Ryan Reynolds was no stranger to acting success prior to his career-defining role as Wade Wilson in 2016’s Deadpool.

With previous leading roles in films like The Proposal, Green Lantern, and R.I.P.D., Reynolds had proven his worth as a bankable Hollywood star. However, none of his past films achieved the same level of mainstream recognition or critical acclaim as Deadpool. The R-rated superhero film became the highest-grossing X-Men film ever at the time, grossing over $783 million worldwide. For Reynolds, Deadpool’s surprise box office dominance represented a watershed moment – catapulting the actor to new heights and cementing his status as an A-lister. Here’s an in-depth look at how the Merc with a Mouth left an indelible impact on Ryan Reynolds’s career trajectory.

Blockbuster Box Office Success
While Reynolds had scored hits before, none had the same box office power as Deadpool. The film blew away expectations by earning over $132 million domestically in its opening weekend. This marked the biggest debut ever for an R-rated film, usurping The Matrix Reloaded’s record. Deadpool also scored the biggest opening ever for 20th Century Fox at the time. For Reynolds, this type of mainstream success was unprecedented. It signaled that his name could be trusted to draw big crowds. Even more surprising was Deadpool’s staying power. The film enjoyed remarkable week-to-week holds thanks to stellar word-of-mouth. Reynolds’ passion project ultimately grossed over $363 million domestically and $783 million worldwide. The numbers cemented the actor’s box office mettle in Hollywood and proved that R-rated comic films could find mass acceptance. Reynolds leveraged that industry clout in future negotiations, demanding bigger upfront salaries and backend deals.

Recognition as an Action Star
Though no stranger to action-oriented roles, Reynolds had never anchored a major hit as the primary action lead. With Deadpool, the actor handled intense action choreography with aplomb while delivering laughs between kinetic set pieces. Critics praised Reynolds for his physical comedy and commitment to the film’s demanding fight training. The role evinced Reynolds’ versatility and prowess as an action hero who could keep pace with the likes of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. The film immediately cast Reynolds in a new light in the eyes of Hollywood. No longer was he just a rom-com lead. Reynolds had officially joined the upper-echelon of bankable action stars. It’s a reputation he continues to foster as the anchor for major studio tentpoles.

Greater Creative Control

Another major way Deadpool influenced Reynolds was granting him more creative control over subsequent projects. Passionate about the source material, Reynolds spent nearly a decade trying to get the film made. After proving doubters wrong with such a sizable hit, Reynolds found himself with enough industry capital to leverage more personal projects. In 2018, Reynolds co-wrote, starred in, and produced a Deadpool sequel. Taking on a larger creative role, Reynolds had more control over plot, tone and casting. Later films like Free Guy and The Adam Project also saw Reynolds assume a hands-on producer role. This allows the actor to shape projects from the ground up rather than simply starring in studio vehicles. Reynolds has specifically used his clout to develop films rooted in original stories not based on existing IP. That creative freedom stems directly from Deadpool’s success.

Leading Man Status
After Deadpool, Reynolds was no longer viewed as just a reliable supporting player. Virtually overnight, he had joined the ranks of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. Studios and filmmakers suddenly saw Reynolds as someone who could put butts in seats as the undisputed headliner. Whereas the actor once had to vie for lead roles, parts were now developed specifically with Reynolds in mind. Major studios like Fox and Paramount fiercely competed to lock Reynolds down for franchise roles and big-budget films. For example, Reynolds was cast as the lead in 2017’s Life mere weeks before Deadpool opened. The film’s director, Daniel Espinosa, admitted he had not considered Reynolds until after seeing early Deadpool buzz. “It confirmed many things I was hoping about Ryan,” Espinosa said. Seemingly overnight, Reynolds went from comedy star to bankable leading man status.

Genre Versatility
Perhaps most importantly for an actor, Deadpool demonstrated Reynolds’ versatility across genres. Though known mainly for comedy, Reynolds proved he could blend humor, drama and action seamlessly. That hybrid tone – balancing R-rated jokes with comic book thrills – became Deadpool’s secret weapon. Reynolds’ sharp comedic timing earned praise as the perfect foil to temper graphic violence. The actor himself called comedy his “armor and shield” allowing him to take risks. By playing against type, Reynolds showed a range many didn’t think possible pre-Deadpool. Since then, studios have tapped into the actor’s versatility. Reynolds has jumped between hardcore action films (The Hitman’s Bodyguard), family fare (Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), and even musicals (Spirited). That genre-crossing ability stems directly from his breakthrough as Deadpool. No longer typecast, Reynolds has carved a niche by blending humor across genres.

In conclusion, Deadpool represented a watershed moment in Ryan Reynolds’ career. Though successful before, the film catapulted Reynolds to new heights rarely seen by actors. Thanks to Deadpool’s surprise dominance, Reynolds unlocked elite Hollywood status – earning creative control, leading man roles, and box office power. The film expanded the types of projects Reynolds could tackle and the budgets he could command. Once viewed as a reliable comedy player, Reynolds has emerged as one of film’s most versatile stars. And he has the Merc with the Mouth to thank. While Reynolds had already built a strong foundation, Deadpool provided the rocket fuel to boost the actor into the stratosphere of A-list stardom. He is now one of few actors who can make projects a reality on reputation alone. And that invaluable industry clout stems directly from the moment Reynolds first donned Deadpool’s iconic red suit.