Whether you want to laugh, cry or experience space travel, there is probably a Ryan Gosling movie that fits those emotions.
His filmography spans over twenty years with some of his most notable roles being Noah Calhoun in The Notebook and Ken in Barbie. He has been in rom-coms, sci-fi epics and emotionally damaging dramas, allowing him to show off his versatility as an actor. This range makes him the perfect person to turn to when you know that you want to watch one of his films, but are stuck on choosing which one.
Watch this TikTok for a little taster of his filmography:
So, if you don’t know which one to watch first and need a little guidance, here are five to pick from:
If you’re in the mood for a quirky rom-com
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
When you want something fun, romantic and a little bit chaotic then Crazy, Stupid, Love is the best choice.
Ryan Gosling really shows off his comedic abilities with this one. He’s funny, charming, and the additions of Steve Carell and Emma Stone makes for very fun relationship dynamics.
This is the kind of movie you put on when you have no expectations and think that it will just be used as background noise while you scroll on your phone. But before you know it you will be glued to the TV.
Without spoiling too much, you can watch the trailer below:
If you’re in the mood for a chaotic buddy comedy
The Nice Guys (2016)
You are either going to be one of two people: the ones who love this movie and wish that they made a sequel, or the ones who have never even heard of this film.
This one went under the radar for a lot of people, and it shouldn’t have. It’s silly, messy and a whole lot of chaos.
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are such a good duo. They both get to show off their comedic chops which is really worth your time. Ryan Gosling pushes himself to the max in this and shows us how far he will go for a laugh.
Unfortunately, due to it not being a box office hit as explained in Deadline, they won’t be making a sequel, which some people have differing opinions about. However, that doesn’t take anything away from this hilarious 1970s buddy comedy.
If you’re in the mood for an emotional rollercoaster
La La Land (2016)
If you like musicals, especially ones that capture romance in a dreamy yet bittersweet way, then La La Land needs to be your next watch.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are back together once again, but instead of being in a rom-com, there are now in a rom-emotional damage.
You can’t just ‘pop on’ this film, you have to be in the mood for love, heartbreak and some singing. Ten years after its release, I still think about the ending more than I should. This one really stays with you long after the credits roll, as seen in the TikTok’s below.
If you’re in the mood for gripping action
Drive (2011)
This adds a bit more dimension to Ryan Gosling’s acting catalogue. He shows a different side to his acting abilities playing a stunt driver of very few words.
It has tension, danger and a little bit of romance.
So, if you still want to watch a Ryan Gosling film, but in a much darker setting than his other work, then this one might be up your street.
Still on the fence? Well you can watch the trailer below first:
If you’re in the mood for a new sci-fi adventure
Project Hail Mary (2026)
The newest addition to the Ryan Gosling line up. It has heart, laughter, and many tears. He really shows off every bit of acting skills he has here. It’s like all his prior work was to gain all the skills he could for this one film.
It is one of the best movies of 2026 so far, which will be a tough one to beat.
If you want to listen to my review, then click play below.
