10 Best Ryan Gosling Movies, Ranked

Kicking things off at #10, we have The Fall Guy. While it’s a fun movie about a stuntman who gets pulled into a mystery involving a missing actor (something he absolutely didn’t sign up for), it’s not really a mind-twisting film. If you want something fast and light, then The Fall Guy is right up your alley; it’s exactly the kind of movie you can watch Gosling be goofy and self-aware, and his chemistry with Emily Blunt is fantastic (and of course, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the ‘missing’ actor is a very welcome casting!) 

The action itself is slick, but doesn’t hit as hard as films like, say, John Wick. Even the emotional stakes don’t quite stick the landing, and though you might enjoy it in the moment, it slips away after, unlike some of the rest of the titles on this list. But I will say this: I really enjoyed the soundtrack, the film-within-a-film narrative, and some of the classic cinematic tropes that director David Leitch incorporated into the plot as an ode to storytelling (like the split-screen scene). If you’re an action movie fanatic but like them highly entertaining rather than grim, like Leitch’s Bullet Train, then you’ll enjoy The Fall Guy. 

I know, placing a movie as well-known as The Notebook at the lower end of the spectrum might be considered blasphemy. For hopeless romantics or for those who want to have a good cry and feel all the feels, The Notebook should be at the top of the list. However, if you’re looking for a layered movie with twists, this won’t hit all the notes. 

A sweeping romance that convinced an entire generation that emotional confessions are best when declared in the rain, The Notebook is watchable because of Ryan Gosling, and especially his undeniable chemistry with Rachel McAdams, which is the main event. He plays Noah with a kind of devotion and sincerity that turns this love story up to eleven, but it’s not the most nuanced performance that we know he can do. In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, it leans heavily into melodrama (which you might like or not, depending on the day and your mood.) But if you like all-consuming love stories that go big, like Titanic, you’ll recognize the same energy in The Notebook. 

I would love for Ryan Gosling to narrate my life in the same way he did in The Big Short, a drama that breaks down the 2008 financial crisis in an explanatory but satirical way (believe me, it makes sense.) Gosling’s character breaks the fourth wall often (Fleabag, who?) and guides us through the financial chaos in a smug way, with comedy that’s subtler than how he handled things as Ken in Barbie. 

He genuinely looks like he’s having a great time with his character, but The Big Short is very much an ensemble film, meaning that we don’t get to see Gosling dominate the screen as much as we’d love to. His energy, though, is undeterred, and if I had Gosling (amongst other celebrities like Selena Gomez and Margot Robbie) explain financial jargon to me, you best believe I’m listening. If you loved the flashy tone of The Wolf of Wall Street, then you’ll also love The Big Short (and we know we’re about to go on a fun ride when Steve Carell is a part of the cast!)

Another Ryan Gosling-Steve Carell starrer? We’re being spoiled. If you thought Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s Dirty Dancing pose was iconic, wait till you see how Gosling recreated that with Emma Stone in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Anyone who likes rom-coms, but prefers it in a not-so saccharine formula and with a side of irony, will enjoy this movie. 

Gosling slips into his smooth, effortlessly cool role, perfectly contrasting it against Steve Carell’s more under-confident character, making his dynamic with Carell just as exciting as his romance with Stone. The movie lands at #7, because while it’s endlessly likable and rewatchable (that reveal scene still holds up!), and Gosling devours his hyper-confident persona, some of the emotional beats are kind of uneven, making it not as impactful as the titles below. If you enjoyed other ensemble rom-coms like Love, Actually, then Crazy, Stupid, Love will hit a similar modern and cynical spot. 

I’ll say it straight, without a hint of sarcasm: The Nice Guys was personally the most rewatchable movie on the list for me, and I had to rank it higher just for that factor. Messy buddy comedy fans where the chemistry feels natural and not forced, will love The Nice Guys. When two guys team up to solve a missing persons case, it spirals into something much bigger. Gosling co-stars with Russell Crowe, and their dynamic carries the film with the ‘70s setting adding a welcome flavor. 

The highlight of the movie is that it dons an air of unpredictability, as though you never know what’s going to happen next or where the scene will go, though it might not be suitable for kids. Tonally, it’s similar to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’s slightly offbeat and odd-couples energy, and if you’re someone who appreciates sharp writing, then The Nice Guys will deliver. Gosling doesn’t hold himself back and fully commits to the character (especially with his high-pitched screams). I don’t think we talk about this movie enough, and it might just be Gosling’s funniest performance yet (and yes, I’m including Barbie when I say this!)

If The Notebook was stripped of its fantasy, we’d be left with Blue Valentine (and I mean it in a respectful way). A relationship is shown in two timelines, one where the couple falls in love, and one where that love unravels in their marriage years later. Anyone who likes plots with dual timelines will like how Blue Valentine exposes the way love can change in an honest way. 

Both the past and present versions of Gosling are portrayed with nuance and care and his chemistry with Michelle Williams feels authentic and real, though explosive. Blue Valentine is a heavy film, where the relationship dynamic is hard to sit through, kind of like how Marriage Story gave an unfiltered look on relationships. So it goes without saying that this movie isn’t something you just casually throw on for a relaxing Friday night. However, it is one of Gosling’s powerful performances which somehow feels impossible to replicate, and is worth the watch at least once. 

While it may seem like Ryan Gosling shines only in rom-com territory, Half Nelson proves that notion wrong. Gosling plays a middle-school teacher struggling with addiction, and from this comes one of his rawest and most grounded performances. His depiction feels genuinely real, and isn’t showcased in a way where it’s trying to sugar coat the pain (a performance for which he rightfully earned his first Oscar nomination.)

It’s the exact opposite of La La Land, where there’s no music and gloss, just a human slowly unraveling (that bathroom scene was so well-performed), but for fans of character-driven stories, it’s worth the watch. You might revisit this movie only if you’re in a particular mood as it’s not an easy watch, but regardless, it’s one of Gosling’s performances that I’ll remember for a long time. It reminds me of emotionally heavy films like the Casey Affleck starrer, Manchester by the Sea, where both films have the protagonists forming unlikely bonds with teenagers. But if you’re looking for something more accessible, then Crazy, Stupid, Love might be your cup of tea. 

One thing about me is that I will consume anything Barbie related, and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie isn’t any different. I don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this movie, but for those of you who are partial to satire and humor that’s self-aware, Barbie is about to become your personal favorite too. And if you’re one of the few who thinks it’s just a movie about a plastic doll, then you are sorely mistaken. 

The film hides some surprisingly thoughtful ideas under its pink exterior, and is brought to life by Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Gosling’s Ken which is why it’s at #3. He is ridiculously hilarious, and pretty much steals every scene he’s in with his identity spirals and discovery of patriarchy. Because it’s an ensemble movie, it isn’t just Gosling’s show, but no other movie reached this level of cultural dominance. Meta-comedies like The Truman Show were popular for their mix of commentary and humor, and Barbie does the same (and that monologue by America Ferrera hits hard.) It’s sublime! (Get it?)

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in a musical? Sign me up. Marking their third collaboration, Gosling and Stone, who play a jazz musician and aspiring actress respectively, reunite in La La Land, a bittersweet romance. Compared to Blue Valentine, La La Land is definitely lighter on its feet (pun intended), but carries a certain weight that makes you feel everything. Gosling is simply magnetic and brings a kind of relaxed performance that goes perfectly with the film’s rhythm. 

The chemistry between the two is also a core highlight and one could say the Dirty Dancing lift they did was setting them up for their performances in La La Land (in a happy coincidence, the ending of the 2017 remake seems like a nod to the latter’s ending.) Full of rewatchable scenes, like the one-take ‘A Lovely Night’ sequence (which was so famous that K-pop group Twice incorporated it in one of their music videos), the movie is a go-to for the dreamers wrapped in music, color, and movement, reminiscent of Singin’ in the Rain. If you’re not a huge fan of musicals, then you might not resonate, but according to me, I still think it’s worth the watch if for nothing else other than Gosling and Stone’s screen presence. 

Winning the gold medal is Gosling’s newest release, Project Hail Mary. Ryland Grace (Gosling) wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory, only to realize he may be humanity’s last hope. Needless to say, Project Hail Mary takes the top spot as Ryan Gosling’s best movie thus far because of how it seamlessly blends science, humor, and an unexpectedly sweet connection to the cute Rocky while in space. As the lead, Gosling takes up our full attention, and proves that he’s able to flawlessly work in a sci-fi narrative. 

If you love sci-fi movies which also have heart and surprising warmth, then you needn’t look further than Project Hail Mary. The movie feels like a culmination of everything Gosling can do, turned up a notch, and fans of films like Interstellar will love what this film has to offer. Gosling doesn't have a romantic relationship in this movie, which is a refreshing change; instead, it’s his friendship with an adorable alien Rocky, that takes the spotlight. I’d love to see Gosling do similar movies in the future, we know he’s good at it, and the costume designers putting him in a cardigan and glasses is just the cherry on top of a wonderful film everyone’s genuinely excited about.