Keanu Reeves has been the internet’s darling for a while now, which means it’s the perfect time to look back at some of his most iconic filmography.
Ah, Keanu Reeves. He’s somehow had a long, iconic, unproblematic career, and that’s not exactly an easy thing to do these days.
He’s starred in some of the biggest blockbusters of our time, but he’s also played a role in a few major flops. He’s even taken on some more unconventional roles, with a couple of cameos here and there that are definitely ones for the books.
Not all of his movies are homeruns, but he seems like a genuinely kind, selfless person. It feels like that’s a rarity in Hollywood, and the internet has taken a shining to his soft-spoken demeanor and penchant for violent action flicks.
Related: Dwayne Johnson movies: Ranking his best, worst, and most WTF
Keanu Reeves’ top 5 best movies
‘John Wick’
Keanu never really went away, but his career has seen a resurgence thanks in part to the John Wick franchise. The first movie is legendary for its action and meme-ability, and it has left fans hungry for more. Thankfully, two sequels have landed well with audiences, with a third on its way. While it’s true that this movie basically centers around the unforgivable act of killing a dog, it also allows us room to revel in the violence Wick perpetrates on his journey for revenge.
‘The Matrix’
Not every film in the Matrix trilogy is a homerun, but the first film is an absolute classic. This is peak Young!Keanu, and there’s a reason why this film has become so iconic. Not only is the story fresh and interesting, but the entire cast gives excellent performances. It’s a weird sci-fi movie that always sat on this side of believable (how many of us still say the Matrix is glitching when we get déjà vu?), but it’s also full of high-stakes action.
‘Speed’
This might not be the finest cinema ever produced, but Speed is a solid action movie enhanced by both Keanu and Sandra Bullock’s performances. The premise is pretty simple (keep the bus over 50mph!), but it ramps up the tension and mystery fairly quickly. The bad guy is smart, but the good guy is smarter, and it ends with a romantic kiss. What more could you possibly ask for?
‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’
Keanu Reeves may be best known for his action roles, but there’s no way we can forget Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. For some (though, regrettably, not me), this is the defining Keanu Reeves movie. It’s also one of his older ones, having debuted in 1989. It centers around two guys who travel through time to collect great historical figures for their homework assignment. Plus, it also stars George Carlin!
‘Point Break’
Thor may be getting some extra attention as “Point Break” these days, but Keanu Reeves did it first! This may be yet another action film, but it’s got a lot more drama and believable stakes than something like The Matrix. Keanu plays an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of…surfers. Look, it’s much more intense than it sounds, and definitely a classic — Keanu or no Keanu!
Keanu Reeves’ top 5 worst movies
’47 Ronin’
This film is pretty widely panned by critics and audiences alike — and for good reason. While Keanu isn’t the worst choice to have filled this role, he certainly wasn’t an ideal candidate. The film is a fantasy-action adventure following the lives of 47 masterless samurai warriors. Japanese audiences hated it because it wasn’t close enough to the real story, and Western audiences didn’t like it much, either. You win some, you lose some.
‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’
I saw this movie because it starred Keanu Reeves, but it was mostly forgettable. I just remember one scene where his character was being interrogated by the government. As an alien, he doesn’t experience the world the same way we do, but I just remember him being so rigid and unemotional. We want to root for him — it’s Keanu! — but it’s so hard to care when there’s nothing much to latch onto.
‘The Lake House’
This was supposed to be the Keanu Reeves/Sandra Bullock reunion film we’ve all been waiting for! But boy did it disappoint. The concept is pretty cool — two people in two different years are able to write letters back and forth thanks to a magic mailbox — but the execution was less than grand. It did win a Teen Choice Aware for Choice Liplock, but that’s about all it has going for it.
‘Johnny Mnemonic’
Keanu’s performance in Johnny Mnemonic got him nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor. Ouch. Johnny Mnemonic is a cyberpunk action thriller released in 1995, so it doesn’t have a whole lot going for it. Watching it now would be akin to cruel and inhumane treatment, and it seems critics and fans alike thought the same thing two decades ago.
‘Little Buddha’
Once again Keanu finds himself in a questionable role, though this one is blatantly more appropriative. Little Buddha chronicles the life of Prince Siddhartha on his journey to enlightenment where he will eventually be known as Buddha. Keanu plays the titular role, which means he’s taking on a performance that should’ve been played by an Indian Man. This movie deserves to be on the worst movies list for that reason alone.
Honorable Mentions
Movie that has gotten a second lease on life: ‘Constantine’
I am proud to admit that I have loved Keanu Reeves’ Constantine from the beginning. Audiences haven’t always agreed with me, but lately, the internet seems to be coming around to it. This film is pretty dark and weird, and it doesn’t exactly follow the comic book canon, but Keanu and Rachel Weisz make an odd pair that leads to a pretty interesting conclusion. Plus, Shia Labeouf!
Best cameo that almost didn’t happen: ‘Keanu’
This is a Key and Peele movie if you’ve ever seen one. Plus, it’s their first film as lead actors! It’s about how they have to infiltrate a gang in order to get back their stolen kitten, and that kitten’s name is, of course, Keanu. But that isn’t even the best part of this story. The actors wanted the man himself to be in the movie, but they were declined (it’s unclear if it was by Keanu or his representation, but it’s likely it was the latter). After his sister showed him the trailer, however, Keanu reached out to the production and he was cast as the voice of the kitten in a dream sequence. Legendary.
The movie that survives on chemistry alone: ‘Destination Wedding’
Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are big in their own right, but when you pair them together, that’s guaranteed magic! Everyone agrees Destination Wedding was a pretty mediocre movie, but there’s something special about seeing these two actors on screen. Plus, they might have accidentally gotten married in real life years ago on the set of Dracula and neither one of them are too worried about changing that. It’s kind of adorable.
Best movie that couldn’t fit in the top 5 list: ‘The Replacements’
Honestly, I wanted to include this in Keanu’s top 5, but I couldn’t justify replacing any of the above movies (see what I did there?). Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the best football movies to ever exist, but it’s also kinda dated (Brooke Langton really got the short end of the stick). Bonus points for including a very young Jon Favreau and a very energetic Orlando Jones.
Most epic Keanu entrance ever: ‘Always Be My Maybe’
You know we had to include this one on the list! The trailer for Always Be My Maybe is fantastic on its own, but it kind of broke the internet with Keanu’s epic entrance and over-the-top love fest with Ally Wong’s character. After the seriousness of John Wick, it was nice seeing him play something a little more ridiculous, and it got everyone talking (once again) about how much they love Keanu Reeves.