Ryan Reynolds is one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars today, especially known for his sarcastic superhero persona in the Deadpool franchise. But years before he found massive success in the comic-book world, Reynolds starred in the 2011 film Green Lantern — a movie widely seen as both a critical and commercial failure. Now, at 49, the actor is reflecting on how that experience changed him as an artist and as a person.
During a recent appearance at a business and marketing summit in November, Reynolds opened up about the lessons he took away from the film that many consider one of the weakest superhero movies ever made. But for Reynolds, Green Lantern became much more than a box-office disappointment — it became a turning point.
A “Failure” That Became a Teacher
Speaking during a live discussion, Reynolds was asked to recall a failure in his career that later turned into a valuable learning experience. Without hesitation, he mentioned Green Lantern.
“Creatively speaking, it’s hard to say,” he said, pausing before adding with a smile, “Someone might say Green Lantern.”
The audience laughed, but Reynolds took the conversation further, sharing something personal: his own son loves the movie.
“You laugh, but my son — it’s his favorite movie,” he joked. “He watches it every day.”
Reynolds admitted that it took emotional work to reach a place where he could walk past the TV without cringing at the memories of the film’s outcome. “Do you understand the work I’ve had to do,” he asked, “to get to the place where I can pass that screen and not go, ‘Well, we could have done something to make it better?’”
Despite the movie’s reception, the actor tries to look at the project with humor and acceptance today.
How Green Lantern Shaped His Confidence
Reynolds revealed that when he made Green Lantern, he was at a point in his career where he followed instructions rather than trusting his creative instincts. Describing his mindset at the time, he said:
“It was a time in my life when I was, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir. How high can I jump, sir?’”
He recalled moments when he had strong opinions about creative decisions, but he didn’t feel empowered to push back. This experience eventually taught him a crucial Hollywood truth: when a movie fails, actors receive the blame — not producers, not directors.
Reynolds explained:
“Someone made a creative decision, and I thought, ‘That’s a nail in a coffin that I alone will lie in.’ They don’t say, ‘This producer’s movie flopped.’ They say, ‘Ryan Reynolds’ movie flopped.’”
From that realization came a powerful mindset shift. If headlines were going to attach his name to a movie’s outcome — good or bad — then he wanted to be responsible for the creative direction.
“If I’m going to be on the headline, then I want to be the architect of my own demise or success,” he added.
This philosophy later shaped his creative approach to the Deadpool films, where he became deeply involved in writing, tone, and marketing. The result? Massive success.
A Movie That Led to a Life-Changing Love Story
Even though Green Lantern didn’t hit the mark with audiences or critics, it changed Reynolds’ life in another way — he met his future wife, Blake Lively, on the set. The two developed a close friendship while filming, and by 2012, they were married.
Reynolds once joked that despite everything, Green Lantern was worth it because “I met my wife.” Today, the couple shares four children: James (10), Inez (9), Betty (6), and Olin (2). Their relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most admired marriages.
In many interviews, Reynolds has mentioned how grateful he feels that a career misstep led to a lifelong partnership.
Why He Thinks the Movie Failed
Looking back, Reynolds has spoken openly about the behind-the-scenes issues that affected Green Lantern. The problem, he said, wasn’t just storytelling — it was the size of the production.
During a separate industry summit earlier this year, he reflected:
“Too much money and too much time wrecks creativity. It murders it. Constraint is the greatest creative tool you can have.”
He believed the movie focused heavily on expensive visual effects instead of grounding the story and characters. Reynolds recalled thinking at the time that too much money was being poured into CGI and spectacle rather than the creative direction that truly matters.
This insight has influenced the way he approaches filmmaking today. For Deadpool, Reynolds and the team embraced smaller budgets, creative constraints, and authentic storytelling — which ironically resulted in a much stronger movie.
Rewatching Green Lantern for the First Time
Reynolds famously shared that he watched the full movie for the first time only in 2021 — nearly ten years after it was released. He live-tweeted the experience, making jokes about the film’s writing, suit design, and CGI choices.
Even though the watch-through was humorous, it was also a turning point. It showed how far he had come in terms of confidence and self-acceptance. Instead of avoiding the movie, he was finally able to engage with it openly and playfully.
A Lesson in Growth, Ownership, and Creative Freedom
Looking back, Green Lantern became one of the most meaningful experiences of his career — not because it succeeded, but because it failed. Reynolds now sees it as the project that taught him to trust himself, speak up, and take creative ownership rather than being a passive participant.
He has often said that if he hadn’t learned those lessons, Deadpool may never have happened.
And while Green Lantern might not be a favorite among superhero fans, for Reynolds, it was exactly the lesson he needed at the right time.