After the very unusual year in 2020,Shawn Levy’sFree Guymade its way into theaters following a year-long delay. The film proved to be a major success, resonating with audiences and critics alike while displaying Levy’s directing talents. The Canadian director has been working in Hollywood for many years and was a producer on the critically acclaimed 2016 filmArrival. In addition, Levy has been an executive producer on Netflix’sStranger Thingsandhas directed two episodesin every season thus far. Following collaborations with Ryan Reynolds onFree GuyandThe Adam Project, Levy has been announced as thedirector ofDeadpool 3.
As audiences await the director’s upcoming projects, they may want to consider revisiting some of Levy’s previous movies. Or possibly even watch them for the very first time. Levy’s filmography includes work in the genres of comedy, sci-fi, romance, and drama. But the common thread running through all of Levy’s films is the combination ofheart, laughter, and spectacle. To make your life a little easier, we have compiled and ranked a list of Shawn Levy’s best movies.
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6Date Night
It has been over a decade sinceDate Nightwas released, which has remained a unique blend of action, comedy, and romance that has not frequently been found elsewhere. Steve Carell and Tina Fey were cast as Phil and Clare Foster, a married couple who sought a way to escape their mundane lifestyle. They made the decision to set up a more exciting “date night,” beginning with a dinner at a nice restaurant in New York City. What was expected to be a simple night took a dramatic turn when Phil stole a dinner reservation from another couple. By doing so, Phil unintentionally created a case of mistaken identity where they were believed to have stolen from a mobster boss. The Fosters ultimately succeeded in reigniting some of their lost romance and bringing more excitement into their lives.
5This Is Where I Leave You
Great character dynamics and a stellar cast that included Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Adam Driver, and Rose Byrne has earnedThis Is Where I Leave Youthe number five spot on this list. While the film may have been marketed as a comedy,This Is Where I Leave Youwas more a drama about a dysfunctional family. Four siblings were brought together under the same roof for a week. One week may not be a very long time, but it was for the Altman siblings. They were related by blood, but they definitely were not compatible roommates. Over time however, the family healed some of their wounds and collectively mourned the loss of their father.
4Night at the Museum
Shawn Levy’s 2006 fantasy comedy,Night at the Museumwas so successful that it launched a film franchise. Two film sequels soon followed the originalNight at the Museum, with anupcoming animated film for Disney+also currently in development. Ben Stiller’s Larry Daley was hired as a night-shift guard at New York’s American Museum of National History. He applied because he needed a stable job and wanted to be a better example for his son. But Daley had no idea about what he had signed up for, discovering that the museum’s exhibits come to life at night.Night at the Museum’s premise was fresh, unique, interesting, and fortunately, the film was able to use it to become very charming. The movie was a fun family-adventure from the mid-2000s.
3Real Steel
Real Steelstarred Hugh Jackman as a former boxer, pushed out of his sport when robots replaced human competitors. The 2011 film took place in the year 2020, but it is safe to say that their predictions of what the future would look like were a little off. InReal Steel,Charlie Kenton (played by Jackman) worked with his son to train the ultimate robot-boxer. The movie was not based on the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots and was also not a part of theRockyfranchise, but the comparisons were always going to be inevitable. This was a competently-made sci-fi sports drama with likable characters, great action thrills, and an emotional hook in the relationship between father and son.Real Steelwas slightly corny and contained a number of film clichés, but that didn’t stop it from being a very enjoyable film.
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2The Adam Project
Shawn Levy directedThe Adam Project, a high-budget science fiction adventure for Netflix. The movie had some major power in its cast including Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldaña, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, and Catherine Keener. Reynolds was Adam Reed, a pilot from a dystopian future that came into contact with his younger self. The two then joined forces on a mission to find Future Adam’s lost wife and save the world.The Adam Projectwas a heartwarming flick with a great cast and lots of entertaining action. Those who love family sci-fi and space opera such asThe Last StarfighterorFlight of the Navigatorwill find something to love aboutThe Adam Project.
Free Guywas like what would have happened ifThe Truman Show,Ready Player One, andThe Matrixwere all rolled up into one. The film was about a constructed virtual reality after all, and was loaded with pop culture references. Ryan Reynolds played Guy, the titular character and protagonist. But Guy was not a real person; he was a self-aware NPC (non-player character) in the virtual world of Free City. Underlying everything was a world and a well-written story that allowed the characters to reach their full potential.Free Guycould have easily been a comedy that few people watched and quickly forgot about, but that was not the case. Shawn Levy created a massively entertaining, surprisingly funny film with lots of heart.
