15 Best Ryan Reynolds Movies for Deadpool Fans, Ranked
Ryan Reynolds has played superheroes, video-game heroes, assassins, dads, detectives, romantics and absolute disasters. These are the best movies to watch if you love his work as Wade Wilson.
Ryan Reynolds was a movie star long before Deadpool, but Wade Wilson became the role that seemed to gather all of his best instincts in one place.
Deadpool is funny, restless, charming, self-aware, unexpectedly emotional and very good at making a bad situation worse before somehow finding a way through it. Reynolds has brought variations of that energy to action movies, romantic comedies, science-fiction adventures, family films and even psychological horror.
That does not mean every Ryan Reynolds film is a Deadpool clone. It would be a shame if they were. The reason his career is so interesting is that he can use the same quick comic timing in completely different ways. In one movie, he is a superhero mercenary. In another, he is a cheerful non-player character inside a video game. In another, he is trapped in a coffin with nothing but a phone. In another, he is trying to convince the world that a notorious assassin is not ruining his life.
For Deadpool fans, the best Reynolds movies tend to share at least one key ingredient: razor-sharp banter, high-concept action, a character hiding behind humour or an emotional centre that makes the jokes land harder.
This ranking counts down from No. 15 to No. 1, celebrating the Ryan Reynolds movies that best showcase the qualities that make Wade Wilson such an unforgettable character.
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15. The Proposal (2009)
Before Ryan Reynolds became synonymous with red suits, katanas and fourth-wall-breaking jokes, he proved he could carry a classic studio romantic comedy.
In The Proposal, Sandra Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a demanding book editor who discovers she is about to be deported to Canada. Her solution is to pretend she is engaged to her long-suffering assistant, Andrew Paxton, played by Reynolds. Andrew reluctantly agrees, but only if Margaret gives him the promotion and career future he deserves.
The fake-engagement setup is familiar, but Reynolds makes Andrew more than a generic rom-com leading man. He begins as frustrated, sarcastic and quietly fed up with Margaret’s behaviour. Then the film gradually reveals that he has more confidence, warmth and emotional intelligence than she expected.
For Deadpool fans, this is a chance to see Reynolds deploy his fast verbal timing in a much softer setting. Andrew does not have mutant healing powers, but he does have the same ability to react to escalating chaos with an expression that says he cannot believe this is now his problem.
The Alaska-set story also gives the film a lively supporting cast, especially Betty White as Andrew’s wildly enthusiastic grandmother. Reynolds and Bullock have an easy, competitive chemistry, which keeps the familiar plot moving.
It is not an action movie, and it is not trying to be edgy. But if you enjoy the romantic side of Wade and Vanessa’s relationship, The Proposal is a reminder that Reynolds has always understood how to make banter feel like affection.
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Why Deadpool fans will like it: It has Ryan Reynolds’ sarcasm, physical comedy and surprisingly sincere romantic chemistry.
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14. Detective Pikachu (2019)
Pokémon Detective Pikachu may be one of the most unexpected Ryan Reynolds movies on this list, but it makes perfect sense for fans who love his voice work, comic timing and willingness to commit completely to an absurd premise.
Reynolds voices Pikachu, a small yellow Pokémon with a detective hat, a caffeine habit and the voice of an exhausted private investigator. Justice Smith plays Tim Goodman, a young man searching for answers about his missing father. Tim discovers that he is the only human who can understand Pikachu, and together they investigate a mystery in Ryme City.
The film is lighter and more family-friendly than Deadpool, but Reynolds brings a recognisable edge to the character. Pikachu is not simply adorable. He is grumpy, defensive, dramatic and convinced he is a much tougher detective than he actually appears to be.
That contrast is the source of many of the film’s best jokes. Reynolds plays Pikachu like a hard-boiled detective trapped inside the body of a cuddly mascot. It is a performance that could have become one-note very quickly, but he finds a balance between comedy and genuine emotion.
For fans of Wade Wilson, it is fun to hear Reynolds use his familiar rhythm without relying on adult humour. He proves that the speed and shape of his comedy work just as well in a family adventure.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: Reynolds turns a cute Pokémon into a sarcastic, noir-inspired detective with real personality.
13. Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Definitely, Maybe is one of Ryan Reynolds’ most charming romantic comedies because it gives him something more interesting to play than the standard perfect boyfriend.
He stars as Will Hayes, a New York father in the middle of a divorce. When his young daughter Maya starts asking how he met her mother, Will tells the story—but changes the names and details, turning it into a mystery. Maya has to work out which of the three important women in his past eventually became her mother.
The structure gives the film an unusual warmth. It is not just about whether two people will get together. It is about memory, regret, timing and the way people can become different versions of themselves over time.
Reynolds is excellent as Will because he lets the character be uncertain. He is funny and attractive, but he is not always wise. He makes choices that hurt people. He misses opportunities. He struggles to understand what he actually wants.
That emotional uncertainty is part of what Deadpool fans may recognise. Wade Wilson hides behind jokes, but his best scenes come when the humour exposes something real. Definitely, Maybe gives Reynolds more room to play that sincerity directly.
The cast also includes Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks and a young Abigail Breslin, each bringing a distinct energy to Will’s story. It is a smart, comforting film for anyone who likes Reynolds at his most romantic and emotionally open.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It shows the more vulnerable, heartfelt side of Reynolds’ screen persona.
12. R.I.P.D. (2013)
R.I.P.D. is not one of Reynolds’ most acclaimed movies, but it has enough supernatural action, comic-book energy and buddy-cop banter to make it an enjoyable choice for the right audience.
Reynolds plays Nick Walker, a police officer who is killed and recruited into the Rest in Peace Department, a supernatural law-enforcement agency that tracks down dead souls hiding on Earth. His new partner is Roy Pulsipher, an Old West lawman played by Jeff Bridges.
The premise is knowingly ridiculous, and the movie is most entertaining when it embraces that fact. Reynolds gets to play a dead cop adjusting to a bizarre afterlife job, while Bridges brings a grizzled, old-fashioned personality that clashes neatly with Nick’s modern frustration.
There is something very Deadpool-adjacent about the idea of a hero who has died, been transformed by an impossible event and now has to navigate a stranger world with a reluctant partner. The movie is far less sharp than Wade Wilson’s adventures, but it gives Reynolds plenty of chances to react, complain and throw himself into supernatural action.
It is best approached as a low-stakes, popcorn-friendly watch rather than a hidden masterpiece. If you have already seen Reynolds’ biggest hits and want a supernatural buddy comedy with comic-book DNA, it is worth a look.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: The afterlife action, odd-couple partnership and Reynolds’ exasperated comic energy.
11. Spirited (2022)
Ryan Reynolds playing the Scrooge character in a musical comedy based on A Christmas Carol sounds like an idea that should not work. Yet Spirited succeeds because he and Will Ferrell fully embrace the silliness.
Reynolds plays Clint Briggs, a ruthless media consultant who uses cynicism and manipulation to help clients win at all costs. Every Christmas, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come choose one difficult soul to redeem. Clint is meant to be that year’s target, but he turns out to be much more resistant than expected.
The movie’s biggest surprise is that Reynolds can carry musical numbers while still sounding like himself. His delivery remains dry and slightly incredulous, which makes the songs funnier. But as the story develops, he also gives Clint enough sadness and self-awareness to make the redemption arc feel earned.
For Deadpool fans, the connection is not violence or superhero action. It is performance. Reynolds knows how to make a character’s defensive humour reveal what they are afraid to admit. Clint’s cruelty is a shield. Wade’s jokes are a shield. Both characters are more vulnerable than they want anyone to see.
The film is colourful, festive and knowingly over-the-top, making it a good seasonal option when you want Reynolds’ comic voice without the R-rated mayhem.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: Reynolds brings his sarcasm and emotional depth to a wildly theatrical holiday musical.
10. The Adam Project (2022)
The Adam Project is one of Reynolds’ best modern science-fiction movies because it combines his comedy with a genuinely moving father-son story.
He plays Adam Reed, a fighter pilot from the future who travels back to 2022 while trying to save his wife and uncover the truth behind a devastating timeline. A crash forces adult Adam to team up with his younger self, played by Walker Scobell. The two Adams must work together while confronting memories of their late father.
The time-travel premise gives Reynolds plenty of room for jokes. Adult Adam is annoyed by his younger self’s nervous energy, while young Adam is fascinated by the possibility that he grows up to be this sarcastic, bruised and emotionally complicated man.
But the emotional core is what makes the film stand out. The story is ultimately about regret: the things Adam never said to his father, the pain he carried into adulthood and the possibility of giving someone a kinder version of the future.
That makes it a strong choice for Deadpool fans who enjoy the moments when Wade’s humour drops away and the character has to face real grief. The Adam Project is much more family-friendly, but it understands the same truth: jokes can protect you from pain, but they cannot replace connection.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: Reynolds gets action, science fiction, sharp banter and an emotional storyline that gives the comedy weight.
9. Buried (2010)
Buried is the most intense film on this list and the clearest reminder that Ryan Reynolds can carry a story without relying on comedy.
He plays Paul Conroy, an American truck driver working in Iraq who wakes up trapped inside a wooden coffin. He has a mobile phone, a lighter and limited oxygen. As he tries to contact anyone who can help, the outside world becomes increasingly impossible to navigate.
The film takes place almost entirely inside the coffin. That restriction could have made it feel static, but director Rodrigo Cortés turns it into a nerve-shredding exercise in tension. Reynolds has nowhere to hide. There are no big action sequences, no wisecracks to defuse the mood and no ensemble cast to take the pressure off him.
He is still recognisably Ryan Reynolds in the sense that Paul tries to reason, negotiate and stay verbally active in a terrifying situation. But the performance strips away his usual star persona. He is frightened, angry, desperate and increasingly exhausted.
For Deadpool fans, Buried is fascinating because it shows how much Reynolds can communicate through voice and reaction alone. Wade Wilson is almost impossible to silence. Paul Conroy needs language simply to survive. The stakes could not be more different, but both characters use words as a way to fight back against fear.
This is not a comfort watch. It is a tightly contained thriller that may leave you stressed long after the credits roll. But it is one of Reynolds’ strongest acting showcases.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It reveals the dramatic skill behind Reynolds’ comic confidence.
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8. The Croods (2013)
The first Croods film is an animated family adventure, but it has a key quality that many Deadpool fans will appreciate: Ryan Reynolds as the chaotic outsider who changes an entire family’s idea of what life can be.
Reynolds voices Guy, a clever young inventor living in a prehistoric world ruled by fear and routine. When the Crood family’s home is destroyed, Guy becomes their reluctant guide through a rapidly changing landscape. Nicolas Cage voices the overprotective father Grug, while Emma Stone plays Eep, the adventurous daughter drawn to Guy’s curiosity and optimism.
Guy is not a Deadpool-style character, but Reynolds gives him a similar nimble energy. He is constantly thinking, explaining, improvising and trying to help people who are not always ready to listen. His humour comes from intelligence and frustration rather than sarcasm.
The movie also has a surprisingly warm message about fear. Grug wants to keep his family safe by never letting them take risks. Guy represents the opposite idea: danger is real, but life is also about discovery, imagination and learning to move forward.
For fans who enjoy the found-family and emotional-growth elements of Deadpool 2, The Croods is a much gentler version of that experience. It is colourful, funny and full of Reynolds’ warmth.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It has Reynolds in fast-talking guide mode, plus inventive comedy and a sweet chosen-family spirit.
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7. The Voices (2014)
The Voices is one of Ryan Reynolds’ strangest and most daring performances. It is a dark psychological comedy in which he plays Jerry, a lonely factory worker whose pets talk to him. His dog tells him to be good. His cat encourages him to commit murder.
That description gives you a fair warning: this is not a conventional comedy, and it is not for viewers looking for a lighthearted Ryan Reynolds movie.
Reynolds plays Jerry with an unsettling sweetness. He wants connection. He wants to be liked. He appears harmless at first, which makes the darkness of the story more disturbing. The film uses bright colours, musical moments and whimsical imagery to create a sharp contrast with Jerry’s increasingly violent reality.
For Deadpool fans, the appeal lies in seeing Reynolds take his charm somewhere completely different. Wade Wilson is violent, but the audience is always inside the joke with him. In The Voices, Reynolds uses friendliness as a mask, and the film asks viewers to question what they are seeing.
It is also an impressive technical performance. Reynolds voices Jerry’s dog and cat in different ways, helping establish the competing sides of his fractured mind.
This is not the first Ryan Reynolds film to watch after Deadpool, but it is one of the most memorable once you are ready for something darker.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It takes Reynolds’ likability and comic instincts into bold, disturbing territory.
6. Red Notice (2021)
Red Notice is polished, globe-trotting escapism built around three movie stars having fun with one another.
Reynolds plays Nolan Booth, an art thief who finds himself caught between Dwayne Johnson’s FBI profiler John Hartley and Gal Gadot’s master criminal known as The Bishop. The plot involves stolen artefacts, elaborate cons, double-crosses and expensive locations around the world, but the real point is the banter.
Booth is very much in Reynolds’ comfortable comic-action zone. He talks too much, overestimates his ability to control a situation and reacts to danger with irritation rather than fear. If that sounds familiar to Deadpool fans, it should.
The film’s tone is lighter than Wade Wilson’s adventures. There is no graphic violence, no fourth-wall breaking and no attempt to reinvent the action-comedy genre. But it is an easy watch because the cast understands the assignment. Johnson is the solid, serious counterweight. Gadot is cool and unreadable. Reynolds is the man improvising his way through every problem.
For fans who enjoy the globe-trotting spy-comedy side of Deadpool, Red Notice is a breezy, star-driven pick.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: Reynolds spends the entire film trying to outtalk danger, authority and two people far more physically intimidating than he is.
5. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)
The sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard goes even bigger, louder and more chaotic. Whether that makes it better will depend on how much you enjoy watching Ryan Reynolds have a very bad time.
Reynolds returns as Michael Bryce, the highly anxious bodyguard who has been trying to take a break from the violence of his previous job. That plan fails almost immediately when Sonia Kincaid, played by Salma Hayek, recruits him to rescue her husband Darius, played by Samuel L. Jackson.
The trio are soon caught up in an international plot involving a wealthy villain, European security forces and enough explosions to make Bryce question every decision that led him here.
Reynolds is especially good when playing a character who desperately wants life to be organised but is trapped with people who thrive on chaos. Michael Bryce is not Wade Wilson, but he shares Wade’s gift for reacting to absurd violence with a stream of stressed-out commentary.
Hayek is the sequel’s secret weapon. Sonia is fearless, impulsive and completely uninterested in Michael’s carefully planned boundaries. Her dynamic with Reynolds creates much of the movie’s comedy, while Jackson brings the same gleeful unpredictability that made the first film work.
The plot is intentionally overstuffed, but fans who want a loud, R-rated action comedy will have a good time.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: The profanity, action and insults come at a rapid-fire pace, with Reynolds as the permanent target of everyone’s chaos.
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4. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
Before the sequel came the film that established Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson as one of modern action comedy’s most effective odd couples.
Reynolds plays Michael Bryce, a formerly celebrated bodyguard whose career has collapsed after a high-profile failure. He gets a chance at redemption when he is asked to protect Darius Kincaid, a notorious assassin who is set to testify against a brutal dictator.
The problem is that Bryce and Kincaid have a long, bitter history. Bryce believes Kincaid is reckless, irresponsible and the reason everything keeps exploding. Kincaid thinks Bryce is uptight, humourless and in need of a better attitude.
They are both right.
The movie succeeds because Reynolds and Jackson make every argument feel like a competition. Their characters are under constant pressure, but neither can resist taking a shot at the other. The action is not as inventive as Deadpool’s comic-book fights, but it has the same sense that every shootout is also an opportunity for a joke.
Reynolds gives Michael a neat contrast to Wade Wilson. Wade is chaos in human form. Michael is someone who wants to control chaos and keeps failing. That difference lets Reynolds show another version of his action persona.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It is essentially two extremely talented people insulting each other while escaping explosions.
3. Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy is the best choice for Deadpool fans who want Ryan Reynolds’ charm, self-aware humour and action-comedy energy in a more uplifting package.
Reynolds plays Guy, a cheerful bank employee who lives the same routine every day. He drinks the same coffee, talks to the same friends and survives the same bank robbery. Then he meets Molotov Girl, a mysterious player character who makes him realise that his world is not what it seems.
Guy discovers that he is a non-player character in a huge, violent video game. Instead of accepting his programmed role, he chooses to become a hero in his own story.
The premise gives Reynolds plenty of opportunities to play with video-game logic, pop-culture references and action-movie expectations. But the film’s most appealing quality is its optimism. Guy is not cynical. He does not become important by becoming the most violent person in the game. He becomes important by being kind, curious and willing to help.
That is what makes Free Guy more than a collection of jokes. It has the same genre awareness that Deadpool fans love, but it uses that awareness to tell a story about agency, creativity and choosing a better version of yourself.
Reynolds is excellent because he never treats Guy as foolish. The character is innocent, but he is not weak. His decency becomes a genuine form of courage.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It has self-aware action, gaming jokes and Reynolds at his most lovable—just with fewer katanas.
2. Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool 2 is the film that proves the first movie was not a fluke.
Ryan Reynolds returns as Wade Wilson, still foul-mouthed, violent and romantically devoted to Vanessa. But the sequel pushes him into more emotionally difficult territory.
After a devastating loss, Wade finds himself struggling to understand what comes next. His answer comes in the form of Russell, a young mutant who has been abused and is being hunted by Cable, a time-travelling soldier from the future.
The sequel gives Reynolds more to do than simply repeat the original’s jokes. Wade’s humour becomes a way to deal with grief, and the movie gradually asks whether he can become the kind of person who protects someone else even when it costs him.
It also expands the franchise’s world in exciting ways. Cable gives Reynolds a serious, imposing foil. Domino becomes an instant fan favourite. Peter becomes a legend despite having no powers. X-Force turns superhero-team expectations into one of the funniest sequences in the series.
For Deadpool fans, this is essential viewing because it offers more of everything: more action, more characters, more jokes and more emotional weight.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It is Wade Wilson at his funniest and most unexpectedly heroic.
1. Deadpool (2016)
No Ryan Reynolds movie is more essential for Deadpool fans than Deadpool itself.
The 2016 film finally gave Reynolds the chance to play Wade Wilson in a way that honoured the character’s comic-book personality. He is a mercenary with terminal cancer who accepts an experimental treatment. The process gives him an extraordinary healing factor, but also leaves him scarred and sends him on a revenge mission against the man responsible.
That summary makes it sound darker than the actual experience. Deadpool is violent, yes, but it is also a love story, a superhero satire and a showcase for Reynolds’ unique comic voice.
Wade speaks directly to the audience. He comments on studio decisions. He mocks genre clichés. He makes pop-culture references during life-or-death fights. But the film never lets those jokes erase the emotional stakes. His relationship with Vanessa gives the story a real centre, and Reynolds plays their connection with warmth rather than irony.
This is the role that perfectly combines his skills. He can be funny, romantic, physical, dramatic and ridiculous in the same scene. The performance feels effortless because Reynolds understands that Wade’s humour is not just a gimmick. It is the way he survives pain.
Deadpool changed what a superhero movie could be. More importantly, it gave Reynolds the defining role of his career.
Why Deadpool fans will like it: It is the original, the funniest and the movie that shows exactly why Ryan Reynolds was born to play Wade Wilson.
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Which Ryan Reynolds Movie Should You Watch Next?
If you want the closest Deadpool energy, start with Deadpool 2, The Hitman’s Bodyguard or Free Guy.
If you want something more emotional, choose The Adam Project or Definitely, Maybe.
If you want to see Reynolds in a completely different mode, watch Buried for a tense dramatic performance or The Voices for something dark, strange and genuinely unsettling.
If you need a family-friendly option, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, The Croods and Free Guy are the best starting points.
What makes Reynolds such a reliable movie star is that he can move between those tones without losing the qualities audiences recognise. He has the quick humour of Deadpool, but he also has an ability to make flawed, frightened or emotionally guarded characters feel human.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ryan Reynolds’ best movie besides Deadpool?
For many viewers, Free Guy is the best non-Deadpool Ryan Reynolds movie for fans of his action-comedy style. Buried is one of his strongest dramatic performances, while The Proposal remains a favourite romantic comedy.
What should I watch after Deadpool?
Watch Deadpool 2 first. If you want a different Ryan Reynolds movie with similar energy, try The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Free Guy or Red Notice.
Is Free Guy like Deadpool?
Yes, in tone more than content. Both films star Ryan Reynolds in self-aware, high-concept worlds with plenty of jokes and action. Free Guy is much more family-friendly and optimistic than Deadpool.
What is Ryan Reynolds’ funniest movie?
Deadpool is his most iconic comedy performance, but The Proposal, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Free Guy and Spirited also show off his comic timing.
What Ryan Reynolds movie is the most serious?
Buried is arguably his most intense dramatic film. It follows a man trapped in a coffin and relies almost entirely on Reynolds’ performance.
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