Acting throughout four decades,Keanu Reeveshas long been a household name, but it seems that in the last few years, his star has been shining brighter. Whether it’s his recent roles, such as playing a tongue-in-cheek version of himself inAlways Be My Maybeor a vengeance-seeking John Wick in the eponymous film, or the fact that he’s one of the few unproblematic celebrities left, he has amassed a legion of fans. The mysterious actor opts to stay out of the public eye, though directors have described him as incredibly hardworking, which no doubt comes across on-screen.
Updated August 16, 2025: If you are a Keanu Reeves fan, you’ll be happy to learn this article has been updated with additional films featuring the celebrated star.
TheCanadian actorwas born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a father of Native Hawaiian and Chinese heritage and a British mother. He grew up all over the world, living in New York City and Sydney, Australia, before his family settled in Toronto. He started acting at the early age of nine and chose to make it his career when he was only 15. Before then, he was seriously considering a career as a professional hockey player, aspiring to play for the Canadian Olympic team. Since starring in a Canadian short in 1985 and a few made-for-TV movies in 1986, Reeves has appeared in over 70 films. Out of the whopping number of roles, these are the best Keanu Reeves movies.
23Dangerous Liaisons
Directed by Stephen Frears,Dangerous Liaisonsis a period drama based on an adaptation of the 1782 French novelLes Liaisons dangereuses. It boasts a star-studded cast, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Uma Thurman, and more. The 1988 film no doubt helped to propel the career of a young Keanu Reeves. The film won Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 61st Academy Awards.
22Always Be My Maybe
Always Be My Maybeis a Netflix-produced romantic comedy starring stand-up comedian Ali Wong opposite Randall Park as childhood friends who are reunited years later. A recurring theme in the film is how Park’s character is less successful than Wong’s character, which is never more obvious than when they have dinner with Keanu Reeves, playing an uber-cool, over-the-top, fictionalized version of himself. It serves as the perfect foil to make Park’s character feel insecure and inadequate in comparison, as anyone would.
20Man of Tai Chi
Keanu Reeves made his highly-anticipated directorial debut with the 2013 multilingual martial arts filmMan of Tai Chi,telling the exciting tale of gifted martial artist Tiger Chen Linhu as he attempts to find success in a dangerous and highly profitable underground fight club.
Tiger discovers his quest to earn fast cash is compromised by the mysterious leader of the illegal operation (Reeves), who pushes his prized fighter to become a ruthless killer. Though it failed to make a splash at the box office, both Reeves and the thrilling flick earned widespread acclaim by critics, with theLos Angeles Timescalling it “a movie streamlined to evoke the timeless zip of martial arts movies past.”
19River’s Edge
Another film early on in Keanu Reeves' impressive career is the incredibly-dark crime dramaRiver’s Edge. In the film, Reeves plays Matt, an older teen caught up in an increasingly disturbing murder scenario. With plenty of underage drugs, sexuality, and violence, the film, which also stars Crispin Glover, Ione Skye, andthe late Dennis Hopper, paints an extremely bleak picture of American teenagehood. That said, it is an excellent vehicle for Reeves' acting skills.
18My Own Private Idaho
In one of his more difficult roles, Reeves plays the character of Scott Favor, a fellow sex worker and friend of River Phoenix’s Mikey Waters. The heartbreaking, gritty indie filmMy Own Private Idahodeals with heavy themes of poverty, mental illness, and closeted homosexuality, Mikey confesses his love for Scott, who then rebuffs him, falling in love with a woman. At the end of the Gus Van Sant film, the boys are separated by consequence, with Scott falling into money and opportunity and Mikey perhaps left worse off than before.
17A Walk In the Clouds
The 1995 romantic dramaA Walk in The Cloudsis directed by Alfonso Arau and depicts the atypical love story of Paul Sutton and Victoria Aragon. Reeves outstandingly plays the role of Paul, a married soldier who has recently returned from World War Two. On his way home, he randomly meets Victoria, a pregnant single lady returning to her traditional Mexican-American father who does not believe in out-of-wedlock relationships.
Related:How Keanu Reeves Almost Didn’t Play John Wick
Paul is eager to help Victoria escape her father’s wrath, so he decides to pose as her husband. He buys her a ring and gets ready to meet the family. While playing house, they actually start developing real affection for each other, and we begin to see how the lie slowly turns into the truth. The movie is most exciting when viewers see how the couple tries to navigate their way through an overbearing family while hiding a secret that can disturb the family’s harmony. Without giving away much, although this movie is not one of Reeves’s most famous ones, it’s still a testimony that his acting was excellent right from the start of his career.
16Sweet November
Speaking aboutKeanu Reeves in Romantic dramas,Sweet Novemberis bound to be mentioned. The movie is a 2001 eye-opening masterpiece directed by Pat O’Connor that depicts the love story of a rigid workaholic, Nelson (Played by Reeves), who meets the delightful, life-loving, and down-to-earth Sarah (played by Charlize Theron). She somehow manages to change his whole perspective on life in just one month and restore the joys of living in his otherwise colorless world.
Nelson agrees to spend one month with this total stranger that he meets at a DMV test. He puts his work on pause and follows her rhythm. However, when he ends up surrendering to all that love and life have to offer, he discovers a secret that announces his lucky break is over.
15Destination Wedding
Keanu Reeves reunited with hisBram Stoker’s Draculaco-star Winona Ryderfor the charming 2018 romantic dramedyDestination Wedding,in which the seasoned actors portray two unpleasant, down-on-their-luck wedding guests who, despite their insufferable eccentricities find themselves attracted to one another. The duo’s undeniable chemistry is on full display in the quirky film (even though they appear as hilariously repugnant characters), and fans of the celebrated performers couldn’t get enough of their cynical banter and pairing.
14The Lake House
Directed by Alejandro Agresti,The Lake Houseis a fantasy romance that is a remake of the South Korean filmIl Mare.It stars the onscreen-power-couple Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves and tells the story of a romance that is born, out of the scope of time, between a doctor and an architect. The movie is a beautiful continuation of the success that Reeves and Bullock achieved inSpeed.
It all begins when the doctor (Sandra Bullock) moves out of her house near a lake north of Chicago and leaves a small note for the next tenant. When the new tenant (Keanu Reeves) receives the note, he decides to respond to the address provided. Out of that correspondence is born the most unlikely of romantic encounters.
