Ryan Reynolds’ Most Underrated Film Deserves Your Attention—Now on Netflix

In a cinematic landscape dominated by superhero blockbusters and franchise fatigue, it’s easy to forget that Ryan Reynolds is more than just the wisecracking face of Marvel’s “Deadpool.” While audiences worldwide have embraced his razor-sharp wit and irreverent charm, the Canadian actor has quietly built an impressive résumé of independent films that showcase his dramatic range and emotional depth. Among these hidden gems sits a 2015 road trip drama that has flown under the radar for far too long: “Mississippi Grind.”

Currently streaming on Netflix, this criminally overlooked film deserves your immediate attention before it vanishes from the platform’s ever-rotating library. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck—the same creative duo behind “Captain Marvel”—”Mississippi Grind” is a character-driven masterpiece that proves Reynolds’ talents extend far beyond spandex and fourth-wall-breaking quips.

The Story: Two Gamblers, One Last Shot

At its core, “Mississippi Grind” follows Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) and Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), two gamblers whose addiction to the thrill of the bet has led them down increasingly desperate paths. Gerry, a divorced father drowning in debt to a menacing loan shark played by Alfre Woodard, is running out of options and time. Enter Curtis, a charismatic drifter with a magnetic personality and a seemingly bottomless well of luck at the tables.

What begins as a chance encounter at a backroom poker game evolves into an unlikely friendship. Curtis, drawn to Gerry’s vulnerability beneath his bluster, agrees to join him on a road trip through the American South—from Dubuque, Iowa, to New Orleans, Louisiana—with the ultimate goal of winning big at a high-stakes poker tournament. Along the way, the pair encounters a colorful cast of characters, navigates the murky waters of trust and deception, and confronts the demons that drive their shared compulsion.

Critical Acclaim That Deserves a Wider Audience

Despite its modest box office performance, “Mississippi Grind” earned widespread critical praise that any film would envy. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a respectable 91% approval rating based on 81 reviews, with the critical consensus praising its “smart, character-driven script” and the “terrific performances” from its lead actors. On Metacritic, it scored a solid 77 out of 100, based on 27 critic reviews—a score that indicates “generally favorable reviews.”

The New York Times’ A.O. Scott captured the film’s essence perfectly, describing it as “a bit of a throwback to the lived-in, character-driven, landscape-besotted films of the 1970s.” Scott’s review goes on to note that while the film may evoke that golden era of American cinema, it’s “less a pastiche or a homage than the cinematic equivalent of a classic song, expertly covered.”

What makes “Mississippi Grind” particularly compelling is how it subverts expectations. This isn’t a film about winning or losing in the traditional sense—it’s about the human condition, the relationships we forge in moments of desperation, and the self-destructive patterns we struggle to break. The gambling serves as both literal plot device and metaphor for the risks we take in life, the bets we place on ourselves and others, and the sometimes catastrophic consequences of our choices.

Box Office Flop, Critical Triumph

Here’s where the story takes a frustrating turn. Despite its artistic merits and star power, “Mississippi Grind” was a commercial disaster. Produced on a modest $7 million budget, the film grossed a paltry $130,500 at the box office—a figure so low it barely registers as a rounding error in Hollywood accounting.

The film’s distributors, A24 and DirecTV Cinema (handling US distribution) alongside Annapurna Pictures (international), must have been left scratching their heads. How could a film with Ryan Reynolds, fresh off the success of “Deadpool,” and Ben Mendelsohn, coming off his scene-stealing turn in “Bloodline,” fail so spectacularly?

The answer likely lies in the film’s marketing—or lack thereof. “Mississippi Grind” is the kind of mid-budget adult drama that studios have increasingly struggled to promote in an era dominated by franchise films and event cinema. Without the spectacle of CGI battles or the built-in audience of established IP, films like this often get lost in the shuffle, regardless of their quality.

Reynolds and Mendelsohn: A Study in Contrasts

One of the film’s greatest strengths is the chemistry between its two leads. Ryan Reynolds, known primarily for his comedic timing and action-hero physique, delivers a surprisingly nuanced performance as Curtis. He imbues the character with a roguish charm that masks deep-seated pain, creating a character who is simultaneously magnetic and deeply flawed.

Ben Mendelsohn, meanwhile, gives what many critics consider one of the best performances of his career as Gerry. The Australian actor, who would go on to play villains in “Rogue One” and “Captain Marvel,” brings a raw vulnerability to the role that makes Gerry’s desperation palpable. His portrayal of a man watching his life unravel piece by piece is both heartbreaking and uncomfortably relatable.

Together, Reynolds and Mendelsohn create a dynamic that feels authentic and lived-in. Their relationship evolves organically over the course of the film, moving from wary strangers to genuine friends in a way that never feels forced or contrived. It’s the kind of platonic male friendship rarely depicted with such honesty in mainstream cinema.

The Road Trip as Character Study

The film’s road trip structure serves it well, allowing the characters to evolve against the backdrop of America’s heartland. From the Mississippi River towns to the neon-lit casinos of New Orleans, each location becomes a character in its own right, reflecting the internal states of Gerry and Curtis as they journey deeper into their own psyches.

The cinematography by Andrij Parekh deserves special mention, capturing the faded glory of small-town America with a painter’s eye for detail. The film’s visual palette—all muted greens, browns, and blues—mirrors the emotional landscape of its protagonists, creating a cohesive aesthetic that enhances rather than distracts from the narrative.

Why This Film Matters Now

In an age of algorithm-driven content and binge-watching culture, “Mississippi Grind” offers something increasingly rare: a slow-burn character study that rewards patience and attention. It’s the kind of film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, prompting reflection on themes of friendship, addiction, and the choices that define us.

For Reynolds fans, it’s an opportunity to see the actor stretch beyond his comfort zone and deliver a performance that showcases his dramatic chops. For cinephiles, it’s a reminder of the kind of mid-budget adult dramas that streaming platforms have helped keep alive, even as theatrical distribution for such films has become increasingly challenging.

Don’t Miss Your Chance

The clock is ticking on “Mississippi Grind’s” availability on Netflix. Given the platform’s tendency to rotate its library, there’s no guarantee how long this gem will remain accessible. If you’re looking for a film that offers substance over spectacle, character over CGI, and genuine human connection over manufactured drama, add “Mississippi Grind” to your watchlist immediately.

And while you’re at it, consider this: in a world where box office numbers often dictate a film’s legacy, “Mississippi Grind” stands as a powerful reminder that commercial success and artistic merit don’t always align. Sometimes the most rewarding cinematic experiences come from the films that fly under the radar, waiting to be discovered by audiences willing to look beyond the mainstream.

So fire up Netflix, grab some popcorn, and prepare to be transported by one of the most criminally underrated films of the past decade. Your future self will thank you for discovering this hidden treasure before it disappears into the streaming ether.

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