This list has been updated by Charlene Badasie.
Glen Powell may feel like Hollywood's latest overnight sensation, but anyone who's followed his rise to fame knows his success is built on a surprisingly wide range of roles. What makes Powell so electric to watch isn't just his movie-star looks or charm. It's the way he adapts to his genre while still giving every character that signature Powell blend of wit, sincerity, and confidence.
This list highlights Powell's 10 best film projects, ranked from worst to best, not to diminish any entry, but to show how Powell's versatility and skill sharpened over time and why certain films represent stronger showcases of who he is as a performer. Each ranking is directly informed by how these films compare to one another, how fully Powell is utilized, and how strongly the movie itself holds up.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
Everybody Wants Some follows a group of baseball players during the weekend before classes begin. What unfolds is a loose, sun-soaked hangout film about ego, friendship, and discovery. Powell's performance as Walt Finnegan is charming and effortlessly confident. Though Powell steals almost every scene he's in, the film itself is intentionally lightweight, meaning he gets less space to shine.
Compared to higher-ranked entries, Everybody Wants Some!! doesn't showcase Powell's full range. But it is still a fun early snapshot of his career. This film is perfect for fans of Dazed and Confused (1993) or anyone who enjoys character-driven, free-flowing comedies. It ranks last not because it's weak, but because Powell's role feels more like a career preview. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
Devotion (2022)
Based on the true story of naval aviators Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner, Devotion details their bond during the Korean War as they deal with things like duty, danger, and sacrifice. Powell plays Tom Hudner with quiet sincerity, offering one of his most understated performances, creating a steady, honorable counterbalance to Jonathan Majors' more emotionally explosive Jesse Brown.
While the film is powerful, Powell's role is more supportive than transformative and doesn't showcase Powell's full versatility the way some of the other films on this list do. Still, it's an impressive testament to his dramatic capabilities. The movie is best for fans of historical dramas like Midway (2019). Devotion is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Red Wing (2013)
Set in a small Texas town, Red Wing follows farming couple Carl and Maddie Blanton, who take in a foster child named Francis (Powell). When he grows up, Carl suspects that Francis and Maddie are having an affair. Although Powell's role is small, he brings sincerity and realism to his limited screen time, showing the early seeds of his charm even before his breakout roles.
Compared to the movies ranked above it, Red Wing simply gives Powell far less space to shape the story. This film suits viewers who like intimate rural dramas or Nicholas Sparks-style romances like The Notebook (2004). It ranks low on the list because it's more historically interesting than career-defining, but Powell completists will appreciate it. Red Wing is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures tells the true story of three Black women, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, whose mathematical brilliance while working at NASA helped make America's early space missions possible. The film celebrates their overlooked contributions while depicting all the racial and gender barriers they overcame.
Glen Powell appears as John Glenn, and although it's a supporting role, he makes a big impression. Powell brings charm, respect, and warmth to the legendary astronaut, playing him as a man who trusts the expertise of the women around him when almost no one else will. This movie is ideal for fans of uplifting historical dramas like The Help (2011). It is currently streaming on HBO Max.
Set It Up (2018)
Set It Up follows Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Young (Powell), two overworked assistants, who decide to secretly set up their bosses so they can finally get some much needed downtime. Their plan backfires, and in an added twist, they begin falling for each other. Powell's performance as Charlie is endlessly watchable, and his chemistry with Deutch is top-tier.
The film is wildly popular because of the dynamic between the lead stars. While Set It Up is more delightful than groundbreaking, it ranks above earlier entries because it's one of the first films to show Powell fully commanding a lead role with big-screen charisma. It's perfect for fans of classic rom-coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003). Set It Up is streaming on Netflix.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick follows Captain Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise), who returns to the Top Gun training school to prepare a group of new pilots for a dangerous mission. Among the trainees is LT Jake "Hangman" Seresin (Powell), who is arrogant, talented, and itching to prove himself. The character is also positioned as a rival to Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller).
Hangman is the role that turned Powell into a household name. Compared to his earlier films, Top Gun: Maverick essentially proved the actor's natural star power. However, it ranks below Powell's other films because, while iconic, Hangman is a supporting character, and the film isn't his vehicle. Still, it's a great pick for action-packed blockbusters and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Hit Man (2024)
Hit Man follows mild-mannered college professor Gary Johnson (Powell), who secretly works with police by posing as a fake contract killer. His life spirals when he falls for a woman who is trying to find someone to kill her abusive husband. This is arguably Powell's most versatile performance as he shifts between personas with effortless precision.
The movie ranks high on this list because, compared to everything below it, Hit Man gives Powell the widest acting playground. Only the top three outshine it by scope, charisma, or cultural impact. And what makes it even more interesting is that Powell co-wrote the script. Hit Man is perfect for fans of character-driven comedies like The Nice Guys (2016). It can be found on Netflix.
The Running Man (2025)
The Running Man follows Ben Richards (Powell), who becomes the unwilling star of a deadly televised survival game. As the world watches, he must outwit both the hunters and the system exploiting him so that he can win the prize money to pay for his daughter's medical care. Powell delivers one of his most intense performances in this role, mixing toughness with vulnerable flashes of humanity.
Compared to Top Gun: Maverick, he carries far more emotional weight. And compared to Hit Man, this film shows his pure physicality and dramatic edge. It ranks above those films because it presents Powell at blockbuster scale while still giving him rich character material. The movie is ideal for fans of dystopian action thrillers like The Hunger Games (2012).
Anyone But You (2024)
Anyone But You follows Ben (Powell) and Beatrice (Sydney Sweeney), who agree never to speak again after a terrible misunderstanding puts them at odds after a perfect first date. But things get tricky when they are forced to fake a relationship during a destination wedding. This movie is Powell's rom-com crown jewel thanks to his chemistry with Sweeney.
Compared to Set It Up, this is a more confident, more stylish version of Powell's romantic persona, and compared to Top Gun: Maverick, it proves he can carry a hit on his own. The movie is fun and oddly endearing, which explains why it resonated with viewers far beyond its genre expectations. Anyone But You is perfect for fans of modern rom-coms and can be found on Amazon Prime Video.
Twisters (2024)
Twisters follows meteorologist Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and a group of storm chasers who race toward tornadoes to gather life-saving data before getting sucked into the eye of the storm. But their efforts are interrupted when a rival group led by internet influencer Tyler Owens (Powell) shows up with the same idea. Powell's performance is the most complete expression of his screen identity to date.
He commands the screen with the swagger of Top Gun: Maverick, the charm of Anyone But You, and the emotional grounding of Devotion. No other Powell film hits all three pillars at once. Compared to every entry, Twisters showcases his charisma, physicality, humor, and heart on the grandest stage. The movie is ideal for fans of disaster films like 1996's Twister. The movie is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
