The bestAlan Ritchsonmovies and TV shows reveal theReacherstar to be one of the most exciting talents to emerge in the 2000s. Born in 1982 in North Dakota, Alan Rithcson found his footing in the world of modelling before making the transition to acting. He appeared in several Abercrombie & Fitch catalogues and had a notable appearance onAmerican Idolin 2004. Following this, he decided to pursue a career on the screen that relied on more than his looks.
It was landingthe role of Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, inSmallville,a year later that kick started his rise to prominence. Following subsequent appearances on hit shows likeCSI: Miamiand90210,Ritchson eventually found his way to being cast in lead roles. Playing Thad Castle inBlue Mountain Statecemented him as an undisputedly solid performer, paving the way for many of the best Alan Ritchson movies and TV shows likeReacherandThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Blood Drive
Cast
Set in a dystopian future, Blood Drive follows a former cop as he is forced to participate in a brutal cross-country race where the vehicles are fueled by human blood. The series explores the dark and gritty challenges faced in a society teetering on the edge of chaos.
While the SyFy showBlood Driveonly lasted for a single season, it still stands as one of the best Alan Ritchson TV shows. It was his first casting as a lead role in a TV show, several years before he appeared in the likes ofReacheron Amazon Prime Video. The premise was fascinating too, as the show was set in an alternate 1999 in a world where the United States has been literally split down the middle by a giant ravine.
Alan Ritchson plays Arthur Bailey inBlood Drive,an officer of the LAPD. To make the premise even more bombastic, Bailey finds himself taking part in a race where the cars run on human blood. The show is exactly as unhinged as it sounds, and made for great viewing despite being short-lived.What’s more, as far as Alan Ritchson’s movies and TV shows go, it was an important career milestone, and remains one of his most solid performances.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 2014 film that follows the emergence of four mutated turtle warriors in New York City. As they surface from the shadows, they unite to protect their home from a daunting threat posed by a criminal kingpin.
There have been many attempts to bring theever-popularTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesto life in a live-action feature film over the years. The 2014 attempt produced by Michael Bay was easily the biggest-budget attempt to turn the franchise into a blockbuster hit so far.While the movie itself may be divisive amongTMNTfans, there’s less debate when it comes toTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesbeing one of the best Alan Ritchson movies thanks to his performance as Raphael.
While far from a veteran when it comes to voice acting, Alan Ritchson managed to bring the gritty, brooding personality of Raphael to life inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleswith ease. Ritchson ensured that Raphael was distinct among the four turtles, a particularly difficult challenge since in many previous iterations there had been considerable overlap between Raph and the team’s leader, Leonardo. Alan Ritchson still has yet to fully explore voice acting and animation, though his appearance inTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesproves it’s a viable career avenue for him.
Above the Shadows
Above the Shadows follows a young woman who has become invisible and struggles to find her way back to existence. With the assistance of the only man who can see her, she embarks on a journey of rediscovery and connection, exploring themes of identity and visibility.
2019’sAbove the Shadowsis one of the best Alan Ritchson movies not because it was a critical hit or box-office sensation, but because of the strength of Ritchson’s performance.While far from being critically panned (it still holds a 70% rating onRotten Tomatoes),Above the Shadowshas more significance as part of Ritchson’s filmography than it does as a film in its own right. Directed and written by Claudia Myers and co-starring the likes of Olivia Thirlby and Megan Fox,Above the Shadowsis an intriguing supernatural romance movie. The narrative focuses on Holly (Thirlby), a young woman who has literally turned invisible.
Ritchson plays Shayne Blackwell inAbove the Shadows,a disgraced MMA fighter and one of the only people who is able to see Holly. The pair end up falling for one another, though there’s plenty of friction as it emerges Holly was responsible for breaking the story of the affair that led to Shayne’s downfall. Alan Ritchson’s performance is easily the strongest element inAbove the Shadows,and it’s not unfair to say that his presence holds up the entire narrative.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
Theanthology seriesBlack Mirrorfeatures a different ensemble cast in every single episode, and Alan Ritchson appeared in the bleak sci-fi series in the premiere of season 3. “Nosedive” didn’t feature Alan Ritchson as the central character, instead following Bryce Dallas Howard as Lacie.However, this doesn’t stop Paul being one of the best performances of Ritchson’s career so far.
TheBlack Mirrorepisode “Nosedive” focuses on a society that is so obsessed with social media that a bad ranking on a key app could lead to people literally losing their job or contact with their loved ones (which is what happens to Dallas Howard’s Lacie). Ritchson’s character Paul is one of the few who seems uncomfortable with the status quo, and his attempts to convince his fiance, Naomi (Alice), to invite Lacie to the wedding despite the low social score make for some incredibly heartfelt and touching moments. While not his most prominent role,Black Mirrorshowcases Alan Ritchson’s ability to steal a scene even when he’s not the focus.
Fast X
Fast X is the latest installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, featuring Vin Diesel as Dom Toretto. Released in 2023, the film follows Dom and his family as they confront a formidable adversary from their past, determined to dismantle their bonds and endanger everything they hold dear.
2023’sFast Xwas every bit the high-octane roller-coaster viewing experience that fans oftheFast and Furiousfranchisehave come to expect. It also stands as one of the best Alan Ritchson movies so far thanks to his role as Aimes. The new leader of Mr. Nobody’s agency, Aimes is initially introduced as an asset for Dom Toretto and the rest of the crew. However, it’s soon revealed Alan Ritchson’s character is a villain, a double-agent working for Jason Momoa’s Dante.
It’s a fantastic role for Ritchson, and one that combines his solid action-movie and TV show experience with a dash of his skills playing semi-comedic over-the-top personas honed in shows likeBlue Mountain State.Despite sharing a screen with the likes of Jason Momoa, Vin Diesel, John Cena, and many other A-Listers, Ritchson never fades into the background inFast X, either. He’s an essential element of the story, and Ritchson’s performance cementedFast Xas being one of the best roles of his career so far.
Smallville
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
Long before superheroes dominated every aspect of the media,Smallvillewas creating the blueprint for gritty down-to-earth reimaginings of popular comics properties. Focusing on Superman/Clark Kent,Smallvilleeventually incorporated other heroes and villains from the DC Comics universe too, andthis includes one of the best performances from Alan Ritchson as Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman.
Not only was appearing inseason 5 ofSmallvilleas Aquaman a prominent role for the then-young Alan Ritchson, it was also his first acting credit to date. He went on to appear inSmallvillemultiple times, and proved that Aquaman was incredibly suitable for live-action movies and shows (long before Jason Momoa stepped up to play the same role in the DCU). WhileSmallvilleis one of Alan Ritchson’s earliest appearances, it still remains one of his best TV shows.
Blue Mountain State
Blue Mountain State is a comedy series centered around the fictional Blue Mountain State University and its football team, The Goats. The show explores the outrageous antics of team members and the college’s wild social life, highlighting themes of partying, hazing, and college football culture. Starring Darin Brooks and Alan Ritchson, the series delves into the lives of these athletes both on and off the field.
While the sports sitcomBlue Mountain Statemay not be the most long-lived or highest-rated TV show starring Alan Ritchson,his performance as Thad Castle remains one of the best (and funniest) of his career so far.Blue Mountain Stateran for three seasons between 2010 and 2011 on the Spike network, and follows the football team of the fictional Blue Mountain State University, the Mountain Goats.
The cult sitcom still has a strong supporter base, and in February 2024 it was reported byDeadlinethat a revival was in development. What’s more, Alan Ritchson is tipped to return, which is of little surprise given how integral his character,team captain Thad Castle, was to the show. Ritchson showed just how hilarious he could be in comedic roles as Thad, making the unlikable college football captain impossible not to laugh at (and, since Ritchson was in on the joke, with).
Titans
This gritty take on the “Teen Titans” franchise follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age. Dick Grayson (aka Nightwing) and Rachel Roth, a special girl possessed by a strange darkness, get involved in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy join them along the way as together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes fighting evil.
Alan Ritchson is no stranger to superhero TV shows, especially given his incredible performance as Arthur Curry inSmallville.However, he’d go on to top it when he returned to the world of DC Comics adaptations for the 2018-2023Titans,the gritty live-actionreimagining of theTeen Titansfranchise. As is the case with many of his best performances, Alan Ritchson isn’t the central character inTitans,but he is one of its most nuanced - Hank Hall, the hero known as Hawk.
One of the original Teen Titans, Hawk is one half of the superhero duo Hawk and Dove (with Dover played by Minka Kelly). Hank is incredibly brutal as far as heroes go and often struggles to keep his violent impulses in check. What’s more, he’s also torn when it comes to Dove’s relationship with Dick Grayson/Nightwing.It’s an incredibly complex role and, thanks to portraying the character of Hank Hall so well,Titanseasily ranks among the best Alan Ritchson TV shows so far.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a World War II film depicting a British Army unit’s covert operations against Nazi forces. The movie focuses on the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine organization established by Winston Churchill, whose unconventional tactics helped shape modern black operations.
FromBritish director Guy Ritchie,The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfareis a heavily stylized interpretation of the infamous Operation Postmaster that took place during World War II. Alan Ritchson appears as part of an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Henry Cavill and Hero Fiennes Tiffin. However,as real-life Dutch saboteur Anders Lassen, Ritchson manages to steal the show.
The fact thatThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfareranks so highly among the best Alan Ritchson movies showcases that his career is going from strength to strength. Director Guy Ritchie manages to bring out the very best of Ritchson’s acting abilities, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role of Lassen. His performance brings the best of his action experience in shows likeReacheror movies likeGhosts of War,and his comedic talents honed in projects likeThe Wedding Ringer.As far as Alan Ritchson movies go,The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfareshould be considered unmissable for his many fans.
Reacher
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
When it comes to the best Alan Ritchson TV shows, or indeed movies, it’s his starring role in Amazon’s action crime thriller seriesReacherthat stands out as the absolute highlight.Adapted from the novels by Lee Child,Reacherstars Ritchson asself-described hobo Jack Reacher, a retired member of the military police who finds himself drawn in to a string of deadly and dangerous investigations.Reacherwas received incredibly well by critics and viewers alike, as evidenced by its 95% critical score and 84% audience rating onRotten Tomatoes, and it’s largely thanks to Alan Ritchson’s incredible performance.
While there are many great movies and TV shows among Alan Ritchson’s appearances, none seem as suited to his talents as Amazon’sReacher,and it remains his best so far.
Multiple reviews praise Alan Ritchson’s performance inReacher,and the titular character in the show has quickly become a career-defining role for the actor.Reacherseason 3 is currently in developmentand due for release in 2025, so there’s much more screen time for Ritchson in the role to come. While there are many great movies and TV shows amongAlan Ritchson’s appearances, none seem as suited to his talents as Amazon’sReacher,and it remains his best so far.
