Ryan Reynolds Calls His Worst Movie ‘The Darkest Crease in the Anus of the Universe’ – Here’s Why

Ryan Reynolds, a man known for his sharp wit and unparalleled ability to turn almost anything into comedic gold, has often poked fun at his past work. However, there’s one film in particular that he has made it a point to relentlessly bash—and for good reason. Despite his extensive filmography that includes both hits and misses, there is one project that stands out as the one Reynolds would rather forget: Green Lantern (2011).

To hear Reynolds talk about the film today, it’s almost hard to believe that the actor was once enthusiastic about playing the iconic DC Comics character, Hal Jordan, a space cop in the Green Lantern Corps. The film, meant to be the cornerstone of a new DC cinematic universe, was plagued by disastrous box office returns and scathing reviews, ultimately derailing the grand plans for a series of Green Lantern sequels and other connected films.

In fact, Green Lantern became so infamous for its failure that it put the brakes on an entire cinematic universe. The movie’s poor reception led Warner Brothers to shift gears and set Man of Steel (2013) as the official launch point for the DC Extended Universe, leaving Reynolds’ CGI-suited hero in the dust.

While the film’s legacy is one of failure, Reynolds has managed to turn the experience into something of a running joke, often using it as material for his trademark snark. Most notably, he included a tongue-in-cheek gag about Green Lantern in Deadpool 2, poking fun at the superhero misfire. It’s clear that Reynolds has made peace with the failure of the film, but that doesn’t mean he’s shy about criticizing it at every turn.

In a candid 2016 interview, Reynolds reflected on why Green Lantern didn’t succeed, saying, “Well, it’s simple: Deadpool always knew what it was. With Green Lantern, I don’t think anyone ever figured out exactly what it was.” This statement, while critical of Green Lantern, also highlights the stark contrast between Reynolds’ later success with Deadpool—a film that embraced its unconventional, irreverent nature.

Reynolds’ regret about Green Lantern became more apparent during a 2023 appearance at the Just For Laughs festival, where he shared how he knew the film was a disaster from the moment he watched it at the premiere. “Sitting in that premiere, watching that. Oh my God, it’s tough,” Reynolds confessed. “The words were ‘Holy shit’ and ‘No, no.’ It was crazy. It was an odd feeling. It was not a feeling I wanted to repeat. So, I really spent the following years just owning as much as I could. It was the only way to kind of process it.”

In reflecting on the reasons behind the film’s failure, Reynolds noted the excess of money and focus on special effects, rather than character development. Ironically, his critique of Green Lantern’s flawed production could easily be applied to many of his own movies in the years that followed, including those within the superhero genre. Yet, despite his harsh words, Reynolds has consistently credited the cast and crew, acknowledging their hard work and effort to make the best possible version of the film.

Beyond the cinematic disaster that was Green Lantern, the film did have one unexpected silver lining: it was on set that Reynolds met his future wife, Blake Lively. Of course, Reynolds’ humor didn’t stop there. On the SmartLess podcast, he quipped, “I met Blake on the darkest crease in the anus of the universe called Green Lantern,” adding a signature dose of snark to an otherwise life-changing moment.

While Reynolds is quick to trash Green Lantern, his lighthearted approach to the film’s failure has become a part of his charm. In many ways, the film represents a pivotal moment in his career, where his eventual success with Deadpool proved that he had the comedic chops to make it in Hollywood. Despite the disastrous box office performance and critical reception of Green Lantern, Reynolds has come to embrace the experience—albeit with his trademark humor.

While he may want to delete Green Lantern from the history books, it’s clear that Reynolds has made peace with his past. Whether he’s poking fun at it or reflecting on what went wrong, the actor’s ability to find humor in his failures has only added to his appeal, solidifying his place as one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. And who knows? Perhaps in the future, the world of superheroes will get a proper Green Lantern reboot, and Reynolds might just show up to give it another shot—preferably as the wisecracking Deadpool.