Ryan Reynolds on Netflix: 22 Movies of Wit, Humor and Action

1. Red Notice (2021)

• Runtime: 118 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot
• Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
• Genre: Action, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.3

Ryan Reynolds plays a silver‑tongued art thief who keeps two steps ahead of the law and three steps ahead of his rivals. The movie leans into slick heists, easy laughs, and postcard locations that turn every chase into a travel ad with teeth. Quips arrive in lockstep with stunts, so momentum never dips while the script trades winks with the audience. Johnson’s dogged profiler and Gadot’s master criminal create a triangle of shifting loyalties that stays fizzy. The tone is unabashedly big, but the camerawork keeps action legible and the geography clean. Reynolds calibrates charm into strategy, using humor as a pressure valve when schemes go sideways. As a Netflix original, it shows the platform’s taste for theatrical‑scale, couch‑ready spectacle. If you want a Friday night crowd‑pleaser from {focused}, start here.

2. The Adam Project (2022)

• Runtime: 106 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo
• Director: Shawn Levy
• Genre: Sci‑Fi, Adventure
• IMDb Rating: 6.7

This time‑travel adventure pairs Reynolds with his younger self to patch the past and rescue the future. The film blends aerodogfights and warm family beats, letting spectacle lift emotion rather than smother it. Walker Scobell mirrors Reynolds’ cadence so the conceit feels instantly convincing. Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo add tenderness that grounds the cosmic stakes in kitchen‑table truth. Visual effects are polished but never noisy, prioritizing readable action lines and bright, friendly palettes. Jokes land without undercutting grief, which gives the story replay value for families. Levy’s pacing folds chapter breaks into natural breathers, making the movie weeknight friendly. As a signature entry among {focused}, it’s the one to watch with teens and parents together.

3. 6 Underground (2019)

• Runtime: 128 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins
• Director: Michael Bay
• Genre: Action, Thriller
• IMDb Rating: 6.1

Michael Bay turns Florence, Hong Kong, and desert skylines into a demolition derby for a vigilante ghost‑team. Reynolds plays the billionaire mastermind who fakes his death and recruits specialists to topple tyrants off the grid. Set pieces are engineered like roller coasters, with whip‑pans, long takes, and practical crashes selling impact. The humor is locker‑room breezy, with banter that keeps adrenaline from curdling into self‑importance. Mélanie Laurent and the ensemble give the chaos a human tempo, trading competence porn for personality. The film’s color and sound design revel in excess but leave the action geography readable. It’s a love letter to maximalism that still understands Saturday‑night streaming rhythms. For {focused} watchers craving noise, speed, and swagger, it hits the gas early and never brakes.

4. Green Lantern (2011)

• Runtime: 114 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong
• Director: Martin Campbell
• Genre: Superhero, Sci‑Fi
• IMDb Rating: 5.5

Before the red suit, Reynolds tried on emerald, playing Hal Jordan with cocky charm that strains toward duty. The movie sketches space‑cop mythology with cosmic vistas, luminous constructs, and oath‑chanting camaraderie. Mark Strong’s Sinestro gives the lore a stern spine, even when the tone wobbles between pulp and portent. CG textures have aged unevenly, yet the ambition to render an entire Corps remains endearing. Reynolds threads humor through the origin beats without dismissing heroism outright. Viewed now, it plays as a time capsule of pre‑MCU experiments with color and scale. Completionists will appreciate the connective tissue to later Reynolds comic turns. As a curiosity inside {focused}, it’s bright, earnest, and historically interesting.

5. Safe House (2012)

• Runtime: 115 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Denzel Washington
• Director: Daniel Espinosa
• Genre: Thriller, Action
• IMDb Rating: 6.7

In Cape Town, a rookie CIA custodian learns survival by babysitting the agency’s most dangerous asset. Denzel Washington’s caged fox pushes Reynolds’ green operative toward grim practicality. Handheld urgency and close‑quarters fights give the cat‑and‑mouse a bruised, documentary flavor. Car chases punch hard because the editing respects momentum and cause‑and‑effect. Reynolds dials back quips to show nerves, grit, and incremental steel in his spine. The city’s textures—markets, stadiums, safe flats—turn into pressure cookers at a sprint. The plot questions institutional trust without pausing for sermons. As a tense entry among {focused}, it’s lean, mean, and satisfying.

6. R.I.P.D. (2013)

• Runtime: 96 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges
• Director: Robert Schwentke
• Genre: Fantasy, Action
• IMDb Rating: 5.6

Think Men in Black with ghosts: Reynolds joins an afterlife police force partnered with Bridges’ crusty lawman. The candy‑colored purgatory and creature designs keep the tone playful even as stakes go apocalyptic. Reynolds plays the straight man, banking jokes off Bridges’ dusty drawl and frontier swagger. World‑rules arrive quickly, so the movie can sprint from set piece to set piece without bureaucracy. The effects lean cartoonish on purpose, aligning with the film’s shaggy‑dog spirit. It’s breezy comfort when you want popcorn with a supernatural twist. Families with teens can ride the silliness without heavy nightmares afterward. As a left‑field choice within {focused}, it’s quirky, fast, and unpretentious.

7. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)

• Runtime: 118 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson
• Director: Patrick Hughes
• Genre: Action, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.9

An obsessive bodyguard must shepherd his loudest enemy across Europe to testify, and chaos follows. Reynolds’ fussy precision collides with Jackson’s joyous anarchy until both evolve under fire. Canal boat chases, stair‑fight ballets, and highway mayhem keep the throttle pinned. The insults are orchestral, but the beats are cut clean so punchlines and punches both land. Selma Hayek’s volcanic cameo seasoning spikes the energy whenever it’s needed most. The movie understands that timing—comic and combat—is the same athletic art. Reynolds weaponizes exasperation into a crowd‑pleasing superpower. Among {focused}, it’s a guaranteed mood lifter for rowdy watch parties.

8. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)

• Runtime: 116 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek
• Director: Patrick Hughes
• Genre: Action, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.1

The sequel straps a ‘vacation’ sign to a rocket and fires it straight into Mediterranean trouble. Reynolds leans further into anxious slapstick while Jackson freewheels with veteran menace. Salma Hayek steals the frame with operatic fury and precision vulgarity. Set pieces flip from beaches to piazzas with sun‑drenched kineticism and cartoon physics. Jokes arrive in a hailstorm, but the editing keeps geography sensible enough to cheer. Character arcs are simple, built for elastic chemistry rather than moral sermons. It’s knowingly ridiculous in a way that rewards snacks and friends on a couch. As a comfort‑watch inside {focused}, it’s fizzy, noisy, and proudly extra.

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9. Definitely, Maybe (2008)

• Runtime: 112 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Adam Brooks
• Genre: Rom‑Com, Drama
• IMDb Rating: 7.1

A father tells his daughter about three great loves, turning memory into a mystery she must solve. Reynolds softens his sarcasm to play a man negotiating regret, timing, and unexpected grace. The structure invites audience guessing without sacrificing emotional honesty. New York’s bookish corners and campaign offices add texture to each romantic chapter. The ensemble balances sparkle and ache, respecting adult choices and their consequences. Comedy stays gentle, never snide, which lets the final reveal feel earned. It’s a rare rom‑com that rewards rewatching for the small glances, not just the twist. Inside {focused}, it’s the go‑to recommendation for heart over hype.

10. Self/less (2015)

• Runtime: 117 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley
• Director: Tarsem Singh
• Genre: Sci‑Fi, Thriller
• IMDb Rating: 6.5

A dying tycoon buys new life, waking in a younger body that comes preloaded with another man’s memories. Reynolds toggles between inherited reflexes and emerging conscience as the plot turns the screws. Tarsem’s cool palettes and architectural frames give the moral puzzle an elegant chill. Chases punctuate quiet dread as identity and ownership collide in ugly ways. Kingsley’s presence haunts the movie even when he’s offscreen, like a contract you can’t unread. The action is tactile—cars scrape, fists bruise—so philosophy never floats away. The ending honors the question of who gets to live a life, not just how. As concept‑driven {focused}, it’s thoughtful without skimping on propulsion.

11. Life (2017)

• Runtime: 104 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson
• Director: Daniel Espinosa
• Genre: Sci‑Fi, Horror
• IMDb Rating: 6.6

On the ISS, discovery turns to survival when a Martian organism proves ingenious and hungry. Reynolds edges scenes with gallows humor that snaps to fear as odds tilt against the crew. The station’s cramped corridors and hatches make every move strategic and costly. Sound design weaponizes silence, clanks, and breath into full‑body suspense. The creature’s evolution reads logically, which amplifies dread rather than cheapening it. Performances stay grounded, so the shocks feel earned and mean. It’s a lean scare machine that respects science and consequence. Among {focused}, it’s your pick for lights‑off, phones‑down intensity.

12. The Voices (2014)

• Runtime: 103 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton
• Director: Marjane Satrapi
• Genre: Dark Comedy, Horror
• IMDb Rating: 6.3

Reynolds plays a lonely factory worker whose cat and dog talk back, steering him toward terrible choices. Satrapi paints candy colors over pitch‑black subject matter, creating dissonance that sticks. Reynolds shifts from boyish sweetness to chilling vacancy in a breath, often within the same shot. The production design mirrors mental states: bright when he’s ‘good,’ gray when truth leaks in. Anna Kendrick and Gemma Arterton add sparkle and threat in equal measure. The movie never excuses harm but refuses to tidy up the psychology. It’s a cult item that rewards viewers willing to hold two tones at once. As daring {focused}, it’s unforgettable and oddly moving.

13. The Change‑Up (2011)

• Runtime: 112 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman
• Director: David Dobkin
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
• IMDb Rating: 6.3

A wish at a fountain swaps a family man with his reckless bachelor friend, and chaos blooms. Reynolds riffs on his cool‑guy image, then mines sincerity as responsibilities click into place. Bateman enjoys the reverse, discovering freedom is costly when empathy arrives late. Physical comedy and verbal ricochet share equal billing, paced like sport. The raunch is era‑specific, but the performances keep it from curdling. Beneath the gags, the movie argues for deliberate adulthood without scolding. Set pieces escalate from boardrooms to baby duty with shameless glee. As breezy {focused}, it’s rowdy, fast, and ultimately warm.

14. Finder’s Fee (2001)

• Runtime: 100 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Lillard, James Earl Jones
• Director: Jeff Probst
• Genre: Thriller, Drama
• IMDb Rating: 6.4

A lost wallet, a winning lottery ticket, and a poker night turn neighbors into suspects. Early‑career Reynolds slots into an ensemble where every glance can change the odds. The single apartment location amplifies pressure until air feels rationed. Dialogue does the stabbing while cards and clocks keep the tempo honest. James Earl Jones’ gravitas makes morality feel like a character sitting at the table. The film shows how greed can unmake friendships grain by grain. It’s small, tense, and designed for post‑watch debate. As a hidden‑gem within {focused}, it punches above its weight.

15. Just Friends (2005)

• Runtime: 96 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris
• Director: Roger Kumble
• Genre: Rom‑Com, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.2

A former ‘friend‑zoned’ teen returns home as a music exec and trips every wire of old feelings. Reynolds weaponizes awkward physical comedy without losing the character’s bruised heart. Amy Smart keeps warmth in play so the nostalgia never sours into mockery. Anna Faris detonates scenes with pop‑diva chaos that repeatedly steals the movie. Holiday small‑town textures add cozy replay value year after year. Jokes are broad, but timing is surgical, especially in stunt‑pratfall beats. Underneath, the film nudges toward self‑acceptance rather than image rehab. As seasonal {focused}, it’s chaotic, cuddly, and quotable.

16. The Proposal (2009)

• Runtime: 108 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Betty White
• Director: Anne Fletcher
• Genre: Rom‑Com, Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.7

A steely editor strong‑arms her assistant into an engagement to dodge deportation, and sparks fly anyway. Reynolds plays the long‑suffering straight man who discovers his own leverage at last. Bullock executes deadpan reversals with balletic precision, meeting him beat for beat. Alaskan vistas and a mischievous Betty White turn set‑pieces into instant gifs. The script respects competence in both leads, which makes romance feel like respect first. Costumes and blocking sketch power shifts as cleanly as dialogue does. It’s a studio rom‑com that still feels effortlessly modern. As marquee {focused}, it’s the date‑night lock.

17. The Captive (2014)

• Runtime: 112 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, Mireille Enos
• Director: Atom Egoyan
• Genre: Thriller, Drama
• IMDb Rating: 5.9

A father refuses to stop searching years after his daughter vanishes, and time itself becomes an antagonist. Egoyan fractures chronology so hope, guilt, and evidence overlap like ice sheets. Reynolds strips away irony to play raw obsession with wounded restraint. Snowbound vistas turn every footprint into a clue or a taunt, depending on the scene. Rosario Dawson anchors the procedural with compassion and rigor. The movie is somber by design, asking what survival looks like for the left‑behind. Pacing is deliberate, rewarding patience with gnawing unease. As serious‑minded {focused}, it lingers after credits.

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18. The Amityville Horror (2005)

• Runtime: 90 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George
• Director: Andrew Douglas
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• IMDb Rating: 6.0

A dream home curdles into a nightmare as a father’s warmth warps into murderous rage. Reynolds plays against type with a performance that grows feral by frightening inches. Muted palettes and wood‑grain textures let practical scares do old‑school work. Sound cues and doorframe compositions mine maximum dread from minimal spaces. Melissa George balances escalating terror with credible resolve. The movie respects the haunted‑house grammar—creaks, kids’ drawings, cold spots—without irony. When violence erupts, it’s sharp and personal, not carnival loud. As horror‑tilted {focused}, it’s a reliable October staple.

19. Paper Man (2009)

• Runtime: 110 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone
• Director: Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney
• Genre: Drama, Indie
• IMDb Rating: 6.5

Reynolds appears as an imaginary superhero companion to a blocked novelist searching for purpose. The film treats friendship, failure, and imagination with quiet generosity. Jeff Daniels and Emma Stone craft a found‑family tenderness that resists tidy lessons. Reynolds underplays, offering buoyancy without mugging or judgment. Pastel coastal settings and gentle music cues keep the mood contemplative. The humor is small and humane, like a shrug shared between neighbors. It’s a soothing counterweight to louder roles in his filmography. As indie‑flavored {focused}, it’s soft, sincere, and restorative.

20. Waiting… (2005)

• Runtime: 94 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Justin Long
• Director: Rob McKittrick
• Genre: Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.4

In a chain‑restaurant pressure cooker, servers battle boredom with pranks, gossip, and gallows humor. Reynolds centers the ensemble with a smirking steadiness that lets others go big around him. The movie captures service‑industry rhythms—rushes, side work, closing rituals—with affectionate cynicism. Crude bits coexist with sharp workplace observation, which is why it endures as a cult item. Editing stitches sketch energy into a feature‑length hangout without collapsing. Anna Faris and Justin Long tag‑team deadpan and angst for extra flavor. Rewatch value lives in background gags you catch on a second pass. As comedy‑corner {focused}, it’s messy, fast, and recognizably human.

21. National Lampoon’s Van Wilder (2002)

• Runtime: 92 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Kal Penn
• Director: Walt Becker
• Genre: Comedy
• IMDb Rating: 6.4

The campus legend who refuses to graduate discovers charm is not the same as direction. Reynolds’ confidence machine arrives fully formed, previewing later personas with less polish. Kal Penn’s sidekick turn adds surprising sweetness to the raunch. Set pieces escalate from gross‑out to heartfelt without whiplash if you accept the era’s rules. The script’s secret is kindness beneath the mischief, especially in side‑character beats. It’s an early‑2000s time capsule and a calling card all at once. For fans, it’s history; for newcomers, context. As foundational {focused}, it’s loud, crude, and undeniably charismatic.

22. Mississippi Grind (2015)

• Runtime: 108 min
• Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn
• Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
• Genre: Drama, Indie
• IMDb Rating: 6.6

A drifting gambler meets a charming wild card, and the road turns into a mirror for both. Reynolds sands down his shine to play warmth with limits, never promising more than a moment. Mendelsohn’s ache hums like neon in rain, honest and hard to watch away from. Bars, boats, and backroom tables pulse with lived‑in melancholy instead of movie gloss. The filmmakers favor small wins, small losses, and small mercies over tidy arcs. Silences speak; hands fidget; hope bargains with math and memory. It’s the anti‑blockbuster that lingers because it refuses to lie about luck. As prestige‑tinged {focused}, it closes your marathon on a soulful note.