The Best Ryan Gosling Movies

If one were unfamiliar with the long list of Ryan Gosling movies in existence, it would be easy to write him off as a pretty face. His classic good looks have charmed the socks off of men and women across the globe, as evidenced by the enduring, "Hey, girl" meme.

But beyond his good looks, he’s an incredibly talented actor. From Nicholas Sparks adaptations to his recent portrayal of Neil Armstrong in First Man, Gosling always brings his A-game. He excels in dramatic roles, like the quietly intense getaway driver in Drive, and crushes silly scenes like his dance number in Remember The Titans. Basically, he’s good at everything.

Gosling has also managed to do something few celebrities truly achieve: He’s had a steadily successful career without making any major PR faux pas or losing our trust. His politeness with the press? Endlessly admirable. His friendships with his co-stars? Totally enviable. His love for Eva Mendes? Downright adorable. The Vine tribute after the passing of the “Ryan Gosling Won’t Eat His Cereal” guy? Unprecedentedly epic. Plus, he’s never a jerk about how awesome he is. He just keeps being wonderful, which fuels our love for him even more. The guy is just so damn likable. Maybe it’s because he’s Canadian.

At 38, Ryan Gosling has an impressive resume of film roles. Best of all, his upward trajectory shows no signs of stopping; we look forward to watching him grow even more as an actor. These are the best Ryan Gosling movies.

The Big Short (2015)

Director: Adam McKay

Also Starring: Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale

Ah, Quippy Ryan Gosling. Leave it to RyGos to make learning about subprime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations fun and interesting. He can break the fourth wall to talk to us about the housing market any day. We also love The Big Short because it reunited Ryan Gosling with Steve Carell, a completely underrated duo.

Blue Valentine (2010)

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Also Starring: Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel

Just as quickly as Ryan Gosling will make you believe in love, he’ll also break your heart. He does it over and over alongside Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine. It’s definitely not the kind of movie you throw on to relax and unwind; it’s a heavy one that requires an entire box of tissues. Watch at your own risk.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Also Starring: Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore

Like we said, Gosling and Carell make such a great team. Case in point: The visceral reaction Jacob has when Cal whips out a Velcro wallet in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Even when he’s hurling onscreen insults at his co-stars, Ryan Gosling still manages to be 100% loveable.

Drive (2011)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Also Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac

You know how we just spent multiple paragraphs gushing about how sweet and loveable Ryan Gosling is? He’s so terrifying in Drive, it’s easy to forget that he’s just playing a part, and that he’s still the same ol’ loveable RyGos underneath that scorpion jacket. That scene in the motel room? It changed us forever.

Fracture (2007)

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Also Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz

Gotta love Ryan Gosling in a “rising star” type role, which is exactly what he plays in Fracture: a young attorney. Also, he seems to find himself in a lot of roles where he strikes up a romantic relationship with somebody who’s off-limits. (Not that we’re mad about it or anything.) In this case, it’s his future boss, played by Rosamund Pike.

The Ides of March (2011)

Director: George Cooney

Also Starring: George Clooney, Evan Rschel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti

And we’re back to Dramatic Ryan Gosling. In The Ides of March, he plays a campaign manager to a Democratic presidential candidate deep in the political corruption of Washington. It’s intense, but acted perfectly. His performance even earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

The Nice Guys (2016)

Director: Shane Black

Also Starring: Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice, Kim Basinger

Hey there, 1977 Ryan Gosling. Groovy mustache. In The Nice Guys, Ryan Gosling plays a private eye investigating the disappearance of a teenager. The action-comedy genre is a niche one, but he and Russell Crowe are perfect for it. Maybe they’ll re-remake Starsky & Hutch some day?

The Notebook (2004)

Director: Nick Cassavetes

Also Starring: Rachel McAdams, James Garner, James Marsden

What’s that sound? Oh, just Ryan Gosling ruining women’s expectations of romance around the world. The Notebook was his breakout hit and the genesis of our collective crush. It’s hard to believe the movie came out (gasp) nearly 15 years ago.

La La Land (2016)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Also Starring: Emma Stone, John Legend, Sonoya Mizuno, J.K. Simmons

La La Land came out at the end of 2016, but people are still kind of freaking out about it. Whether you thought it deserved to win the Oscar for Best Picture or not, there’s no denying that 1. Romantic Ryan Gosling is a charming gent, and 2. He really does make on-screen magic with Emma Stone.

Song to Song (2017)

Director: Terrence Malick

Also Starring: Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara

There are many different versions of Ryan Gosling: Gangster Ryan Gosling, Down-on-His-Luck Ryan Gosling, Rom-Com Ryan Gosling. But one of our favorites is Indie Ryan Gosling, which is on full display in Song to Song. It wasn’t a box office blockbuster, but how can you beat a cast that includes RyGos, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, and Val Kilmer? You can’t.