Keanu Reeves has been working in film and television for many years, but the movies that defined Reeves’ career have all been standout projects that illustrate his talent. As one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Reeves has a significant pull at the box office and made his name in some of the most popular action franchises of the past several decades. Moving forward, Reeves has many options for what his next role is going to be, but whatever it is, it will only contribute to the legacy he has cultivated since his early days as an actor.

However, his early work shows how skilled and subtle an actor he is, as shown in his more serious dramatic roles.

Although Reeves has talked about being cast in an MCU project, nothing is confirmed yet about his being tapped to play a Marvel character. Much of Reeves’ career had been dedicated to action and thriller content, which would translate perfectly into a role with Marvel or even DC. However, his early work shows how skilled and subtle an actor he is, as shown in his more serious dramatic roles. Having the range to work so well across a variety of genres is what maintains an actor’s longevity and propels them into each new phase of their career.

Movie
IMDb Rating

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
6.9 / 10

My Own Private Idaho (1991)
7 / 10

Point Break (1991)

Speed (1994)
7.3 / 10

The Matrix (1999)
8.7 / 10

Constantine (2005)
7 / 10

The Lake House (2006)
6.8 / 10

John Wick (2014)
7.4 / 10

8Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Reeves’ breakout role and enduring comedy

Based on the sequels in the Bill & Ted franchise, it’s clear that this low-budget teen comedy from the late 1980s was never meant to be forgotten. Reeves stars as Ted alongside Alex Winter as Bill, and the young actors play hilariously bumbling high schoolers who use time travel to pass their finals. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is about as successful as a movie of its genre can get, quickly rising to cult classic status, and setting Reeves’ on a course to stardom. Even in his most dramatic work, Reeves imbues his characters with the comedic edge he gives to Ted.

The movie came at the perfect time in the cultural zeitgeist, as movies about time travel and high school were at their most popular. Premiering in the aftermath of the first Back To The Future Film, audiences were ready for a movie like Bill & Ted to lovingly poke fun at the time travel genre tropes that were becoming well-worn in cinema. From his triumph in Bill & Ted, Reeves easily leveraged his budding fame into bigger roles that would cement him as an actor to watch.

7My Own Private Idaho (1991)

A modern Shakespeare adaptation and collaboration with Gus Van Sant

Reeves and River Phoenix have tremendous chemistry in My Own Private Idaho, a film with roots in Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV Parts One and Two and Henry V. The director, Gus Van Sant, plays with narrative structure and non-linear storytelling throughout the narrative, giving it an aimless and untethered atmosphere that elevates the loneliness of the two lead characters. Though My Own Private Idaho is largely considered Phoenix’s best work, Reeves is invaluable to the story, and his decision to take on the role was pivotal for his career.

However, today, it’s considered a classic of the New Queer Cinema movement and has been extremely influential in independent filmmaking.

Dealing with themes of LGBTQ+ sexual identity, poverty, and sex work, My Own Private Idaho didn’t shy away from subjects that weren’t discussed in mainstream cinema at the time. However, today, it’s considered a classic of the New Queer Cinema movement and has been extremely influential in independent filmmaking. Being in My Own Private Idaho was a risky move for Reeves in 1991 when he was at the beginning of his career. Despite this, it turned out to be one of the most important projects he worked on and characterized him as a serious performer.

6Point Break (1991)

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Point Break features one of the best friendships in action movies between Reeves’ Johnny and Patrick Swayze’s Bodhi. Released the same year as My Own Private Idaho, Point Break was markedly different in terms of themes and characterization. Reeves plays an FBI agent on the hunt for a ring of bank robbers but soon the lines blur between right and wrong. Though it’s a typical action movie in many ways, there are parallels between Point Break and My Own Private Idaho, as the relationship between Johnny and Bodhi is a complex and intimate friendship that tests each man’s limits.

Point Break has inspired many action movies that came after, notably, The Fast and the Furious, and is an early example of Reeves dipping his toe into the action-thriller genre. Working hard to develop his surfing and action skills, Reeves dedicated himself to the role. This aspect of his preparation would carry on into his later work as Reeves is known for doing many of his own stunts. Many other prominent actors were considered to play Johnny, but Reeves landed the role and took his next step toward becoming an action star.

5Speed (1994)

A larger-than-life action thriller that pushes the boundaries of the genre