Hollywood’s latest biographical war film is here, and it delivers great charm and emotion. Starring Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell, Devotion was released on November 23 and though it had a weak opening weekend at the box office, grossing nearly $6 million (via Box Office Mojo) those who saw the film sing its praises.
Given his great immense talent, it’s not surprising that Powell provided another great performance. As fans can see from his extensive filmography on Rotten Tomatoes, much of which is certified fresh, he is able to adapt quickly to any character: whether that is as a hero, a complex villain, a fighter, or just a relatable, down-to-earth person. However, while all his characters have made a memorable impression, there’s no doubt that some stand out a lot more than others.
10 Sex Ed (2014) – 64%
Available To Stream On Prime Video & Peacock
Starring Haley Joel Osment, Sex Ed is about a new teacher who uses the after-school program to teach students about the importance of sex education. At the same time, he is set on finally losing his virginity to a student’s older sister.
Glen Powell plays JT, Eddie’s (Osment) friend and roommate at the beginning of the film. JT doesn’t always understand boundaries, but he’s a great friend, and he encourages Eddie to go for what he wants. Sex Ed can be crass or problematic at times, but the film has a sex-positive message and shows that a person’s virginity status doesn’t make them any less of a person in this world. Powell’s performance is hilarious, and the chemistry between him and Osment is the highlight of the film.
9 Scream Queens (2015 – 2016) – 77%
Available To Stream On Hulu
Scream Queens is a slasher comedy series that serves as a parody of the genre and the concept of toxic sororities. The show is extremely over-the-top and far from a cozy and mysterious TV series.
Glen Powell plays Chad Radwell, a main character in season 1. He’s an egotistical college student obsessed with girls and death, among other odd hobbies and interests. Powell also plays Chad with chaotic humor, not unlike JT in Sex Ed and Finn in Everybody Wants Some!!. Despite the character’s blatant flaws, audiences can’t help but love the guy.
8 Devotion (2022) – 80%
Available In Theaters Now
Devotion explores the true story of the first Black aviator in the US Navy and the friendship he built with Tom Hudner, a Lieutenant and fellow aviator. It takes inspiration from a biography written by Adam Makos.
Powell seems to a more uptight role in Devotion, as he portrays Hudner as a stand-up guy who goes by the book. Hudner means well, but he doesn’t understand the systemic struggles Jesse deals with because of the color of his skin. The entire cast of Devotion works together to deliver a brilliant performance with beautiful moments that can make anyone cry. It’s clear Powell and Majors are devoted to the film and its core message.
7 The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) – 81%
Available To Stream On Netflix
Based on a novel by Annie Burrows, this film follows a young author in post-war Europe, who discovers a fascinating book club that was formed on the island of Guernsey during World War 2. Lily James, Michiel Housman, and Jessica Brown Findlay star in this Netflix Original historical fiction film.
Powell plays Mark Reynolds, Juliet’s fiancé from New York. While Powell plays a more prominent and nicer version of the character than in the book. This received criticism from fans of the novel, but the actors’ performances and the beautiful cinematography make up for the change.
6 Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) – 87%
Available To Stream On Showtime
In the days leading up to classes, the boys on the college baseball team find their places among the communal living quarters and settle into college life.
Powell plays Finnegan, a stand-out role in the film. Every character has their flaws and often problematic behaviors, but somehow, they’re still fairly likable. Written and directed by Richard Linklater, Everybody Wants Some!! is based loosely on his own experience on a college baseball team in the ’80s. Most audiences enjoy this movie, but it’s not for everyone. It appears to be aimed at audiences who can find nostalgia in the ‘typical college experience’ portrayed in the film.
5 Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022) – 91%
Available To Stream On Netflix
Set around the 1969 moon landing, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood follows Stan, a young boy recruited by NASA to test out equipment made too small for an adult to handle.
Powell plays Bostick in Apollo 10 1/2, one of the two men who recruit and train Stan for the space mission. Though animated, the rotoscoping technique—most similar to that in Undone—deems Powell and his co-stars recognizable. Powell must have a passion for space and flying. Out of his ten most critically-acclaimed movies, four of them explore this subject. He even name-drops John Glenn in Apollo 10 1/2, a character he plays in Hidden Figures.
4 Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020 – 2022) – 92%
Available To Stream On Netflix
Darius wins a trip to Camp Cretaceous, a sleep-away camp at Jurassic World where he and some new friends discover the land and often get themselves into trouble.
Powell voices Dave, one of the counselors at the camp. He’s very laid back, but he watches over the kids and takes charge when it’s most important. As a sequel series, Camp Cretaceous is great and chalk-full of Easter eggs. It has a better critics’ score than all three of the Jurassic World movies. While it’s aimed more at kids, this show is a fun ride for fans of all ages, as it continues to deliver the excitement and allure that made the original films so beloved. Powell’s involvement is just a plus.
3 Set It Up (2018) – 92%
Available To Stream On Netflix
Set It Up is a romantic comedy that follows two personal assistants who try to set up their overbearing bosses in hopes to get them off their backs. Powell plays Charlie opposite Zoey Deutch’s Harper.
Charlie is a tortured assistant who’s too busy to spend time with his girlfriend or do anything fun outside of work. This is arguably Powell’s most prominent role to date, and he’s great in it. He and Deutch have impeccable chemistry, so much so that the writer of Set It Up is bringing the pair back for an all-new romantic comedy titled Most Dangerous Game.
2 Hidden Figures (2016) – 93%
Available To Stream On Disney+
Hidden Figures follows the lives of three Black women, who worked for NASA and personally had a hand in the mission that made John Glenn the first American to orbit Earth.
Based on a true story, Hidden Figures raises awareness of the hidden heroes behind the space race. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were all astrophysicists who broke barriers at NASA. John Glenn trusted Johnson’s math and advocated for her when others didn’t take her seriously. Glen Powell is far from the focus of this film, but he plays the astronaut well and delivers some memorable lines. The real John Glenn died weeks before the release of the movie, so he didn’t get to see the masterpiece, but his legacy—as well as the legacies of Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson—will live on for centuries.
1 Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – 96%
No Streaming Information Available Yet
In one of the best sequels of all time, Pete Mitchell still serves the US Navy. Maverick is brought into a wild operation to train Top Gun aviators for an impossible mission.
Powell plays Jake “Hangman” Seresin, an arrogant aviator who likes to stir up trouble. His call sign implies that he wouldn’t hesitate to leave a fellow pilot high and dry if push comes to shove. In actuality, he cares about his teammates and actively joins the fight when Maverick and Rooster are seconds away from being shot out of the sky. Both Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion came out in 2022. Powell’s a Navy pilot in both films, a part that suits him well. With Hidden Figures and Apollo 10 1/2 also on his resume, it’s likely he’s always been intrigued by air travel and chooses the best related projects to take part in.