John Leguizamo Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of John Leguizamo-whose latest project "Violent Night" arrives in theaters tonight.  

John Leguizamo's Filmography Ranked:

28.Executive Decision (D+)

27.The Counselor (D+)  

26.Super Mario Bros. (D+)

25.Dr. Dolittle 2 (C-)

24.Ice Age: The Meltdown (C-)

23.The Honeymooners (C)

22.Righteous Kill (C)

21.Critical Thinking (C)

20.Dr. Dolittle (C+)

19.Ride Along (B-)

18.Spun (B-)

17.Encanto (B-)

16.Titan A.E. (B-)

15.Ice Age (B-)

14.The Happening (B-)

13.Assault on Precinct 13 (B)

12.Repo Men (B)

11.The Infiltrator (B)

10.Gamer (B)

9.Sisters (B)

8.Die Hard 2 (B)

7.Chef (B)

6.The Menu (B)

5.Kick-Ass 2 (B+)

4.The Lincoln Lawyer (B+)

3.American Ultra (B+)

2.John Wick (A-)

1.John Wick: Chapter 2 (A-)

Top Dog: John Wick: Chapter 2 (2016)

John Wick: Chapter 2 represents the moment when this scrappy little revenge actioner leveled up into a full-blown, spectacle-driven franchise. The locations are more exotic, the action sequences are more elaborate and the sense of humor is more pronounced and effective (the subway station scene remains the funniest moment of the entire franchise). Best of all, it never manages to lose sight of its original cross-cultural "gun fu" roots in the upscaling process and that's why this franchise continues to be the class of modern Hollywood action flicks.  

Bottom Feeder: Executive Decision (1996)

I'm too young to have seen or remember every movie that took inspiration from Die Hard, but Executive Decision is a strong contender for the worst one I've watched. Not even the presence of the seasoned genre icon Kurt Russell in the hero role can add any spirit to this lifeless action flick that makes breathtakingly poor use of its claustrophobic plane setting.  

Most Underrated: American Ultra (2015)

Part sweet romantic stoner comedy and part balls-to-the wall B-action movie, American Ultra is an absurd and absurdly entertaining concoction that is brought to life by some vibrant, wacky performances from its awesome ensemble cast (Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, Bill Pullman, Tony Hale) and energetic direction from Nima Noruizadeh-who somehow hasn't landed another film project since this. 

Most Overrated: Encanto (2021)

To be honest, Encanto is the first time I've even somewhat enjoyed a movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios since Big Hero 6. However, it's still a largely unspectacular, underwritten Disney project that coasts by on its pretty animation, relatively likable characters (except for Abuela, she STINKS) and regular musical interludes penned by the beloved Lin Manuel-Miranda.

John Leguizamo Movie I Have a Nuclear Take About: The Happening (2008)

Something really stood out to me when I rewatched The Happening for the first time since seeing it in theaters on opening night earlier this year: I think the movie is genuinely trying to be tongue-in-cheek. Whether its successful in doing so is another question entirely, but I was shocked to discover that many of the over-the-top death scenes and long monologues about things like the virtues of hot dogs or begging a plant for mercy in the midst of an environmental crisis that is forcing people to kill themselves that I found to be unintentionally funny as a teenager were designed to be purposefully funny and as a result of this revelation, I now view The Happening in a pretty positive light. Never underestimate the power of how time can change your perspective on things folks.