Ryan Reynolds movies: 10 performances ranked worst to best

Ryan Reynolds' résumé includes comic book blockbusters, romantic comedies, dark independent flicks, and genre experiments. Though R.I.P.D. and Self/Less score lowest in critical reviews among his over 40 feature roles, his breakout performance in Deadpool and subtle lead performance in Mississippi Grind get almost universal praise. A true indication of creative success and commercial impact, this ten-performance grade considers critical consensus, Tomatometer ratings, fan polls, and industry rankings.

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10 performances of Ryan Reynolds, ranked worst to best

Self/Less (2015)

The movie features Ryan Reynolds as a man whose brain is put into another body, only to discover the body once belonged to someone else. Though movie had a good concept, Self/Less was criticized as "actionized nonsense" and got generally negative reviews with a Tomatometer rating of only 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. Ranking second-worst, it holds the 41st position out of a list of 42, on Screen Rant's "Every Ryan Reynolds Movie Ranked From Worst to Best".

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R.I.P.D. (2013)

In this strange buddy-cop movie, Reynolds plays a novice detective who works with Jeff Bridges's zombie officer. It ranks at the very bottom on Screen Rant's ranking of movies at number 42. Rotten Tomatoes gives R.I.P.D. 12% because critics deemed it formulaic and stupid.

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Long before he nurtured Deadpool's meta-humor, Reynolds starred as Wade Wilson in an early Wolverine spin-off. Screen Rant, which places X-Men Origins: Wolverine at #3 on their "Every Ryan Reynolds Comic Book Movie Ranked," slams the film's "gross amalgam of mutants" and a Deadpool who is "totally unrecognizable." Adding insult to injury, Time magazine called it the worst X-Men film ever, which says a lot about how people felt about it.

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Green Lantern (2011)

Since then, Reynolds has quietly ridiculed the film's uneven tone, excessive CGI, and "flimsy script," all of which undermined his first appearance in a prominent superhero role as Hal Jordan. Screen Rant ranks Green Lantern fifth from the bottom, calling the performance "not serious or funny enough to stand out," thereby placing it as the lowest of Reynolds' comic-book collection.

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The Proposal (2009)

Reynolds and Sandra Bullock steal the show in this rom-com about rivals to lovers. Giving The Proposal a B+ and calling the performers' "fresh and irresistible" chemistry "fresh and irresistible," Entertainment Weekly placed it as the third greatest Ryan Reynolds film or television series.

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Safe House (2012)

Starring Denzel Washington, Safe House provided Reynolds a more dramatic, action-packed role. While some critics were divided, fans ranked it #10 on IMDb's list of top Ryan Reynolds movies. A 52% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes reveals Washington and Reynolds are let down by the film's shoddy writing and awkwardly executed action sequences.

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Definitely, Maybe (2008)

Reynolds portrays a father telling his daughter about his former loves in this romantic mystery; he has recently been divorced. He was able to "flex his dramatic muscles" in the picture, according to the EW writer, and he had great chemistry with all of his leading women. Its good reviews have helped it to become one of Reynolds' middle-tier movies.

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Free Guy (2021)

Reynolds used his humorous and emotive skills in the role of Free Guy, a self-aware non-playable character in a video game, under Shawn Levy's direction. Entertainment Weekly described it as "a glossy sci-fi blockbuster with a tender little Ted Lasso heart," commending Reynolds's performance in the middle of a cameo-filled ensemble including many other well-known people.

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Mississippi Grind (2015)

In this A24 thriller, Reynolds plays a smooth gambler going on a high-stakes road trip with Ben Mendelsohn's character, a washed-up addict. Entertainment Weekly called Mississippi Grind "the best use of Reynolds' chummy bro bonhomie," while GQ praised it for its complex, character-driven narrative, calling it the apex of Reynolds' work outside of Deadpool.

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Deadpool (2016)

Reynolds's depiction of Wade Wilson changed the R-rated superhero genre. Entertainment Weekly placed Reynolds's film career at the top after praising his "perfect portrayal of the sarcastic anti-hero" and the "naughty, hard-R fun" of Deadpool. Vulture said, emphasizing Deadpool as his defining performance, "Knows how to skip along the surface of the role but, when he needs to, bring out the big dramatic guns."

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Starting with R.I.P.D. and Self/Less at the bottom and finishing with Deadpool and Mississippi Grind at the top, this spectrum highlights Reynolds's evolution from sporadic failures in high-concept blockbusters to a command of humor and depth in his exceptional performances. Reynolds can cross any genre if given the appropriate content; his best works mix his trademark humour with genuine emotional stakes.

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Divya Burman is a journalist at Primetimer 

She has completed her graduation in English Literature, which fuelled her interest in writing. A curious learner, Divya isn't scared to move out of her comfort zone and reviews her work from a critical point of view.

Divya has multiple years of work experience, including at companies like TechWhoop and Vimana. She also worked as a programme facilitator at MyCaptain.

Divya is also fond of research and keeping herself up to date on the latest trends in the world of fashion. In her free time, she indulges in music and reading and loves to watch films.