At first glance, Ryan Gosling comes off as your average Hollywood heartthrob. However, do not be deceived by his natural golden good looks as the Canadian actor is one of the most dominant stars in Hollywood. Gosling has featured in several highly-acclaimed big-budget movies as well as indie productions. He has also has received numerous accolades including two Oscar nominations for best actor. Want to know more about Gosling’s filmography? Then, we have got some of his best and lowly-rated projects right here.
12 Ryan Gosling Movies Ranked From Best To Worst
1. Drive
Production budget – $15 million
Box office – $81.4 million
If fast cars and heists are your cup of tea, then this Ryan Gosling movie is for you. Drive is a 2011 crime drama in which Gosling plays the lead role of Driver, a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. The reclusive Driver later falls for his neighbor, Irene, and her son, Benicio, and assists in protecting them from men of the underworld. Drive was a critical and commercial success and was named one of the best films of 2011. Gosling also received praise for his performance as well as understated romance with his co-star.
2. Half Nelson
Production budget – $700,000
Box office – $4.9 million
Half Nelson is a 2009 drama about an inner-city school teacher, Dan Dunne, who has a drug problem. Dunne’s secret is later uncovered by a female student, Drey, whose brother is in prison for drug dealing. Dunne and Drey thereafter form an unlikely friendship which proves to be Dunne’s saving grace. Half Nelson featured the likes of Shareeka Epps and Anthony Mackie while Gosling played the role of Dunne. The movie received praise for its fresh take on ‘the teacher with a heart of gold plot’. Gosling also received an Oscar nomination for best actor.
3. La La Land
Production budget – $30 million
Box office – $446.1 million
If there is one Ryan Gosling movie that should be on your must-see list, it is definitely La La Land. La La Land is a 2016 comedy-drama/musical which revolves around a struggling jazz musician, Sebastian, and an aspiring actress, Mia, who fall in love with each other. Their epic love affair is later threatened as they each grow more successful. La La Land featured Gosling as Sebastian while Emma Stone portrayed the role of Mia. The movie was one of the highest-grossing films of 2016. It also received numerous awards including the Academy Award for best picture. Gosling, on his own part, received the BAFTA, Oscar and SAG award nomination for best actor. He would go on to win the Golden Globe award for best actor in a musical or comedy.
4. Blue Valentine
Production budget – $1 million
Box office – $16.6 million
Blue Valentine is a 2010 romance/drama about a couple, Dean, and Cindy, who commence their relationship with so much love and promise. Several years later, Dean and Cindy are caught in a downward spiral as the circumstances of life takes its toll. Blue Valentine was written and directed by Derek Cianfrance. It featured Gosling as Dean while Michelle Williams portrayed Cindy. The film received mostly positive reviews and made it to the top ten of many critics list. Both lead stars were also nominated for the Oscar for best actress and actor.
5. The Ides of March
Production budget – $12.5 million
Box office – $76 million
The Ides of March is a 2016 political drama which revolves around Meyers, an idealistic political aide, who believes in his candidate’s integrity as well as the democratic process. Meyers is later disillusioned after uncovering a scandal about his candidate. The Ides of March featured the likes of George Clooney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman while Ryan Gosling portrayed the role of Meyers. The film was named one of the top ten films of 2011 while Gosling received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor.
6. The Notebook
Production budget – $29 million
Box office – $115.6 million
The Notebook is a 2004 romantic drama set in 1940s California. The film revolves around a rich girl, Allie, who falls in love with a young man from the wrong side of the tracks named Noah. Allie’s parents obviously disapprove and Noah goes off to fight in World War II. He, however, comes back just as Allie is set to wed another man. The Notebook featured Gosling as Noah while fellow Canadian, Rachel McAdams portrayed Allie. The movie was a box office hit and has since achieved cult status.
7. Crazy, Stupid, Love
Production budget – $50 million
Box office – $142.9 million
If rom-coms are your thing, then you should definitely check out this particular Ryan Gosling Movie. Crazy, Stupid, Love is a 2011 comedy/drama about a middle-aged man, Cal, who is shocked after his wife reveals that she cheated on him and that she wants a divorce. The newly single Cal seeks to rediscover his manhood and enlists the help of a notorious playboy, Jacob, to that effect. Crazy, Stupid, Love featured Steve Carell as Cal while Gosling played the role of Jacob. The film was both a critical and commercial success, and Gosling received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a comedy or musical.
8. Lars and the Real Girl
Production budget – $12 million
Box office – $11.3 million
Lars and the Real Girl is a 2007 comedy-drama in which Gosling plays the titular role of Lars, a nice but socially awkward young man. Lars ends up falling in love with a life-sized sex doll and his family go along with his delusion. Lars and the Real Girl received mostly positive reviews but the movie did not do well at the box office. Gosling, however, scored a SAG and Golden Globe nomination for best actor.
9. All Good Things
Production budget – $20 million
Box office – $644, 535
All Good Things is a 2010 crime romantic-drama film which revolves around a couple named David and Katie. The loved-up pair initially enjoy a blissful union but David later turns volatile due to pressure from his father. All Good Things featured Kirsten Dunst as Katie while Gosling portrayed David. The film was a box office failure and did not impress the critics much. It has a score of just 34% on rotten tomatoes.
10. Murder by Numbers
Production budget – $50 million
Box Office – $56.7 million
Murder by Numbers is a 2002 psychological thriller which revolves around the murder of a young woman in a small California coastal town. Law enforcement later uncovers a trail of shrewdly-concealed evidence that links two brilliant young men to the crime. Murder by Numbers featured the likes of Sandra Bullock and Michael Pitt while Gosling portrayed one of the prime suspects. The movie performed creditably at the box office but failed to impress the critics who dismissed it as predictable.
11. The United States of Leland
Production budget – N/A
Box office – $343,816
The United States of Leland is a 2003 indie drama in which Gosling plays the titular role of Leland, a withdrawn young man who is incarcerated for murdering his girlfriend’s mentally-disabled younger brother. Leland’s prison teacher decides to write about his case as the families and community struggle to cope with the aftermath. The United States of Leland was panned by the critics, and has a score of 33% on rotten tomatoes.
12. Stay
Production budget – $50 million
Box office – $8.48 million
Stay is another Ryan Gosling movie which failed to impress neither the critics nor the moviegoers. The 2005 psychological thriller revolved around Sam Foster, a psychiatrist who works with a suicidal patient named Henry. Sam later discovers several contradictory facts about Henry which threatens his own sanity as well. Stay featured the likes of Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts while Gosling portrayed the role of Henry. The movie was a critical and commercial failure and holds a score of 27% on rotten tomatoes.
