Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds movies: which films they did together and apart

Key fact upfront

Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds have starred together in only one feature film: the 2010 action comedy The Other Guys. Beyond that single collaboration, each has built a large, distinct body of work in comedy and beyond. This relationship overview lists their joint project, highlights signature solo films, and notes career timelines to clarify what they have and have not shared on screen.

How often have Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds worked together

Across two long careers in film and television, Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds have appeared together in a single theatrical release. They did not regularly collaborate in franchise work, animated family films, or multi-picture franchises as a duo. Their one shared project represents a targeted pairing rather than an ongoing professional partnership. Below is the confirmed joint film and quick context on each actor’s output around that release.

The Other Guys (2010)

Directed by Adam McKay and produced by Will Ferrell’s production company, The Other Guys casts Reynolds as an ambitious but mild-mannered detective paired with Ferrell’s over-the-top, rule-busting veteran partner. The film balanced broad studio comedy with star-driven set pieces and performed solidly at the global box office. It remains the only theatrical movie where Ferrell and Reynolds share top billing and sustained screen time.

Context around The Other Guys

Will Ferrell’s profile around 2010

By 2010, Ferrell had moved from long-form sketch roots to a mix of family-friendly and adult-oriented comedies, including family films and more risqué fare. His production ventures and starring roles were well established, and The Other Guys represented a studio-level A-list pairing within that trajectory.

Ryan Reynolds’s profile around 2010

In 2010, Reynolds was transitioning from cult favorite turns (e.g., Van Wilder, Blade: Trinity) to broader leading-man comedy and early forays into genre mixing. The Other Guys arrived just as he was gaining momentum toward the Deadpool-era brand building that would define much of his later career.

Notable solo work from each actor

Outside their shared project, Ferrell and Reynolds have followed notably different tonal and franchise paths. Ferrell has oscillated between family animation, grounded workplace comedies, and more boundary-pushing humor. Reynolds has leaned into superhero fare, meta comedies, and high-concept action with a signature, quippy tone.

Will Ferrell highlights (non-exhaustive)

• Family animation: the Megamind series and Penguins of Madagascar.
• Workplace ensemble: Anchorman series, Step Brothers, The Campaign.
• Adult-skewing and sometimes controversial comedies: Semi-Pro, select late-2000s outings.

Ryan Reynolds highlights (non-exhaustive)

• Superhero lead: Deadpool series, plus a major cameo in Free Guy.
• Smart-action comedy: The Hitman’s Bodyguard and its sequel.
• Crowd-pleasing dramedy and family fare: The Adam Project, Clue.

Comparative career context

Ferrell’s career began earlier in sketch and late-night writing, scaling into massive ensemble and family comedies with long, ongoing franchises. Reynolds entered film with cult genre work, then pivoted toward leading-man genre blending and brand-conscious superhero projects. Their collaboration was a single event pairing rather than a recurring pattern, and each continued to build distinct cinematic identities afterward.

Occasional confusion and clarification

Because both actors headline big comedies and have blockbuster awareness, audiences sometimes assume deeper collaboration. Neither has voiced shared animated characters, nor have they appeared as co-leads in a franchise installment. Rumors of additional pairings typically stem from promotional events or panels rather than actual shared screen projects.

Summary table: joint and standout markers

Bottom line

Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds movies include one clear joint entry—2010’s The Other Guys—plus extensive separate filmographies. They have not formed a recurring on-screen partnership, and each has sustained a long, visible career beyond that single collaboration.