10 Greatest Keanu Reeves Movies, Ranked According to Rotten Tomatoes

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Keanu Reeves as Jack pointing a gun on a bus in Speed.

Anja Djuricic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1992. Her first interest in film started very early, as she learned to speak English by watching Disney animated movies (and many, many reruns). Anja soon became inspired to learn more foreign languages to understand more movies, so she entered the Japanese language and literature Bachelor Studies at the University of Belgrade.

Anja is also one of the founders of the DJ duo Vazda Garant, specializing in underground electronic music influenced by various electronic genres.

Anja loves to do puzzles in her spare time, pet cats wherever she meets them, and play The Sims. Anja's Letterboxd four includes Memories of Murder, Parasite, Nope, and The Road to El Dorado.

Keanu Reeves has one of the most successful top 10 lists on Rotten Tomatoes, with movies that don't go below 80% of critical approval. Despite a long acting and musical career, participation in some of the world's most famous movie franchises, and introducing novelty into beloved genres, Reeves still feels like an underrated actor.

Whether he did a voiceover, his own stunts, or a Shakespearean play adapted to the screen, Reeves left a lasting mark on these projects and is sometimes their best representative or symbol. Here are the ten greatest Keanu Reeves movies, ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes from "worst" to "best."

10 'River's Edge' (1987)

Tomatometer Score: 88%

Keanu Reeves in a denim jacket staring ahead with angst in River's Edge.

River's Edge is a bleak and somewhat hopeless image of youth, feeling like a coming-of-age horror story rather than being inspiring. Yet, for many, the darkness and heaviness of the story will feel relatable, as the movie does an excellent job of honing a sort of hopelessness among the teenage population, showing them as having to go through many dark places while the adults in their lives remain indifferent. Reeves was cast for his presence and charisma, but does a great job as one of the co-leads.

River's Edge follows teenagers Matt (Reeves) and Layne (Crispin Glover), who learn that their friend John (Daniel Roebuck) killed his girlfriend Jaime. While John progressively loses himself in the incident, Matt, Layne, and other people in their friend group try to cope with the loss of Jaime, John's sudden and terrifying transformation, and accepting the passage of life. The movie is fictional, but it seemed to have been inspired by a real-life case of a teenager murdering his girlfriend in 1981; the movie has an 88% certified Fresh score, and the rating is justified—River's Edge is a pretty great drama where Reeves stands out as a compassionate lead.

9 'Always Be My Maybe' (2019)

Tomatometer Score: 89%

Keanu Reeves eating a meal with headphones on in 'Always Be My Maybe'

Always Be My Maybe is a movie in which Reeves showcased his comedic side, and to great effect. It stars Ali Wong and Randall Park, and it's a heartfelt and hilarious rom-com with two exceptional Asian leads that became one of the most popular movies of 2019. It's an endlessly rewatchable flick, not just because of Wong and Park's dynamic, but because of Reeves' guest role, too—he plays himself. Wong spoke about how he was on board with the entire idea of being a bit self-deprecating, even adding some suggestions to amp things up and be even more ridiculous; in the same interview with Rolling Stone, she said, "It’s hard to describe just how shockingly funny he is."

Always Be My Maybe follows two childhood friends, Sasha (Wong) and Marcus (Park), who grew up together but grew distant after sleeping together. Sixteen years later, the two accidentally reconnect, and realize they still have feelings for each other. Reeves appears as Sasha's new boyfriend in the film, getting into a physical altercation with Marcus after a failed double date. Always Be My Maybe is a very funny and sweet rom-com, and if you want to see Reeves in a more unique and unexpected role, this is the perfect one.

8 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' (2019)

Tomatometer Score: 89%

John Wick and Sofia Al-Azwar walking through the desert with two German Shepherds in John Wick 3.

Some might consider The Matrix to be Reeves' most successful franchise, and though box office numbers and cultural impact prove this to be true, the John Wick franchise achieved higher and more consistent growth over time. It's an incredibly popular universe that came to be at the last minute, now spanning four movies in the main narrative, one prequel series, and one spin-off movie—not showing any signs of stopping. The lowest RT score in the franchise goes to the first movie, John Wick (86% Fresh), while the second and third installments share the same, certified fresh score of 89%. These scores are pretty great, either way.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the second to last film with John Wick (Reeves) as the lead, and it continues to follow Wick on the run after he's been declared "excommunicado" for killing a member of the High Table on the Continental grounds, a place where killing is strictly forbidden as the Continental hotels serve as sanctuaries for the hitmen. With Wick now on the run, he's pursued by a deadly Japanese assassin, Zero (Mark Dacascos) and the sociopathic enforcer known as The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon). As always, it's a fun, action-packed, and sweaty romp, even featuring choreographed fights with two Belgian Malinois dogs and Halle Berry.

7 'John Wick: Chapter 2' (2017)

Tomatometer Score: 89%

In the John Wick sequel, aptly subtitled Chapter 2, John Wick retrieves the beloved car that got him back into assassin action in the first movie. Not just that, but he gets involved with the Italian Camorra (crime syndicate), getting hired to kill an old acquaintance. With more and more entanglement with the Camorra, Wick reaches his wit's end and decides to kill on the Continental grounds, which immediately labels him "excommunicado."

If the first John Wick was about the man, Chapter 2 is about the world he lives and works in. This sequel aptly dives into the logistics and technicalities of the Continental hotels and the assassins' world that Wick retired from. It's a violently beautiful way to set up the John Wick universe and to give us some background, more appeal, and a foundation for a lasting legacy when it comes to other sequels and movies in the same universe. Like all other movies, Chapter 2 is also beautifully choreographed and features some amazing boss fights; it also shows us that Reeves, who was 52 when Chapter 2 came out, is in immense physical shape and ready to give us his all for the right kind of role.

6 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1993)

Tomatometer Score: 90%

Much Ado About Nothing is one of William Shakespeare's most famous comedy dramas, and it's definitely one that's been adapted for the screen more than several times. The version starring Keanu Reeves from 1993 recently got some traction, most notably because of how good he and Denzel Washington look in it, but the two veterans also deliver stunning, memorable, and ridiculously entertaining roles, alongside a pretty stellar cast. Kenneth Branagh directed, wrote, and stars in this adaptation, together with Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Robert Sean Leonard, Reeves, and Washington.

Much Ado About Nothing follows Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon (Washington), his half-brother, Don John (Reeves), and his noblemen, Benedick (Branagh) and Claudio (Leonard); they embark on a journey to visit Pedro's friend Leonato in Messina. There, Claudio falls for Leonato's (Richard Briers) daughter Hero (Beckinsale), and Pedro begins scheming to get them together, with all the group having their own agenda when it comes to matters of the heart. It's a romantic comedy, a stellar ensemble film, and one of the best Shakespeare adaptations—and it stars Reeves.

5 'Dangerous Liaisons' (1988)

Tomatometer Score: 91%

A still from the film Dangerous Liaisons featuring Keanu Reeves as his character Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny.

One of the most beautiful period dramas, Dangerous Liaisons, was filmed on location at Île-de-France, and it's gorgeous, scandalous, and incredibly fun. This romantic drama borders on erotica with its themes of lust, love, and desire, and it's another period piece boasting a stellar cast of which Reeves is a part of. John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, and Reeves play the core group around which the events revolve; Malkovich and Pfeiffer had an affair during filming, undoubtedly swept away by the story's seductive, lustful nature.

Dangerous Liaisons was based on the novel of the same name (translated from French) by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, and Christopher Hampton's play based on the novel; it follows the French aristocrats in 18th-century France, including Marquise de Merteuil (Close), Vicomte de Valmont (Malkovich), and Madame de Tourvel (Pfeiffer) as they scheme to seduce, disgrace, and deceive people around them, including each other. Reeves portrays a poor but kind suitor to Cecile (Thurman), who becomes Valmont and Merteuil's target. If you love lush period pieces where it's obvious aristocrats didn't have much to do but, well, these things, Dangerous Liaisons is the perfect movie.

4 'Parenthood' (1989)

Tomatometer Score: 92%

Keanu Reeves combs Martha Plimpton's hair in Parenthood.

Ron Howard's Parenthood is one of the best movies starring Steve Martin, and it's a sweet coming-of-age drama that is often funny and relatable. Howard co-wrote the script, basing a lot of the events in the film upon his own experiences as a parent; other writers also included some of their own experiences, making the movie feel personal and realistic on several levels. Reeves portrays Tod, one of the younger characters whose love interest is Martha Plimpton's Julie, and they're joined by Martin, Dianne Wiest, Mary Steenburgen, Rick Moranis, and the young Joaquin Phoenix.

Parenthood centers on the four Buckman siblings: Gil (Martin), a workaholic with three children; Helen (Wiest), a mother to Julie, a high school girl married to her boyfriend Tod, and Garry (Phoenix), a secretive teenager; Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), a teacher whose marriage to Nathan seems to be failing; and Larry (Tom Hulce), the black sheep of the family. The movie depicts the Buckmans as they navigate their children's impact on their lives, and their own impact on their children, teaching them lessons about life, family, dedication, and sacrifice.

3 'John Wick: Chapter 4' (2023)

Tomatometer Score: 94%

Donnie Yen and Keanu Reeves in front of a desk in John Wick Chapter 4.

The final installment of the John Wick saga is Chapter 4, and its RT score is a whopping 94% —but this is more than justified. If you've ever played a video game, Chapter 4 evolves and moves forward like one, going through stages and final bosses in each, until you get to the very end and encounter the final boss. In Wick's case, the final boss turns out to be his own dedication to finishing things and finally giving his pursuit an ending; that, and Bill Skarsgård's despicable Marquis de Gramont. It's a beautiful action epic that cements Keanu Reeves as the ultimate action hero of our time.

Chapter 4 follows Wick's continued run from the members of the High Table, although they now believe he is dead. Wick hides at the lair of the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) and plots his revenge against the High Table; as soon as they learn Wick's still alive, the Marquis de Gramont (Skarsgård) is given unlimited resources to eliminate Wick once and for all. He sends his best and most powerful forces, but none come close to Wick's strength and legendary power. Reeves frequently faces off against Donnie Yen, a martial arts legend, and their fights are poetic, beautifully choreographed violence that feels like a dangerous dance. It's a truly great movie for any fan of action epics.

2 'Speed' (1994)

Tomatometer Score: 95%

Keanu Reeves looks worried as Sandra Bullock drives a large bus in Speed.

Speed is one of the best action movies ever made, and one of the coolest Oscar-winning films (though its Oscar win was for Best Sound, but it counts). Speed cemented Reeves as a class-act action hero, three years after his stint in Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break; in Jan de Bont's film, he's a lover and a fighter, and his chemistry with Sandra Bullock is still talked about today. The two even claimed to have had crushes on each other during filming, which we totally understand. Speed has a 95% fresh RT score and earns it with each minute.

Speed is an iconic action thriller that follows LAPD SWAT team member Jack Traven (Reeves) chasing after a notorious bomber, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), who sets his sights on getting revenge on Traven after he stops him from executing his dangerous plan in LA. Payne reappears and demands Traven be the one to try and prevent another bomb, which he this time placed on a city bus; the bomb activates when the bus starts going over 50 mph, and Traven boards the bus to try and defuse the bomb. On the bus is Annie (Bullock), who takes over driving the bus at some point, and they work together in a high-stakes, relentless chase across the streets of Los Angeles. It's also super romantic in a strange way, if you're into action like this.

1 'Toy Story 4' (2019)

Tomatometer Score: 96%

Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) in 'Toy Story 4'

Anyone who's seen Toy Story 4 has recognized the voice behind Duke Caboom, a new toy introduced alongside icons like Woody and Buzz Lightyear—it was Keanu Reeves. His voice role makes Toy Story 4 his highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 96% Fresh rating; it's also the highest-grossing movie of the franchise, surpassing the universally acclaimed Toy Story 3 in box office success. Toy Story 4 won the Best Animated Feature Oscar, and it added plenty of fresh cast members, including Keegan Michael-Key, Jordan Peele, Tony Hale, Christina Hendricks, and Reeves.

Toy Story 4 is set after Andy, Woody's (Tom Hanks) owner, goes to college and leaves his toys to a girl named Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). Bonnie doesn't really play with Woody, and he sneaks into her backpack to try and become her comfort toy; Woody's plan fails and Bonnie has a new comfort toy, Forky (Hale). Woody helps Forky overcome a crisis after he runs away, meeting old friends and making new ones along the way. Reeves' Duke Caboom is a stunt bike toy modeled after the Evel Knievel bike toy, and he's dressed in an all-white jumpsuit and has a handlebar mustache—and he's effortlessly cool.