Chris Evans’ role as Captain America will always be iconic, but the actor has given plenty of great performances outside the MCU as well. Evans was already a star on the rise when he took on the role of Steve Rogers aka Captain America in the burgeoning Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the superhero made him a household name. Alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Evans became the most prominent hero in the MCU, until Steve’s story came to a satisfying conclusion in Avengers: Endgame.
Evans was perfect in the Captain America role, but it should not be the definitive performance of his career, as he has been great in many (arguably better) non-MCU movies. Some of these standout roles include other comic book adaptations, while there are also performances that are decidedly different from what Evans did as Steve Rogers. While some believe Evans will return in Avengers: Doomsday in some way, his non-MCU career is also worth celebrating.
10 The Losers (2010)
As Jensen
While Captain America is his most famous comic book role, Chris Evans has actually been in quite a few comic book adaptations outside the MCU. The Losers is one that didn’t get a lot of attention when it was first released but has since gained many fans. The movie s a group of covert agents who are betrayed by their government and left to live in exile. However, they are given a chance to get their lives back, along with a bit of redemption, with a mysterious new mission.
The cast is the best part of The Losers, with the ensemble sharing some fun chemistry. However, among Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, and Zoe Saldaña, Evans gets the scene-stealing role as Jensen, the team’s comic relief. Given that he is usually the straight man in the MCU, it is a lot of fun seeing him as the one who can’t take anything seriously. It is a solid, pulpy thrill ride that deserves more attention.
9 Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
As Jake Wyler
In his first major movie role, Evans showed off his comedic chops in the parody Not Another Teen Movie. Coming from the early 2000s, Not Another Teen Movie spoofs all the teen rom-coms that also came out around that time, from She’s All That to 10 Things I Hate About You to Varsity Blues. It also pokes fun at a lot of the classic teen movies, including the beloved titles from the Brat Pack years.
Evans takes on the role of the typical popular high school jock who ends up forming a connection with an artsy outcast at his school. While the movie was derided by critics when it was released, it has since gone on to earn a cult ing, and many of the jokes hold up well thanks to the long legacies of the movies they are spoofing. Again, seeing Evans embrace his goofy side in such an early role is also so much fun to look back on.
8 Cellular (2004)
As Ryan
Cellular is a clever and effective thriller that helped establish Chris Evans as a viable leading man in Hollywood. Evans plays Ryan, a somewhat irresponsible young man who gets a call from a woman he does not know who claims to have been kidnapped by a group of dirty cops. Ryan is then pulled into the dangerous case, finding himself as the only one who can save this woman’s life.
While Steve Rogers is always the first to charge into battle, it is very effective to see Evans play a much less confident hero, yet one who gradually finds his bravery and selflessness throughout the movie. It is also fun to see him facing off with Jason Statham as the main villain.
7 The Iceman (2012)
As Robert Pronge
Based on a true story, Michael Shannon stars in The Iceman as Richard Kuklinski, a hitman for the mob who was said to have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of victims. Meanwhile, Evans plays Robert Pronge aka Mr. Freezy, a criminal who operates out of an ice cream truck. It is a morbid role for Evans, as he comes off as even more cold and remorseless than Kuklinski while also having a dark sense of humor. The movie is a grim yet fascinating crime story that gives Shannon a terrific avenue to showcase a powerful performance.
6 Puncture (2011)
As Mike Weiss
Though Puncture is perhaps one of Evans’ lesser-known movies, it is also regarded by many fans as one of his most underrated. Also based on a true story, this legal thriller finds Evans starring as Mike Weiss, an ambitious and talented young lawyer who is battling drug addiction. However, he gets a chance to prove to himself and everyone else that he can make a difference by taking on a lawsuit protecting nurses from injuries at work.
Evans gives a stirring performance that carries the entire movie, as he manages to play the fearless hero fighting for what is right in the face of a more powerful enemy while also portraying the out-of-control nature of Mike’s life. It is a raw and powerful turn that makes Puncture a thrilling courtroom drama.
5 Sunshine (2007)
As James Mace
Evans teamed up with a fantastic ensemble for the notoriously underrated sci-fi adventure Sunshine. The movie deals with a group of astronauts on a mission to reignite the sun and save Earth. However, along the way, they encounter one catastrophe after another, putting the mission and humanity at risk. Evans plays the hot-tempered and rational member of the crew who butts heads with some of the others.
Danny Boyle creates a tense sci-fi atmosphere, which is elevated by a sharp and thought-provoking script from Alex Garland and a terrific cast. They all find humanity amid the high-stakes sci-fi adventure, making it a more thoughtful and interesting genre movie. While Sunshine‘s divisive ending may keep it from being a true classic, it is engrossing for much of the runtime.
4 Gifted (2017)
As Frank Adler
Amid his successful MCU run, Evans proved he still had the talent to deliver grounded and touching performances as real people. Gifted sees Evans playing Frank, a mechanic who takes custody of his young niece, Mary (Mckenna Grace), ing her mother’s death. However, when Mary is identified as a gifted child, questions are raised about whether Frank is the best guardian to nurture her talents. Evans is great at playing the frustrations of Frank as well as his caring nature towards Mary. He excels in these roles as the protective figure, even if it is not someone who is saving the day.
3 Snowpiercer (2014)
As Curtis Everett
Before Bong Joon-ho’s best movie — the groundbreaking thriller Parasite — won him an Oscar, he made his mark with this bold and epic dystopian action movie. Snowpiercer is set in a future in which harsh conditions have made the world uninhabitable. The remains of humanity live on a constantly moving train that circles the globe. After being mistreated for years, the people at the rear of the train organize a rebellion against the wealthy in power.
Evans leads the international cast as Curtis, the reluctant leader of the group of rebels. He does a great job of leaning into his heroic reputation while also portraying Curtis as a man who is haunted by the things he has done. Joon-ho is a masterful filmmaker, and it is a thrill to see him operating on a bigger budget for a complex genre movie like this.
2 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
As Lucas Lee
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is yet another comic book movie that predates Evans’ MCU tenure. Edgar Wright brings his energetic and vibrant style to this adaptation of the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, starring Michael Cera as a young Canadian man who finds himself falling for the mysterious Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), only to learn that he must face off with her Seven Evil Exes in order to be with her.
Evans makes for the most memorable of the exes as Lucas Lee, a self-centered and ridiculous action movie star. It is a role that helped to cement the fact that, as great as Evans is at playing the hero, he is a pretty fun villain as well. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is like a cartoon or video game come to life, with Wright’s witty sense of humor elevated by a cast of future megastars.
1 Knives Out (2019)
As Hugh "Ransom" Drysdale
The first movie that Evans appeared in after wrapping up the Infinity Saga was as a character who is the complete opposite of Captain America. Knives Out is the first Benoit Blanc mystery movie with Daniel Craig starring as the famed detective who is looking into the suspicious death of a mystery writer and the dysfunctional family filled with potential suspects. Evans plays the dead man’s spoiled grandson who becomes involved in the investigation in a surprising way.
Writer-director Rian Johnson’s love of murder mysteries is evident as the movie feels like a classic Agatha Christie-like story while also playing on the tropes and expectations of the genre. Craig is very entertaining, while the cast is packed with standout players, including Ana de Armas as a stellar leading heroine. However, Chris Evans steals many scenes with his hilariously unlikable character in his best non-MCU movie.
Chris Evans
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