The 10 Best Meg Ryan Movies

Meg Ryan
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Who could forget Meg Ryan's famous "I'll have what she's having" scene in When Harry Met Sally? In the 1990s, Ryan was one of the few actresses who could guarantee box office business -- especially when she chose to act in romantic comedies. Though Ryan no longer appears in as many movies as she did at her peak, these ten movies represent the best movies she starred in when she was a Hollywood superstar and America's sweetheart.

01
of 10

Top Gun (1986)

Tom Cruise became a superstar as Maverick, a Navy fighter pilot with an attitude, a motorcycle, and a gorgeous body, in Top Gun. Ryan plays the part of Anthony Edwards' wife and has one very memorable scene at a bar. Though it wasn't a lead role, it brought Ryan to the attention of millions of moviegoers.

02
of 10

Innerspace (1987)

Meg Ryan first met her now ex-husband Dennis Quaid while working on Innerspace, a goofy sci-fi comedy about a cocky pilot (Quaid) miniaturized and inserted in the bloodstream of a hapless store clerk (played by Martin Short). Innerspace received positive reviews and even won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

03
of 10

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are both wonderful in this romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of friendships between men and women. Meg Ryan's restaurant scene is one of the most recognizable scenes in movie history, and probably the main reason why she received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.

04
of 10

The Doors (1991)

The Doors deserves a spot on this list due to Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan's dead-on portrayals of The Doors frontman, Jim Morrison, and his girlfriend Pamela. Ryan and Kilmer are both incredible as they bring to life the relationship of the poet/singer.

05
of 10

Prelude to a Kiss (1992)

Meg Ryan kisses a strange, elderly man who shows up uninvited at her wedding. New husband Alec Baldwin shoos the man away, but not before Ryan and the stranger swap bodies. It sounds like a strange concept for a movie, but it's actually a moving tale of love and longing.

06
of 10

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Meg Ryan stars with Tom Hanks in this wonderful tale of love lost and love found, directed by the brilliant Nora Ephron. For her role, Ryan received her second Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.

07
of 10

I.Q. (1994)

Tim Robbins is Ed, an auto mechanic who falls for Albert Einstein's niece, Catherine (Meg Ryan). Despite the fact that Catherine is engaged, Einstein likes Ed and, with the help of his cronies, helps him capture Catherine's heart.

08
of 10

Courage Under Fire (1996)

Meg Ryan appears in one of her finest dramatic roles playing helicopter pilot Captain Karen Walden, a brave woman who died while trying to protect her crew after their chopper crashed. Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Lou Diamond Phillipps also give incredible performances in this dramatic thriller.

09
of 10

You've Got Mail (1998)

Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Norah Ephron reunite for this romantic tale of total opposites who wage war with each other in person while unknowingly falling in love over the internet. As their online relationship heats up, offline they come near to blows with Ryan's little bookstore fighting off the big, bad bookstore conglomerate owned by Hank's family. Even if the technology in You've Got Mail is dated, the charm is timeless. It's no surprise that Meg Ryan received her third Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical for You've Got Mail.

10
of 10

City of Angels (1998)

Nicolas Cage plays an angel named Seth who falls for tireless Los Angeles surgeon Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan). Also of note, the movie features music by Alanis Morissette,  Peter Gabriel, U2, and the Goo Goo Dolls.