Summary
FromJohn WicktoThe MatrixtoBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, the best movies ofKeanu Reeves’ career hold up to countless rewatches. Reeves first burst onto the scene with his turn as Matt in the crime dramaRiver’s Edge, which was considered by critics to be a breakout performance, and he quickly became a sought-after leading man with his roles inDangerous LiaisonsandParenthood. Over the years, Reeves has appeared in movies ranging from zany comedies to harrowing dramas, from action-packed thrillers to Satanic horror films.
He’s played iconic roles, like Klaatu and John Constantine, and even originated his own iconic roles, like Neo, John Wick, and Ted “Theodore” Logan. He’s been in movies based on everything from Shakespeare to Philip K. Dick toBetween Two Ferns. But which of Reeves’ movies are not just the best, but the most rewatchable?
10The Matrix Reloaded
Although it’s considered to be much weaker than its predecessor,The Matrix Reloadedis an awesome action movie that holds up on a rewatch. It might get off to kind of a slow start as Neo and the gang attend a rave in Zion, but once it gets going,The Matrix Reloadedhas some of the best action sequences of the entire franchise.Neo’s brawl with dozens of Agent Smith cloneshas some dodgy CG effects, but it’s a thrilling fight scene.
The freeway chase is a masterclass in action filmmaking; the camera moves as fast as Trinity’s motorcycle and the sequence shows a bunch of different characters’ perspectives without losing any clarity or momentum. There’s a lot of exposition to get through, but the action is always worth the wait.The Matrix Reloadedmight not have as much to say as its predecessor, but it’s just as entertaining.
9My Own Private Idaho
While Reeves is often praised for his leading-man charisma and commitment to action roles, it’s rare that he’s lauded for his dramatic abilities. But inMy Own Private Idaho, Reeves gives arguably the strongest dramatic performance of his career. This is the movie that proved Reeves was more than just the goofball seen inBill & Ted; he’s a meticulous, attentive actor who can give an Oscar-worthy performance with the right material and the right director.
My Own Private Idahois a devastating, heart-wrenching movie, so it’s not one to rewatch over and over again. But it needs to be seen at least a few times to fully appreciate the depth of Reeves’ performance. His powerful on-screen chemistry with real-life best friend River Phoenix is a sight to behold, and director Gus Van Sant gives the movie a palpable energy.
8Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Reeves’ turn as Jonathan Harker inBram Stoker’s Draculais one of his most maligned performances, mostly due to his shaky English accent, but the movie itself is a gem of gothic horror. While Reeves’ English accent is less than perfect, the rest of the cast’s performances are spectacular, from Gary Oldman as a terrifying but oddly charming Count Dracula to Anthony Hopkins as an understated Professor Van Helsing. Francis Ford Coppola brought the iconic Stoker novel to life with a sumptuous visual style unlike any other adaptation.
The movie is gorgeous to look at. It captures Stoker’s gothic world beautifully. The vibrant colors, creepy sets, and old-school production design makeBram Stoker’s Draculahold up to countless rewatches. It has the best cinematography of anyDraculaadaptation. On every viewing, there are new visual details to pick up on.
7John Wick: Chapter 4
John Wickwas followed by three sequels, each one bigger and more extravagant than the last. The second and third movies didn’t quite live up to the instant classic original.John Wick: Chapter 2feels the most episodic, promising more exciting things for the future than it delivers within its own runtime, andJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellumis too bloated and messy to hold up to repeat viewings. But Reeves and director Chad Stahelski finally cracked the code for the perfectJohn Wicksequel with the grand finale,John Wick: Chapter 4.
EveryJohn Wickmoviehas wall-to-wall action, butChapter 4managed to top everything that had come before it. It’s a masterpiece of action cinema. From the scuffle on Paris’ tallest staircase to the Dragon’s Breath shootout filmed from overhead,John Wick: Chapter 4is jam-packed with action set-pieces that yield endless thrills.
6Speed
Jan de Bont’sSpeedis a heck of a lot better than the logline “Die Hard on a bus” makes it sound. It has the perfect action movie premise to keep the stakes high and the story moving: a bus has been fitted with a bomb that will explode if the bus’ speed drops below 50mph. The simplicity ofSpeed’s storytelling and the complexity of its action sequences make it an endlessly rewatchable action movie classic.
Reeves debuted his action hero chops with his turn as eccentric cop Jack Traven, while Sandra Bullock is delightful as the put-upon passenger who’s forced to take the wheel. Dennis Hopper gives one of the action genre’s greatest villain performances as the sadistic Howard Payne. These performances makeSpeedan emotional experience on top of the visceral spectacle of the action.
5Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Reeves gave one of the earliest lead performances of his career inBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. This wacky comedy sees a pair of teenage slackers traveling through time and collecting historical figures who will help them with their history report. It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds, and it’s exactly as much fun as it sounds.
Reeves’ on-screen dynamic with Alex Winter is endlessly watchable. Bill and Ted are a lovable pair, and their undying love for each other is really endearing. Once Bill and Ted get the historical figures into the present, the movie becomes a series of sketches involving Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, and Joan of Arc trying to adapt to the modern world of the ‘80s. These sketches are all hilarious, and keep the movie fresh and interesting on rewatches – it never sticks with one character for too long.
4Point Break
With Kathryn Bigelow behind the camera,Point Breakhas some of the best-directed action sequences in the entire genre. From a shootout at an exploding gas station to a foot chase through unsuspecting people’s homes, Bigelow brings a high-octane energy toPoint Break’s action scenes that puts the audience right in the characters’ shoes. She doesn’t try to hide the camera; she embraces the presence of the camera, which makes the action feel more real.
And it’s not just exhilarating action that makesPoint Breakso rewatchable; the central dynamic is really compelling, too. Reeves shares terrific on-screen chemistry with the ludicrously charismatic Patrick Swayze in the lead roles. It’s totally believable that Reeves’ undercover FBI agent would be so charmed by Swayze’s spiritual surfer-turned-bank robber that he would completely disregard his duty to the law.
3Toy Story 4
WhileToy Story 4might not be on the same untouchable masterpiece level as its three predecessors – and its very existence was unnecessary, becauseToy Story 3was already a perfect endingto the series – it’s still a really good movie. As with any Pixar film, every single detail of the story and the characters and the environment was pored over by a crack team of creatives. There are plenty of small details to pick up on a rewatch that enrich the viewing experience.
Like the previous movies,Toy Story 4is both a hilarious comedy with a laugh a minute and a touching character drama that tugs on the heartstrings. Reeves has one of the film’s funniest supporting roles as Canadian daredevil toy Duke Caboom. He’s just one of many great gags in this movie.
2John Wick
As the shortest and simplestJohn Wickmovie, the original is also the most rewatchable. Whereas the sequels would dig into the complicated worldbuilding of a global network of assassins answering to a ruthless council, the first film is just a tale of revenge. An arrogant crime lord’s son murders the beloved pet dog of a grieving widower – severing the last connection he had to his late wife – and the widower, who turns out to be a notorious hitman, embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance.
At a tight 101 minutes,the firstJohn Wickmoviedoesn’t have any time to lag on a rewatch. It gets in, tells its story, and gets out. From the opening fight across John’s house to the blood-soaked Red Circle nightclub massacre, the originalJohn Wickfilm is full of action sequences that never get old.
1The Matrix
Arguably the most rewatchable movie of Reeves’ entire career isThe Matrix.The Matrixwas a game-changer for both the sci-fi and action genres, and it’s still just as impressive today. “Bullet time” photography is just as mind-blowing as it was in 1999, and the notion that the entire known world might just be a computer simulation is just as mind-blowing as it was in 1999. There’s a lot of pontificating to get through about consciousness and the nature of reality, but the Wachowskis never get too caught up in the exposition for it to drag down a rewatch.
From the lobby shootout to the climactic foot chase,The Matrixhas some of the greatest action sequences put on film. There’s no limit to the number of times these scenes can be enjoyed.The Matrixmight beKeanu Reeves’ finest hour (or two-and-a-quarter hours).
