Glen Powell is currently the “it” guy of Hollywood. If you want to catch up on all things Glen, these are his best movies so far–and where to watch them.
While Hollywood has no shortage of promising young talent, Glen Powell appears as a different sort of star entirely. Making his debut as a small-time supporting actor in the beginning of the 2000s, Powell has slowly but surely risen through the ranks of the film industry over the past 20 years. Catapulting himself from bit roles in movies like Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and The Dark Knight Rises to starring roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man, Powell’s ascension to international stardom seems almost assured.
With the recent release of Powell’s latest venture – the riveting natural disaster film, Twisters – we thought we’d take a look back at some of the up-and-coming actor’s past prominent films, ranking them in order from worst to best.
From an objective viewpoint, Anyone But You is far from a great movie, existing as a pale adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. Borrowing plenty of inspiration from earlier, far better romcoms before it, Anyone But You’s primary appeal lies in the performances of its lead casting members – specifically in the form of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s hilariously mismatched odd couple pairing. Bickering their way through the film’s hour and a half-long runtime like an old married couple, Anyone But You establishes Sweeney and Powell as the 21st century equivalent to Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in their one-of-a-kind romantic and comedic rapport. Watch Anyone But You on Netflix.
The second collaboration between Powell and his recurring director Richard Linklater, Everybody Wants Some!! also sees Powell in a far more expansive role following his previous appearance in Linklater’s Fast Food Nation. A creative companion piece to Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, Everybody Wants Some!! finds Powell donning the distinctly ‘80s apparel of college baseball player, Walt “Finn” Finnegan. A mischievous party animal able to blend into any environment he finds himself in, it’s impossible not to be won over by Finn’s outgoing charisma and consistently likable personality within the context of Everybody Wants Some!! Watch Everybody Wants Some!! on Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+.
One of Powell’s most recent projects, Twisters serves as the long-awaited standalone sequel to the 1996 natural disaster film, Twister. A film 28 years in the making, Twisters somehow managed to supersede almost everyone’s expectations, leading to one of the most sensational blockbuster films of 2024 yet. With Powell himself handing in another predictably charming performance as Internet celebrity Tyler Owens, Twisters balances its talented ensemble cast with riveting special effects throughout. Watch Twisters in theaters now.
An ideal counterpart to Powell’s celebrated performance in Top Gun: Maverick, Devotion offers a far different portrayal of the United States Navy than its stylistic predecessor. Rather than prioritizing thrilling flight sequences, Devotion spends just as much time on showing the tremendous bond between two real-life pilots as they take part in the Korean War of the 1950s. Whereas most of Powell’s other films tend to rely on the actor’s comedic sensibilities, Devotion leans more heavily on Powell’s dramatic acting, allowing for an engrossing biographical war drama most viewers won’t soon forget. Watch Devotion on Paramount+.
The film that made Powell a world-renowned star almost overnight, Top Gun: Maverick appears as that rare sequel that surpasses the overall quality of its predecessor. Improving upon the meager flaws of the original Top Gun in every way, Top Gun: Maverick makes for another worthwhile addition to Tom Cruise’s expansive filmography, as well as equipping Powell with his official breakthrough role as the arrogant – albeit ambitious – Top Gun pilot, Lieutenant “Hangman” Seresin. Watch Top Gun: Maverick on Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+.
The fourth collaboration between Powell and Richard Linklater, Hit Man also hands Powell the most screen time he’s ever received in a Linklater film yet. Portraying bookish psychology professor-turned-undercover police informant Gary Johnson, Powell’s massive range is on full display in 2023’s Hit Man. Inhabiting each one of Gary’s many disguises with startling believability, Powell disappears into every persona he portrays in Hit Man, regardless of whether he’s portraying a mild-mannered ornithologist, a Southern outdoorsman, an ominous Russian criminal, or a grinning sociopath straight out of American Psycho. Watch Hit Man on Netflix.
