Ryan Gosling – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 30, 2026

Drive is minimal dialogue carrying enormous tension, La La Land and Barbie show a lighter, openly charming register, and Blade Runner 2049 sits at the cold science-fiction end of the same range. The Nice Guys is a sharp, very funny 70s buddy comedy, Only God Forgives reunites him with Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, Crazy, Stupid, Love. makes him a smooth ladies’ man, and The Big Short narrates the 2008 collapse. Half Nelson and The Notebook round out the list.

The Nice Guys (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 91% Metacritic 70

A private eye and an enforcer stumble onto a conspiracy while investigating a missing girl.

Directed by Shane Black · 1h 56m · Rated R

9 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Only God Forgives (2013)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A Bangkok crime family's revenge plot unfolds in slow, neon-soaked dread.

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn · 1h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 79% Metacritic 68

A newly single father is mentored in dating by a serial womaniser, with unexpected romantic tangles all round.

Directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa · 1h 58m · Rated PG-13

5 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Big Short (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A handful of traders bet against the housing market years before the 2008 crash proves them right.

Directed by Adam McKay · 2h 11m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Half Nelson (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A drug-addicted middle school teacher forms an unlikely bond with a student who discovers his secret.

Directed by Ryan Fleck · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Barbie (2023)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A doll living in an idealised world ventures into the real one and starts questioning her purpose and identity.

Directed by Greta Gerwig · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Notebook (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 55% Metacritic 53

The gold standard for a proper cry, still working two decades later.

Directed by Nick Cassavetes · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

12 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 88% Metacritic 81

A replicant blade runner uncovers a secret that could unravel what is left of society.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 44m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars101 wins & 164 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

La La Land (2016)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 91% Metacritic 94

A jazz pianist and an aspiring actress's romance is tested by the very ambitions that brought them together.

Directed by Damien Chazelle · 2h 09m · Rated PG-13

Won 6 Oscars246 wins & 313 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Drive (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A getaway driver's growing attachment to his neighbour pulls him into a world of brutal violence.

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Ryan Gosling – 10 Best Movies

The Nice Guys (2016)

Only God Forgives (2013)

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

The Big Short (2015)

Half Nelson (2006)

Barbie (2023)

The Notebook (2004)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

La La Land (2016)

Drive (2011)

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