My Favourite Ryan Gosling Movies of All-Time

Few actors have built a legacy as lasting as Ryan Gosling. Following stardom during the 1990’s, Gosling has become one of the greatest actors in the industry. Gosling’s strength as an actor is versatility. Whether it’s lovers in L.A., serious drivers with little to say or dolls dancing the night away, Gosling has proven he can portray various characters today. Given the number of films Gosling has made, making a top 10 list isn’t easy. Nevertheless, listed below are my picks for greatest movies made by an actor that deserves to be celebrated.

1. The Place Beyond the Pines

Fathers are powerful figures that ensure children’s success rather than failures. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always shared a bond with my father. An inspiring role model, he has motivated me to achieve dreams that I am pursuing. Without his words of wisdom, I may not have achieved dreams I am passionate about. Few films I’ve ever seen have captured roles fathers play in lives of children as powerfully as “The Place Beyond the Pines”. Released in 2013, Derek Cianfrance’s breathtaking film was the first movie that made me take notice of Ryan Gosling. A mesmerizing masterpiece about fatherhood, it proves why Ryan Gosling is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. In the greatest role of his career, Gosling embodies a father pursuing a life of crime driven to the brink of despair. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, emotional and committed. The sequence where he breaks down in church witnessing his son getting baptized is the greatest scene the actor has ever filmed. Ultimately, what makes “The Place Beyond the Pines” Gosling’s greatest movie is its message. The film delivers a powerful message that would engage anyone that has bonded with their father at an early age. A powerful portrait of the roles fathers play in shaping children’s fate, it’s a poignant reminder of an actor with the abilities to captivate by playing complicated characters with whom it’s easy for audiences to relate.

2. La La Land

Over the past decade, the musical genre has faced a decline in quality. With their loud musical numbers, mundane storytelling and wooden characters, I find most musicals to be a painful chore to sit through. However, “La La Land” is an exception. Released in 2016, Ryan Gosling’s musical masterpiece did an extraordinary job of reviving the genre. In his most multi-talented role, Gosling embodies a jazz musician driven to achieve his goal. It’s a larger-than-life character giving the actor the rare opportunities to showcase his diverse skills for acting, dancing and singing melodies. Making musicals often poses certain challenges for actors required to perform complicated musical numbers. However, Gosling pulled it off tremendously. Not only did Gosling learn how to play the piano for the role but he pours his soul into a jazz musician seeking a goal. He also shares wonderful chemistry with Emma Stone, creating a romance between two lovers. Ultimately, what makes “La La Land” stand out is its inspiring message. The film delivers an inspirational message about pursuing dreams no matter how unattainable they may seem. A mesmerizing tribute to the lives of artists seeking success in the magical city of L.A., it’s a magnificent reminder of a movie-star that blows audiences away given chances to portray compelling characters today.

3. Drive

Ryan Gosling is one of those actors that has always had a talent for conveying emotions without dialogue. Gosling is gifted at communicating strong emotions through his expressions without speaking a single word. Gosling’s strength as an actor with the ability to thrive using expressions to convey emotions is clearly evident in “Drive”. Released in 2011, Nicholas Winding Refn’s movie found the actor playing a getaway driver facing catastrophe. In the most subtle performance of his career, Gosling effectively uses his expressions rather than words to portray a silent driver with a mysterious air. Gosling barely has any dialogue throughout the majority of the film, but he conveys strong emotions through his expressions. Whether it’s his icy glare observing criminals in danger or tender look of affection meeting with a compassionate lover, Gosling uses expressions to create a fascinating character. It’s a phenomenal performance from an actor skilled at using his expressions to communicate strong emotion. A powerful portrayal of getaway criminals with a strong drive, it’s riveting reminder of an actor with the abilities to thrive given opportunities to use his meaningful expressions to create compelling characters that are driven to stay alive.

4. Blue Valentine

It’s often easier said than done to move on from a separation. Everyone can recall a sad time when they witnessed a couple break up in an emotional separation. A devastating process, divorce often causes couples to experience stress. Given the tragic nature of the subject, breakups are scarcely depicted in movies in ways that are authentic. Few films that I’ve ever seen have captured marriages facing decline as powerfully as “Blue Valentine”. Released in 2010, Derek Cianfrance’s movie did an extraordinary job of capturing emotions felt by a couple whose relationship faces tragedy. In the most demanding role of his career, Gosling captures the burden that men facing breakups bear. It’s challenging portraying a heartbroken man whose romantic relationship has gone astray, but Gosling pulls it off tremendously. It allows the actor to bring out an emotional, sensitive and vulnerable side audiences haven’t seen before. Alongside Michelle Williams who is also excellent, Gosling creates an incredibly realistic portrait of a marriage falling apart. A poignant portrait of marriage facing a decline, it’s a dazzling reminder of an actor that hasn’t lost abilities to shine given chance to portray compelling characters whose relationships are on the line.

5. Barbie

Not many dolls made out of plastic have built a legacy as lasting as Barbie. Following creation in the 1960’s, Barbie has played powerful roles shaping women’s identity. From a personal point-of-view, Barbie dolls made my mother’s dreams come true. A Barbie girl living in a Barbie world, my mother would often recollect joyous stories of a doll that shaped her identity. Being a boy, I could never understand the appeal of a toy giving my mother joy. In 2023, Ryan Gosling did an extraordinary job of bringing the doll to the big-screen in his Oscar-winning movie “Barbie”. In his most iconic role, Gosling embodies a charismatic doll whose life in plastic is rarely fantastic. Ken is a larger-than-life character allowing Gosling to showcase his skills as a performer. Not only does Gosling showcase singing but he gets opportunity to exhibit comic timing. A fabulous tribute to a feminist doll whose life in plastic is fantastic, it’s a terrific reminder of an actor that thrives given chances to play charismatic characters building a legacy that’s iconic.

6. The Nice Guys

Ryan Gosling has always been one of those actors with perfect comic timing. Since his career as a child actor on “The Mickey Mouse Club”, Gosling has had an aptitude for humour. “Nice Guys” is the first film in which Gosling was given a chance to capitalize on his aptitude for comedy proving a pleasant surprise. Released in 2016, Shane Black’s mystery gave the actor an opportunity to demonstrate his knack for comedy for the first time on the big-screen. In the most comical role of his career, Gosling embodies a detective investigating the murder of an actress in L.A. that has vanished out of thin air. Sharing unforgettable chemistry with Russell Crowe, Gosling demonstrates that he’s born to be part of a comedic duo. A captivating murder mystery about detectives that are nice guys, it’s an awe-inspiring reminder of an actor that thrives given opportunities to capitalize on his comedic talents in movies taking audiences by surprise.

7. Half Nelson

Drug addiction is a sensitive subject rarely depicted in movies with respect. Hollywood has shied away from stories of addiction that come with a price to pay. In an industry afraid of addressing substance addiction, “Half Nelson” is a film that deserves appreciation. Released in 2006, Ryan Gosling’s movie did an extraordinary job of capturing individuals with drug addiction. In the role for which he earned his first ever Oscar nomination, Gosling embodies a crack addict whose life spirals out of control. It’s a powerful performance that marked a significant turning point in Gosling’s career where he went from being a romantic heartthrob to a serious dramatic actor. A powerful portrait of drug addiction causing lives of teachers to spiral out of control, it’s a phenomenal reminder of an actor that thrives at playing characters driven to achieve a goal experiencing a heavy emotional toll in unforgettable movies with power to touch the soul.

8. The Fall Guy

When it comes to the greatest TV shows about stuntmen falling from the sky, it’s worth discussing “The Fall Guy”. Aired during the 1980’s, the iconic show celebrated stunt communities. It paid tribute to stunt performers in Hollywood that rarely receive recognition. In 2023, Ryan Gosling brought the famous television show about stuntmen falling from the sky to the big-screen in his film “The Fall Guy”. In the most adventurous role of his career, Gosling transforms into a performer with love for falling in the air. It’s a demanding role that requires the actor to perform stunts with risk of injury, but he succeeds tremendously. As strong as Colt’s desire to be a stunt performer, it’s a powerful reminder of an actor that thrives playing brave characters that aren’t afraid of putting lives in danger whose movies audiences treasure.

9. The Notebook

Few films that Ryan Gosling has took part in are as romantic as “The Notebook”. Released in 2004, it was the first movie to launch the successful career of an actor that audiences adore. In his most romantic role, Gosling embodies a lower-class man falling in love with a woman in a relationship that’s tragic. As Noah, Gosling is given a chance to showcase his charisma. The scene in which Noah and Ally kiss in the rain has become one of the most memorable moments in the actor’s career. Nearly 20 years after the release of an iconic film about lovers recording romantic relationships in a notebook, it’s a touching tribute to an actor that has took the world by storm by playing heroic characters whose memorable movies are definitely worth a look.

10. First Man

Neil Armstrong is an astronaut that has built a legacy that’s strong. In 1969, Armstrong forever changed the world when he became the first ever person to walk on the moon. Through his intense determination, Armstrong was an astronaut driven to make his dreams come true. Following the groundbreaking space landing, Armstrong built a legacy that’s lasting. In 2018, Ryan Gosling did an extraordinary job of bringing the astronaut’s life to the big-screen in his film “First Man”. In his first biopic role, Gosling embodies the real-life astronaut driven to accomplish his moon-landing goal. It isn’t easy to capture the personality of a commemorated astronaut that forever changed history, but Gosling succeeds. It’s a phenomenal performance celebrating the legendary legacy of a commemorated astronaut that changed history. Nearly 60 years after Neil Armstrong became the first ever man to walk on the moon in space, it’s an out-of-this-world reminder of a great actor whose legendary movies hold a special place in my heart that I will forever embrace.