Top 10 Coolest Things About Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds has consistently made smart and successful career moves, from starring in big-budget superhero films and popular streaming series to creating a hugely successful TV documentary. Here are ten of his most notable achievements, focusing on his work in movies and television, including one project that unexpectedly became a major part of the cultural conversation.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024) – The first R-rated MCU film launched with a record-smashing global debut

Marvel’s recent film introduced a popular character into its cinematic universe with a mature rating, achieving a record-breaking global opening for any R-rated movie. Box office numbers confirmed it significantly surpassed previous R-rated film records worldwide and had the biggest opening weekend of the year domestically. This release has changed what studios expect from superhero movies aimed at adult audiences within large, interconnected cinematic universes.

‘Deadpool’ (2016) – Turned an offbeat antihero into a worldwide box office force

The film took a long time to develop, but it quickly became a huge success, breaking records for R-rated movie openings. It topped box office charts internationally and set new benchmarks in its category. This proved there’s still a strong audience for mature, funny, and large-scale comic book adaptations. The movie’s strong performance also paves the way for future installments in the series.

‘Deadpool 2’ (2018) – Spawned a PG-13 charity re-release with a new Fred Savage framing story

To appeal to a wider audience, a PG-13 version called ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ was created. This version included scenes referencing the movie ‘The Princess Bride’ and promised to donate money from each ticket sale to cancer research. News reports focused on the film’s short time in theaters and its charitable aspect. This re-edited version helped keep the ‘Deadpool’ franchise relevant between major film releases, and the new scenes were filmed specifically for this special cut.

‘Welcome to Wrexham’ (2022– ) – The club-ownership docuseries became an Emmy magnet

The FX documentary series follows actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they navigate owning Wrexham A.F.C., a Welsh football club. The show documents the team’s progress and its effect on the local community. It has won several Primetime Emmy Awards for things like its authentic style, beautiful visuals, skillful editing, and strong direction. The series’ popularity has brought increased attention to both lower-league football and the town of Wrexham, and later seasons have continued to receive awards and attract a large audience.

‘Free Guy’ (2021) – An original studio film crossed $300M and scored an Oscar VFX nod

The comedy about the video game world was a rare and successful original film that continued to draw audiences in theaters. It earned over $300 million worldwide, even while competing with established franchises. The movie also received an Academy Award nomination for its impressive visual effects, and its success paved the way for more collaborations between Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy.

‘The Adam Project’ (2022) – One of Netflix’s most-watched titles in its debut week

The movie quickly became popular on Netflix, racking up tens of millions of hours viewed in its first week. It reunited Ryan Reynolds with director Shawn Levy, combining exciting time travel with a heartwarming family story. This strong start made it one of Netflix’s most successful English-language releases that month, and further established Reynolds’ presence in streaming films.

‘Detective Pikachu’ (2019) – Voice and facial capture performance powered a major gaming IP’s live-action debut

Ryan Reynolds not only voiced Pikachu but also provided the facial movements for the character, as highlighted in the film’s production details. The movie successfully transformed a popular video game into a live-action blockbuster, earning a significant profit worldwide. This showcased Reynolds’ ability to excel in both performance-capture and traditional on-screen acting. The film’s success also paved the way for more video game adaptations in other media.

‘Buried’ (2010) – A one-man, single-location thriller that earned awards recognition

I recently saw this incredibly unique thriller, and it completely blew me away. The entire movie takes place inside a coffin – yes, you read that right! – and it’s carried by one actor’s performance. It’s amazing how much tension they built with such a limited setting. It even got some awards attention, including a Best Actor nomination at the Goya Awards in Spain. Honestly, it’s a really fascinating example of how far you can push minimalism in a mainstream thriller, and it really showcased the actor’s ability to deliver a powerful performance in a very confined space.

‘The Proposal’ (2009) – A rom-com that delivered a standout opening and long legs

The movie opened strong in the US, earning the most money on its opening day and topping the weekend box office charts. Audience surveys showed it was Sandra Bullock’s biggest opening weekend ever. It ultimately earned a significant amount of money in North America and performed well internationally. The film’s success established Ryan Reynolds as a dependable star for comedy films.

‘Two Guys and a Girl’ (1998–2001) – Early TV lead across four seasons and 81 episodes

Before becoming a movie star, Ryan Reynolds starred in the ABC sitcom originally called ‘Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.’ The show ran for four seasons with a total of 81 episodes and had a very successful debut, attracting millions of viewers. It gave Reynolds consistent exposure on television and allowed him to demonstrate his comedic skills both as part of an ensemble and as a lead actor. The show’s journey – from being added to the schedule mid-season to changes in its time slot – reflects his overall career shift from television to film.

Got another favorite Reynolds moment we should add? Share your pick in the comments!

2025-11-13 21:45