Meg Ryan is one of the silver screen’s most charming and illustrious performers, and her iconic roles helped establish her as America’s sweetheart. The massive success of 1989’s When Harry Met Sally… skyrocketed the actress to superstardom and helped pave the way for her prolific film resume in the 1990s. Throughout the decade, Ryan appeared in 15 phenomenal pictures, further cementing her status as Hollywood’s darling.
From teaming up with the lovable Tom Hanks in rom-com classics like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail,to showcasing her dramatic side in films including Oliver Stone’s The Doors and Flesh and Bone, and even venturing into voice work as the lead heroine in Anastasia,Ryan was constantly keeping busy during the time period. Here is every film Meg Ryan did in the 1990s, ranked.
15 I.Q.
In the breezy 1994 romantic comedy I.Q., an unlikely love story blossoms between an easygoing mechanic (Tim Robbins) and a brilliant Ivy League doctoral candidate (Meg Ryan) in the 1950s, after the seemingly mismatched duo is set up by a surprising source: her uncle Albert Einstein. Walter Matthau appears as the legendary theoretical physicist, who along with his sly scientist buddies like Boris Podolsky and KurtGödel help the young man pretend to be an academic to win over his niece. The film was a modest box office success and earned a mixed-bag response, with some praising the light-hearted storyline and Matthau's uncanny, scene-stealing performance as Einstein.
14 French Kiss
Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline headline the playful 1995 picture French Kiss, in which the charming actress appears as Kate, an idealistic history teacher who after suspecting her fiancé is cheating on her hops on a flight to France to confront the straying man. She unknowingly becomes a pawn to the smooth crook Luc while traveling, after he uses the uptight, lovelorn woman to smuggle a precious diamond necklace into the country; the sarcastic pair quickly find themselves developing feelings for one another despite coming from completely opposite worlds. French Kiss is a delightful rom-com that utilizes Ryan and Kline's winning chemistry and forces audiences to root for the peculiar pair.
13 Addicted to Love
Revenge is a dish best served cold in the entertaining 1997 romantic black comedy Addicted to Love, which features Matthew Broderick and Meg Ryan as two scorned individuals who decide to join forces in order to split up their former partners, who have struck up a relationship with one another. Broderick's kind-hearted Sam is devastated when his lady love Linda (Kelly Preston) leaves him for another man, so he obsessively follows her to the Big Apple to spy on their new romance. He crosses paths with the equally-vengeful Maggie, and they devise a plan to win back their exes but instead sparks fly between the two rejected schemers.
12 Flesh and Bone
Ryan appeared alongside her then-husband Dennis Quaid in the 1993 neo-noir mystery Flesh and Bone, telling the tangled tale of the loner Arlis, a man who is still haunted by the trauma he experienced 30 years earlier after he was an unwitting accomplice to his father's brutal murdering of an innocent family. When Arlis meets the lively Kay, he makes the stunning realization that she too is connected to that tragic day, and both the skeletons in their closets are revealed when Arlis's father (James Caan) returns. Ryan delivered a captivating performance as the afflicted Kay, stepping away from her usual rom-coms to portray the damaged and struggling woman.
11 Hurlyburly
Touting a phenomenal ensemble cast including Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, and Robin Wright, the 1998 independent dramedy Hurlyburly is adapted from the David Rabe play of the same name and tells the story of four precarious Hollywood players living in the Hills who attempt to find direction and meaning in their unfulfilling lives, doing so through an inebriated haze. The disenchanted friends turn to debauchery to cope with their bleak realities, with Meg Ryan appearing as the free-spirited stripper Bonnie who catches the eye of the down-on-his-luck actor Phil (Chazz Palminteri). Ryan shed her America's sweetheart image for the role and showcased her range as a dynamic performer in the biting picture.
10 Restoration
Ryan shared the screen alongside Robert Downey Jr., Sam Neill, and Ian McKellen in the 1995 historical drama Restoration, which stars the Iron Man actor as gifted physician Robert Merivel, who after being banished by King Charles II of England sets out to help those afflicted by the plague, falling in love with the troubled but kind Katherine.
Based on the Rose Tremain novel of the same name, the period piece was a welcome departure from Ryan's usual rom-coms and was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival where it earned rave reviews eclectic performances and a spellbinding atmosphere. Restoration went on to win two Academy Awards for its costume design and art direction.
9 Joe Versus the Volcano
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan showcased their spectacular chemistry for the first time when they were cast as romantic leads in the 1990's Joe Versus the Volcano, which follows Joe Banks as he embarks on a wild journey to a tropical South Pacific island after agreeing to serve as a human sacrifice to its native when he is told he has a terminal disease. Along the way, Joe falls in love with the sea captain Patricia (Ryan) who is taking him to the island, and their romance causes him to rethink his life and morality.
The screwball comedy failed to make a major splash unlike the duo's other collaborations, but has nonetheless gone on to become a cult film; Roger Ebert commended the actors in his glowing review, writing, "Hanks and Ryan are the right actors to inhabit it, because you can never catch them going for a gag that isn't there: They inhabit the logic of this bizarre world and play by its rules."
8 When a Man Loves a Woman
Meg Ryan beat out fellow stars Debra Winger and Michelle Pfeiffer to appear alongside Andy García in the 1994 romantic drama When a Man Loves a Woman, portraying a loving mother and wife who is struggling with a serious drinking problem that is unintentionally enabled by a doting husband. Ryan is fantastic as Alice, who makes the difficult decision to enter a rehab program for the sake of her herself and her family and emerges a more strong and self-assured woman.
Her seemingly picture-perfect marriage to Michael (García) is tested and the couple both experience personal growth as they do so much-needed soul-searching. Ryan earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her poignant portrayal of the tormented Alice, and she was once again able to demonstrate her range and creative capabilities in the multi-layered role.
7 Prelude to a Kiss
Opposites attract in the 1992 romantic fantasy flick Prelude to a Kiss, which centers on conservative Chicago hotshot Peter (Alec Baldwin) who meets and falls in love with the free-spirited liberal Rita, resulting in a whirlwind romance between the offbeat pair that leads them to the altar. On the day of their nuptials, an unbelievable supernatural occurrence happens that causes Rita to swap bodies with a mysterious elderly man, and it's up to Peter to locate the terminally ill stranger before it's too late.
The moving film was adapted from the stage play of the same name, and Variety singled out Ryan's charismatic allure as the fantasy's greatest attribute in their review. "Cuter-than-cute, almost too adorable for words, Ryan rambunctiously embodies the life force even when playing a basically aimless young woman, and the film suffers during her prolonged absence in the later stages."
6 City of Angels
Nicolas Cage stars as an angel who falls in love with a skeptical mortal woman and changes her world views in the 1998 romantic fantasy City of Angels, chronicling fallen angel Seth's life-altering journey as he decides to dwell on Earth and give up his immorality after becoming captivated by the compassionate surgeon Maggie (Ryan). The engrossing film was a loose remake of the 1987 drama Wings of Desire and was a massive hit with moviegoers, raking in nearly $200 million at the box office. Despite garnering mixed reviews from critics, audiences were enthralled by Seth and Maggie's love story and praised the duo's tender chemistry.
5 Courage Under Fire
In Edward Zwick's riveting 1996 war drama Courage Under Fire, Denzel Washington portrays a Lieutenant Colonel who is tasked with investigating whether or not a fallen Army Captain (Meg Ryan) is worthy of the Medal of Honor after losing her life during a harrowing rescue mission during Desert Storm. Both of the film's lead stars deliver knockout performances, with Ryan serving up a nuanced and powerful portrayal of the celebrated war hero through affecting flashbacks. Her heartrending fate is revealed through a series of potential outcomes, and the actress does some of her finest acting in each believable scenario which helped the drama become a massive commercial success.
4 Anastasia
Inspired by the life and lore surrounding the titular Grand Duchess of Russia, the wondrous 1997 animated musical fantasy Anastasia features an impressive voice cast led by Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, and Christopher Lloyd, and centers on amnesiac Anya, who unbeknownst to her is actually the missing Grand Duchess and discovers her true identity after getting roped into a scheme by two charming con men. With delightful original songs including Journey to the Past and Once Upon a December, the enchanting picture was a smash hit with audiences, earning an A- CinemaScore and garnering two Oscar nominations for its enthralling soundtrack.
3 The Doors
In Oliver Stone's fascinating 1991 biographical drama The Doors, Val Kilmer stars as the legendary singer and songwriter Jim Morrison, who became a worldwide sensation as the eponymous rock band's lead vocalist before tragically dying at just 27 years old in 1971. The riveting film depicts Morrison's life and remarkable rise to fame, with the musician going on to become a beloved 1960s icon whose legacy and contributions to the music industry remain celebrated.
Meg Ryan is brilliant as Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson, beating out 60 other actresses vying for the role and doing extensive research by talking to Courson's family and friends in order to embody her essence. The Doors was lauded for the stellar transformations of Kilmer and Ryan and for the former's career-defining performance, and despite being criticized for its historical inaccuracies remains a must-see for rock fans and Morrison aficionados.
2 You've Got Mail
Dream team Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks once again partnered up for their third big screen collaboration, this time appearing as real-life enemies who fall in love online in the 1998 romantic comedy You've Got Mail. Struggling independent bookshop owner Kathleen Kelly loathes hotshot chain store owner Joe Fox ever since his business moved in across the street, therefore causing major competition and jeopardizing her livelihood. The dueling bookstore owners meet online and make an electrifying connection, but have no idea the person on the other end of the keyboard is their sworn enemy.
After the massive success of Sleepless in Seattle, Ryan and Hanks opted to capitalize on their superb chemistry for You've Got Mail, which went on to become their most lucrative project together. Fans and critics alike couldn't get enough of the winning duo, and the rom-com further established their star power and box office draw.
1 Sleepless in Seattle
Hands down Meg Ryan's most notable and buzzed-about film of the 1990s was the universally loved 1993 romantic dramedy Sleepless in Seattle, which once again features her opposite Tom Hanks and tells the endearing story of an engaged reporter who ends up falling in love with a widowed architect after his young son calls into a radio show in search of a new partner for his dad. Director and screenplay writer Nora Ephon specifically wrote the role of Annie Reed with Ryan in mind, and she was initially supposed to appear with her then-husband Dennis Quaid in the picture but Ephon wanted someone funnier in the lead role.
While the beloved fan-favorite centers on the romance between Ryan and Hanks, they only appear on-screen together for two minutes. Sleepless in Seattle was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $227 million and earning two Academy Award nominations. Ryan received a Golden Globe nod for the dramedy, which has gone on to be considered one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.
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