Which Glen Powell Movies Should You Watch First?
Glen Powell movies have climbed the streaming charts and theater tallies in the last two years, so the question is where to start. The actor’s mix of blockbuster swagger and romantic-comedy timing makes a short list of titles the fastest way to see what the fuss is about.
Blockbuster launchpad
Top Gun: Maverick remains the clearest entry point. Powell’s cocky pilot Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin shares the screen with Tom Cruise and rides a $1.4 billion worldwide gross, so most viewers already recognize the face and the attitude.
The part is small but memorable, built on swagger and punchlines that echo the original film’s flyboy energy. Audiences who came for fighter jets often leave citing Powell as the scene-stealer.
Because the movie is already on constant rotation on streaming platforms, it doubles as an easy refresher whenever a new Powell project lands.
Rom-com breakout
Anyone But You pairs Powell with Sydney Sweeney in a destination-wedding farce that became an unexpected theatrical hit. The film leans on quick banter and physical comedy rather than fighter jets.
Its success showed studios that Powell can carry a date-night comedy aimed at younger crowds, a lane he had tested earlier but never at this scale.
Viewers who enjoy the breezy tone can trace the same energy backward to an earlier Netflix title, creating a short rom-com arc that sits nicely after Top Gun: Maverick.
Streaming sleeper
Set It Up, a 2018 Netflix original, gave Powell one of his first leading romantic roles opposite Zoey Deutch. Two overworked assistants play matchmaker for their bosses, and the premise still streams regularly.
The movie established the affable, slightly rumpled charm that resurfaced in Anyone But You. It also proved Powell could anchor a low-stakes comedy without big-studio backing.
For anyone mapping his timeline, Set It Up sits as the earliest widely available proof that romantic comedy was always part of the plan.
Indie credibility play
Hit Man arrived on Netflix in 2024 and shifted the conversation from popcorn to prestige. Richard Linklater’s dark comedy casts Powell as a mild-mannered teacher who poses as a contract killer and gets in over his head.
Early reviews praised the tonal tightrope walk, positioning the film as proof that Powell’s range extends past aviator sunglasses and meet-cutes.
Its streaming placement makes it a logical next step once viewers have sampled the bigger studio titles.
Period piece footnote
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society offers a brief dramatic turn in a post-World War II literary adaptation. Powell appears in a smaller role alongside Lily James, hinting at the dramatic notes he would expand later.
The film itself is modest and largely self-contained, so it functions best as optional background rather than a priority watch.
Still, its presence on the résumé shows an early willingness to tackle material outside contemporary comedy and action.
Box-office trajectory
Top Gun: Maverick’s global haul set expectations, yet Anyone But You’s domestic performance proved Powell could open a non-franchise picture. Hit Man then arrived without traditional marketing weight and still charted, reinforcing that audiences will follow him across genres.
Each release widened the lane: spectacle, romance, then darker indie fare. Tracking these numbers explains why studios now attach him to both tentpoles and streaming originals.
The pattern also suggests the next logical project could be another tonal pivot rather than a repeat of any single formula.
Viewer entry points
Start with Top Gun: Maverick if the goal is instant recognition and maximal scale. Move to Anyone But You for a lighter, date-night tone that still plays in theaters.
Anyone who prefers streaming-first viewing can swap in Set It Up or Hit Man without leaving the couch. Both are short enough to watch between newer releases.
The order matters less than the mix; sampling one blockbuster, one rom-com, and one indie title sketches a workable map of Glen Powell movies without homework.
Platform availability
Top Gun: Maverick cycles through Paramount+ and other on-demand services, while Anyone But You and Set It Up remain on Netflix in most regions. Hit Man is likewise a Netflix original, keeping the recent catalog under one roof.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society surfaces on smaller services or library apps, fitting the “watch later” category for completists.
Because rights shift, a quick check of current catalogs will confirm which Glen Powell movies are easiest to queue on any given weekend.
Upcoming momentum
Powell’s next wide release, an untitled action comedy, is slated for summer 2025 and already carries franchise expectations. Early casting announcements suggest another mix of star power and original material.
That project will likely send viewers back to the earlier titles for context, repeating the pattern seen after Top Gun: Maverick.
Keeping the short list handy now means the next release won’t require a crash course in Glen Powell movies.
Where to land next
The five films above form a compact starter kit that balances spectacle, charm, and range. Watch them in any order, then decide whether the next chapter belongs to blockbusters, rom-coms, or something darker.
