Ryan Phillippe may be best-known for his roles in hit films such as ‘Crash’, ‘Cruel Intentions’ and ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, but the actor has starred in plenty of films that haven’t garnered the attention or the acclaim they deserve.
In more recent times Phillippe has done a fair amount of TV work including the short-lived ‘Shooter’ and ‘Big Sky’. The latter saw him publicised as the main star only for a shock twist to dispatch of him in the very first episode!
With the release of his latest film ‘PREY!’ coming on 29th April 2024 via Signature Entertainment, we’ve dug into the actor’s catalogue to highlight 5 of his films that you might not have seen, but you really should add to your watchlist.
1. ‘Little Boy Blue’ (1997)
‘Little Boy Blue’ came out the same year as ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ but it didn’t get all of the attention that the horror classic did. Directed by Antonio Tibaldi, the film saw Phillippe starring opposite Ray West and Nastassja Kinski in a story about a dysfuntional family in Texas. The story touches upon a range of hard-hitting topics including post-War PTSD and incest, and it was a better showcase for Phillippe’s talent than anything he’d done up to that point.
2. ’54’ (1998)
’54’ should have been a big campy box office hit but it’s a film that totally flew under the radar. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but it’s hugely enjoyable thanks in large part to Phillippe’s gutsy performance as Shane O’Shea, an ambitious bus boy at the infamous club willing to do… well pretty much anything. He starred opposite Neve Campbell, Mike Myers and Salma Hayek but even that added star power didn’t turn the film into a success.
3. ‘Gosford Park’ (2001)
After a series of mainstream films, Phillippe took a left turn by starring in Robert Altman’s ‘Gosford Park’, which was written by ‘Downton Abbey’ scribe Julian Fellowes. As Henry Denton, Phillippe proved he could pull of a serious role amongst a cast of big names including Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Fry. The period murder mystery was a moderate success at the box office but Phillippe’s role in it is often overlooked.
4. ‘Catch Hell’ (2014)
‘Catch Hell’ not only starred Phillippe, it also marked his debut as a screenwriter and a director. Playing washed up actor Reagan Pierce, Phillippe crafted a psychological drama that really didn’t get the credit it deserved. After being caught with another man’s wife, Reagan is kidnapped and tortured. The claustrophobic film sees him trying to escape his captors and honestly, it’s a solid thrill-ride.
5. ‘The Locksmith’ (2023)
Nicolas Harvard’s feature film debut ‘The Locksmith’ sees Phillippe leading a star-studded cast that includes Kate Bosworth and Ving Rhames. The crime thriller stars Phillippe as criminal Miller Graham who is released from prison only to find himself drawn back into the dark underbelly of society. Will this film change your life? No it won’t but you’ll be entertained by Phillippe’s compelling central performance!
Ryan Phillippe’s new film ‘PREY!’ is released on 29th April 2024 via Signature Entertainment. Watch the trailer below:
