Meg Ryan movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best (2025)

With her quirky personality and perky smile, Meg Ryan reigned as queen of romantic comedies for over two decades after stumbling onto an acting career during her college years. Over the past 30 years, the blond-haired, blue-eyed actress has carved out a diverse and successful career, making her one of the most popular actresses of her time.

Ryan was born November 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut. After graduating high school, she majored in journalism at New York University, and began acting to earn extra money, adopting the name Meg Ryan (taken from her grandmother’s maiden name). Following appearances in TV commercials and her film debut in George Cukor‘s final film “Rich and Famous,” Ryan gained fame as half of one of the most popular soap opera super couples with her portrayal of Betsy Stewart Montgomery on “As the World Turns” from 1982-1984. Her successes led her to drop out of college to pursue an acting career – a wise decision that led to her participation in some of the most iconic films of the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1986, Ryan snagged a small role in the blockbuster success “Top Gun,” playing the wife of Anthony’s Edwards‘ character. Some smaller roles followed over the next few years until 1989, when she received her huge breakout co-lead role as Sally Albright opposite Billy Crystal in “When Harry Met Sally,” which garnered her the first of three Golden Globe nominations and made her the go-to gal for romantic comedies. The following year, she paired for the first time with Tom Hanks in “Joe Versus the Volcano.” Her other two pairings with Hanks, “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993) and “You’ve Got Mail” (1998), would prove to be two of her most critically and commercially successful films to date and result in her other two Globe nominations.

Throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, Ryan was one of Hollywood’s most sought-out actresses, turning down roles in films such as “Silence of the Lambs” and gaining attention for films such as “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “City of Angels,” which ventured away from the rom-coms for which she had become famous. Since the early 2000s, she has appeared in a variety of films ranging from comedy to drama to thriller, even causing a bit of a stir with a graphic love scene in the 2003 erotic thriller “In the Cut.” In 2015, she made her directorial debut with the drama “Ithaca,” in which she co-stars alongside her son Jack Quaid.

In 1987, Ryan co-starred with Dennis Quaid in the cult favorite “Innerspace,” leading to their romantic pairing and future collaborations in “D.O.A.” (1988) and “Flesh and Bone” (1993). The two were married from 1991-2001, and they share son Jack, born in 1992. In 2006, Meg adopted a 14-month-old girl from China, whom she named Daisy True. Since 2010, she has been in an on-again, off-again relationship with rock icon John Mellencamp.

Her bubbly personality will forever be associated with romantic comedies, many of which have a permanent place in film history and the hearts of cinephiles. However, she has proven her ability to play many different characters, and shown talent for behind-the-scenes work for both the big and small screens. Hopefully, we’ll see much more from this lovely lady in the coming years. For now, here is a ranking of her best films to date.

Tour our photo gallery featuring her 15 best films, including all of the ones mentioned above.

  • 15. Restoration (1995)

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    In this historical drama, young physician Merivel (Robert Downey, Jr.) finds favor with King Charles II (Sam Neill) and is soon leading a life of debauchery – until he falls in love with the king’s mistress (Polly Walker). Banished from the king’s court, Merival finds love again with a troubled young woman named Katherine (Ryan) and a renewed dedication to his craft when London is hit with the plague. The film won Oscars for Art Direction and Costume Design.

  • 14. Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

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    Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) is a hypochondriac working a demeaning job when he is told that he has only a few months to live. Joe accepts an offer to live his last days as a “king” in return for throwing himself into a volcano to appease the superstitious residents of the island of Waponi Woo. Along the way, he encounters different three women who affect his life: fellow repressed coworker DeDe, flighty Angelica and the grounded Patricia, who is also the captain of the yacht that takes him to the island. Ryan displays her diversity by playing all three of these parts, and proves her great chemistry with Hanks in the first of their three pairings. Although not well-loved upon its release, this film has gone on to gain a cult following for its dark humor.

  • 13. Prelude to a Kiss (1992)

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    Free-Spirited but pessimistic Rita (Ryan) falls in love with conservative Peter (Alec Baldwin). At their wedding, an elderly man (Sydney Walker) asks permission to kiss Rita. The kiss causes the two to change bodies, testing the love between the newly-wed couple. “Prelude to a Kiss” is a fun love story fantasy, and the perfect outlet for Ryan’s quirky personality and cuteness.

  • 12. Anastasia (1997)

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    Ryan joined John Cusack, Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Lloyd and Angela Lansbury in lending voices to the characters of this popular animated film. Ryan is the title character, who is loosely based on Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, the youngest daughter of the last tsar of Russia. The entire family was killed during the Russian Revolution, but rumors swirled that Anastasia survived, and in this tale, “Anya” is an amnesiac raised in an orphanage who sets out at age 18 to find her rightful heritage as the duchess. The film was successful with audiences and critics, and received two Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations. As the reigning queen of romantic comedies at the time, Ryan was the perfect choice to voice a fairy tale “princess.”

  • 11. The Doors (1991)

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    The life and tragic death of Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer), legendary lead singer of The Doors, is chronicled in this biopic. Ryan is his “muse” Pamela Courson, with whom he has a tumultuous love affair, spanning several years and including infidelity from both sides. The Oliver Stone biopic received mixed reviews, but the music is great and Kilmer and Ryan capture the love and the tragedy behind two lives cut too short.

  • 10. Kate and Leopold (2001)

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    In one of his earliest Hollywood films, Hugh Jackman is Leopold, a 19th-century English duke accidentally catapulted into modern-day New York City, where he meets Kate (Ryan), an outspoken career woman. He is soon captivated by this spunky woman; however, as an original designer of the elevator, Leopold’s absence in 1876 is causing havoc with the present-day elevator system, and he and Kate are forced to make irreversible decisions about their futures. This blend of comedy, time travel and romance is a fun watch, with Ryan at her best in her signature genre.

  • 9. Top Gun (1986)

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    Ryan made her feature film debut with a small but memorable role in one of the biggest films of the 1980s. She plays Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Maverick’s (Tom Cruise) best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards). The film won an Oscar for the song “Take My Breath Away,” was the highest-grossing movie that year and has become one of the most recognizable pop culture successes in film history. Ryan made a big enough impression to be cast in “Innerspace” the following year.

  • 8. French Kiss (1995)

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    Finicky Kate (Ryan) flies to Paris to confront her straying fiance, but is thrown into a smuggling scheme by her seatmate, crude Frenchman Luc (Kevin Kline). A wild adventure for Kate ensues, leading to a romance she never expected. Ryan added co-producer to her credentials for the first time with this film.

  • 7. When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)

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    Ryan tackles the issue of alcoholism and its effect on families with her portrayal of Alice Green, a school counselor, wife and mother of two who must face the devastating impact of her addiction on her family. After a stint in rehab, Alice emerges a stronger and less dependent woman, which changes the dynamic with her husband Michael (Andy Garcia) and forces them to reevaluate their relationship. Ryan received many favorable reviews for her performance, and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

  • 6. Innerspace (1987)

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    During a secret experiment, pilot Lt. Tuck Pendleton (Dennis Quaid) is miniaturized and accidentally implanted into hypochondriac Jack Putter (Martin Short) following an attack by a rival organization. Once Jack is aware of what’s happening, he enlists the help of Tuck’s former girlfriend, reporter Lydia Maxell (Ryan), and the three embark on an adventure to bring down the enemy and free Tuck before he runs out of air. Although it wasn’t a huge box office hit at the time, the film won an Oscar for its visual effects and has gone on to become a cult favorite with its blend of comedy, romance, sci fi and adventure.

  • 5. City of Angels (1998)

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    In this fantasy romance, angel Seth (Nicholas Cage) falls in love with caring doctor Maggie (Ryan) and must decide if he wants to retain his immortality or to become a human to be with the woman he loves. Maggie must overcome her doubt to believe in the things that she cannot see. The film did well at the box office, and Ryan received several favorable reviews for her poignant performance.

  • 4. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

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    Ryan teamed with Tom Hanks for a third time in this update to the 1940 Ernst Lubitsch comedy “The Shop Around the Corner.” Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) owns a small family bookstore which is in danger of closing when Joe Fox (Hanks) opens a mega bookstore nearby. The two take an instant dislike to each other, igniting a business rivalry, with each being unaware they are also each other’s internet “pen pal.” As the two become infatuated online, in real life they battle it out to survive in business. Hanks and Ryan have great chemistry, and Ryan once again proves that she excels in romantic comedy, earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

  • 3. Courage Under Fire (1996)

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    Lieutenant Colonel Serling (Denzel Washington), haunted by a deadly mistake in his past, is tasked with determining if Captain Karen Emma Walden (Ryan) is deserving of the Medal of Honor. She died following a rescue mission after which her own copter went down. Serling must solve the mystery surrounding her death as he sorts through conflicting stories from her crew; as she is only seen in flashback, Ryan’s character is portrayed in entirely different lights dependent on who’s telling the story: was she a hero or a coward? Ryan handles the challenging role well, and the film received mostly positive reviews.

  • 2. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

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    In Seattle, Sam (Hanks) is still grieving over the death of his wife, and his young son Jonah (Ross Malinger) encourages him to call in to a radio talk show to discuss his feelings. Hundreds of sympathetic women start writing to the widower, including Annie in Baltimore, who writes Sam to suggest he meet her on top of the Empire State Building, a’la “An Affair to Remember.” The entire movie is about Jonah’s efforts to get Sam and Annie to meet – it’s a unique love story in which the two leads don’t meet until the end. With an Oscar-nominated screenplay by Nora Ephron (who also directed) and an Oscar-nominated song mixed in with classics from the big band era, “Sleepless in Seattle” has gone on to become a modern-day romance classic. The film, Ryan and Hanks were all nominated for Golden Globes.

  • 1. When Harry Met Sally. . . (1989)

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    “Can men and women ever be just friends?” Over the course of a decade, Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) ponder the answer to that question as they navigate romantic relationships, before discovering that sometimes friends make the best partners. Ryan’s faked orgasm in the deli is an iconic scene that is imitated and honored 30 years later and still makes us want to “have what she’s having.” One of the most well-loved films not only of its time but to this day, “When Harry Met Sally. . .” earned Ryan her first Golden Globe nomination, validated her place as a romantic comedy heroine and cemented her spot in pop culture history.

Meg Ryan movies: 15 greatest films ranked worst to best (2025)

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