Glen Powell in a red suit stares ahead intently with two men in uniforms behind in The Running Man.Image via Paramount Pictures
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Isabella Soares
Published 53 minutes ago
Isabella Soares is a Senior Writer for Collider, as well as a Cherry Picks-approved critic. A film and TV enthusiast from an early age, Isabella used to write reviews in her journal growing up, which later influenced her career path.
When not writing articles for the website, she is studying journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University with a focus on entertainment. She also enjoys watching musicals at local theaters, attending ballet performances, and going to concerts.
Born and raised in Brazil, Isabella is currently based in Canada.
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It is no secret that Glen Powell is one of the most exciting Hollywood actors currently. He is not only winning audiences over with his undeniable charisma, but he is rather proving that there is space for more high-quality, blockbuster experiences for movie goers. From Twisters to Hit Man, the actor has proven that he is dedicated to his craft and will put in the effort to make audiences leave the theater with the impression that they haven't just seen an incredible film, but had the time of their lives watching it.
Although Powell is already a certified fan-favorite, it is interesting to see which of the titles in his filmography have captivated audiences the most. The selection below features the highest rated films starring the actor on Letterboxd, each proving that he has the star power to take on even more exciting projects than the ones he has already masterfully done. Can you guess where his latest film, The Running Man, lands on this list?
10 'Anyone But You' (2023)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 2.8/5
Glen Powell as Ben and Syndey Sweeney as Bea cringing at a person offscreen in Anyone But You.Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Powell proved his romantic lead chops years prior in Set It Up, but Anyone But You solidified his status as a modern rom-com heartthrob. The film offers a fresh take on Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing, following Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Powell), two strangers who are instantly attracted to each other. They have an amazing first date, but a misunderstanding the morning after leads them to head their opposite ways. They are later brought together again for a destination wedding where Ben's best friend's sister and Bea's sister are getting married. To keep appearances, they do what they can to convince their friends and family that they are a couple, when in reality they despise each other.
Like any good enemies-to-lovers romance, Powell and Sweeney's fiery chemistry makes viewers root for them from their meet cute onward. The actors balance playfulness and charm in their portrayals of Ben and Bea, sharing several sweet moments on screen, including the swoon-worthy helicopter chase sequence. The montage at the end to Natasha Bedinfield's "Unwritten" (which happens to be Ben's serenity song), is a fun callback to early aughts rom-coms.
9 'Devotion' (2022)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.2/5
Glen Powell talks to Jonathan Majors, who sits in the cockpit of a fighter plane in Devotion.Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Devotion allowed for Powell to put his aviator training to good use, playing real-life figure, Tom Hudner. The actor's follow-up to Top Gun: Maverick is a riveting war drama centered on Ensign Jesse L. Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history. The film focuses on Ensign's enduring friendship with Tom, as the duo put everything on the line during their fight in the Korean War. Both of them eventually became condecorated wingmen, thanks to their sacrifices.
In addition to its satisfactory rating on Letterboxd, Devotion also appeased the critics, earning an 82% rate of approval on Rotten Tomatoes. On top of delivering a captivating performance as Hudner, Powell also served as producer in this film. It was a passion project for him, with the actor reaching out to Adam Makos, the author of the book that inspired the film, to get his permission to bring the story to the screen. His efforts paid off, with Devotion being a defining title in Powell's filmography.
8 'The Running Man' (2025)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.2/5
Glen Powell as Ben Richards running on a treadmill in The Running Man (2025).Image via Paramount Pictures
The Running Man was without a doubt one of the most anticipated releases of this year, and its reception has been predominantly positive from an audience standpoint. Directed by Edgar Wright, the remake has Powell in one of his most physically challenging roles to date. The action thriller follows Ben Richards (Powell), a father who takes desperate measures to save his sick daughter, enrolling in a deadly reality competition show. Pushing himself to the limit, the protagonist must survive 30 days inside the competition in order to walk away with $1 billion. The stakes are high, but Ben does what he can to outsmart the professional assassins trying to hunt him down.
Although The Running Man had a soft opening at the box office, those who did watch the film in theaters praised Powell's portrayal, which is more gruff here than in his previous performances. He channels his character's strength and determination, fighting against a system that doesn't favor him. The film is also elevated by its ensemble cast, which includes Colman Domingo, Michael Cera, and Katy O'Brian.
7 'Twisters' (2024)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar Jones looking at something on a table in Twisters, 2024.Image via Universal Pictures
If you didn't get the chance to watch Twisters on the big screen, you missed out on an out-of-body cinematic experience. The standalone sequel was able to channel the adrenaline rush from its 1996 predecessor, featuring thrilling tornado sequences that will leave anyone on edge. The disaster film follows Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser who remains traumatized by the tragic aftermath of chasing a tornado in her college years. Yet, she is warped back into the open plains, when her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) convinces her to test a new tracking system.
Joining Kate and Javi on this dangerous mission is reckless social media personality, Tyler Owens (Powell). Although Kate and Tyler have far different approaches to chasing storms, they eventually find common ground and become a great team. This is one of those films that show Powell's star power, with the actor continuing to guarantee pleasurable blockbuster experiences for movie goers.
6 'Hit Man' (2023)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5
Glen Powell as Gary Johnson teaching in HitmanImage via Netflix
Playing a character can be challenging in terms of preparation, but playing more than one is even more of a hassle. Yet, Powell makes the daunting task of playing more than one persona look easy in Richard Linklater's Hit Man. In this 2024 romantic crime caper, he plays a seemingly ordinary professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans by day, and an undercover police contractor during off hours. When Gary Johnson is hired to protect a woman in need from her abusive husband, he disguises himself as the confident and charismatic Ron. Although Gary is a natural at switching from one persona to the next, he grows attached to Madison (Adria Arjona), the woman he is assigned to protect. Their secretive relationship is bound to put his identity and job on the line.
Hit Man doesn't just show how effecting Powell and Linklater's continued partnership has become, but also tests the actor's ability to be versatile. As Gary, he has to hide his true self to not blow his disguise, and this allows the beloved Hollywood name to in turn play more than one character in a single film. Powell was also a co-writer here, which only goes to show how active he is behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
5 'Set It Up' (2018)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5
Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch as Charlie and Harper, smiling and standing side by side Set It Up.Image via Netflix
It's been a struggle to revive the rom-com genre in recent years, with only a few titles reminding viewers of the wit and charm of early-aughts favorites like How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30. Netflix's Set It Up happens to be one of the rare few, providing the ideal blend of in-office romance and matchmaking. In it, Powell plays opposite Zoey Deutch, as the two embody underpaid assistants who decide to pair up their bosses in order to lighten up their workload. This crazy plan ends up working in their favor, but to their surprise, their higher-ups aren't the only ones who find love.
The main requirement for a great rom-com is the palpable chemistry between its leads, and that is certainly the case for Powell and Deutch. Their comedic timing here is unmatched, and their dynamic is so captivating that several people have petitioned Netflix for a follow-up featuring the two actors. Although we have yet to see them together again in a project, their first collaboration has won us over.
4 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' (2018)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.5/5
Glen Powell and Lily James walking down stairs together in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.Image via Netflix
This period romance is likely one of Powell's more underseen films, but that doesn't mean that it isn't worth watching. It focuses on Juliet Ashby (Lily James), a London-based writer who corresponds with members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during World War II. Once the war is over, Juliet is overcome by the desire to visit the island she's only heard about through letters from people recounting their experiences under Nazi occupation. There she finds the potential to write a book about the people and places she sees along the way.
Powell plays Mark Reynolds, one of Juliet's love interests. Although his role is minor in comparison to the aforementioned titles, he still takes advantage of his limited screen time. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a feel-good romance bearing scenic visuals from Britain's rural setting. It is an ideal recommendation for those who enjoy being transported to another moment in time through the perspective of a character.
3 'Everybody Wants Some!!' (2016)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.7/5
Blake Jenner and Glen Powell sitting on the sofa while watching TV in Everybody Wants Some!!Image via Paramount Pictures
Powell partnered with Linklater in Everybody Wants Some!! for the second time in this college comedy. Set in Texas during the '80s, the film follows college freshman Jake Bradford (Blake Jenner) as he decides to join the baseball team. When he moves into a frat house with the rest of his teammates, they all get invested in throwing parties and enjoying every second of their last summer weekend. Powell plays Jake's roommate, Finnegan, and the two of them, alongside the rest of their group, go around campus looking for girls and trying to have a good time.
Everybody Wants Some!! follows one of those classic storyline constructs, with events taking place in the span of three days. The humor might not appeal to certain audiences, but those who are instantly drawn to more slapstick comedy will have fun watching these characters go on several misadventures in their last weekend before classes start again.
2 'Hidden Figures' (2016)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5
Glen Powell smiling at Taraji P. Henson in Hidden Figures.Image via 20th Century Studios
Rarely do we get to hear stories about women at NASA, let alone women of color. Hidden Figures, a film based on a true story, revolves around three brilliant African-Americans working for NASA who made history by being responsible for the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Powell) into orbit. Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), and Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) were basically "human computers" during NASA's Space Race, running the calculations that would ensure that John's launch was successful and that he also had a safe return. Despite facing discrimination, they beat the odds against them, proving their intelligence and worth in STEM.
If you are looking for a film that showcases the power of resilience, this should definitely be on your radar. Hidden Figures highlights these three women's trajectories, overcoming adversity and setting themselves apart in a male-dominated environment. If Dorothy, Mary, and Katherine hadn't been involved in the early space missions, America's success in the Space Race would not have likely panned out the way that it did.
1 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.0/5
Glen Powell as LT Jake "Hangman" Seresin looking surprised in Top Gun: Maverick.Image via Paramount Pictures
Top Gun: Maverick is still the highest rated Glen Powell movie on Letterboxd, and it makes a lot of sense. Not only was this legacy sequel years in the making, but it also proved that it could be possible to carry on with a story that audiences have grown attached to, and deliver the expected level of quality. Tom Cruise might be the most responsible for ensuring that Top Gun: Maverick didn't disappoint, but Powell's addition to the cast proved that he might be the closest to Cruise in terms of the films he wants to make and his determination when it comes to embodying the roles that he has.
As many well know, this sequel is set 30 years after the iconic 1986 film, with Pete "Maverick" Mitchell confronting his past and equipping the young generation of Top Gun graduates. Delivering emotional stakes and mesmerizing action sequences, the film pays homage to the original while also allowing for a fresh continuation to the story. Although we aren't sure when the third installment will be upon us, the second entry to the franchise will continue to be worth watching over and over again.
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Release Date
May 27, 2022
Runtime
130 Minutes
Director
Joseph Kosinski
Writers
Ashley Miller, Justin Marks, Peter Craig, Zack Stentz
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