decided to go the superhero route.
The Superhero Curse (And The Redemption)
We have to talk about Green Lantern (2011). It's the elephant in the room. Even Ryan mocks it constantly. It was supposed to be his big break, his entry into the A-list. Instead, it was a CGI mess with a mask that looked like it was painted on with MS Paint.
But here’s the thing: without Green Lantern, we probably don't get the version of Deadpool we love. That failure gave him the chip on his shoulder he needed.
The Deadpool Revolution
When the test footage for Deadpool leaked online in 2014, the internet exploded. By 2016, the movie was a massive hit. It changed everything. Suddenly, the list of movies with Ryan Reynolds became a list of "Ryan Reynolds Projects." He wasn't just an actor for hire anymore; he was a producer, a writer, and a marketing genius.
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- Deadpool (2016) - The game changer.
- Deadpool 2 (2018) - More budget, more X-Men, more Josh Brolin.
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) - The one where he finally dragged Hugh Jackman back into the suit.
Why 2021-2022 Was His Busiest Year Ever
If you feel like you saw him everywhere recently, you aren't crazy. Between 2021 and 2022, he dropped Free Guy, Red Notice, The Adam Project, and Spirited.
Free Guy was a surprise hit. It’s basically The Truman Show meets Grand Theft Auto. It’s got a ton of heart, which is something people overlook with him. He’s not just cracking jokes; he’s usually playing a guy who really cares about something.
Then there’s Buried (2010). If you haven't seen it, you need to. It’s just him in a coffin for 90 minutes. It’s stressful, claustrophobic, and shows that the guy has massive acting chops when he isn't allowed to move his arms.
The Maximum Effort Era (2024-2026)
Lately, it’s not just about the movies. It’s about the "Maximum Effort" brand. He’s doing IF (2024), where he plays a guy who can see imaginary friends. It’s a bit of a departure, moving back into that family-friendly space he touched on with Detective Pikachu (2019).
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Looking ahead to 2026, we’ve got Animal Friends. It’s an R-rated live-action/animation hybrid with Jason Momoa and Aubrey Plaza. It sounds completely unhinged in the best way possible. There’s also rumors of him popping up in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) because, well, the MCU needs that Deadpool energy.
A Quick Recap of the Heavy Hitters
- The Best Dramatic Work: Mississippi Grind (2015). He plays a gambler alongside Ben Mendelsohn. It’s gritty, sad, and beautiful.
- The Best Voice Work: The Croods (2013) and Detective Pikachu. He can sell a character just with his vocal inflections.
- The "So Bad It's Good" Category: R.I.P.D. (2013). It’s basically Men in Black but with ghosts. It flopped, but it’s a fun Saturday afternoon watch.
What to Watch Next
If you're looking to dive deep into a list of movies with Ryan Reynolds, don't just stick to the blockbusters.
Start with Definitely, Maybe for the charm. Move to Buried for the tension. Then hit Mississippi Grind to see his range. Finish it off with Deadpool & Wolverine to see him at the peak of his powers.
The reality is that Ryan Reynolds has mastered the art of being himself on camera. Whether he's a pilot, a bank teller, or a mercenary, that "Reynolds energy" is what brings people back. It’s a mix of self-deprecation and high-octane charisma that very few stars can pull off without being annoying.
To get the most out of your Ryan Reynolds marathon, keep an eye on his production company, Maximum Effort. They tend to pick projects that have a specific, irreverent "meta" feel. If you liked Free Guy, you'll likely enjoy whatever they put out next, like the upcoming Animal Friends or his various unscripted ventures like Welcome to Wrexham. Check your streaming platforms—most of his recent hits like Red Notice and The Adam Project are still exclusive to Netflix, while Spirited remains an Apple TV+ staple.