Ryan Reynolds Finds Unexpected Joy in Blake Lively’s Green Lantern Flop

Ryan Reynolds has always been vocal about his admiration for Blake Lively’s achievements, but there’s one project in her filmography that holds a unique place in his heart—despite its reputation as a box office disappointment. That film is Green Lantern, the 2011 superhero movie where Reynolds starred as the titular DC character and Lively played his on-screen love interest. While critics and audiences weren’t kind to the film, Reynolds recently revealed why it means so much to him and his family.

Why Green Lantern Still Matters to Reynolds

During a recent appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s CMO Council Summit, Reynolds opened up about his feelings toward Green Lantern. The movie, which struggled both critically and financially, has become a daily fixture in the Reynolds household thanks to their son Olin’s unwavering enthusiasm for it. Reynolds shared,

You laugh, but my son, it’s his favorite movie, and he watches it every f—ing day. Do you understand the work I’ve had to do to get to the place where I can just pass by that screen and not go, ‘Well, we could have [done that differently]?’

Despite its 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a modest $219.5 million global box office return on a $200 million budget, Green Lantern has found a second life in the eyes of Reynolds’ son. The film may not have been a hit, but it did spark the real-life romance between Reynolds and Lively, making it a significant chapter in their story.

Reflecting on Growth and Teaching Through Failure

Reynolds admits that watching Green Lantern now gives him a chance to reflect on his journey as an actor. He described that period in his career as a time when he was eager to please and quick to follow direction, saying,

That was a time in my life when I was, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir. How high can I jump, sir?’

He also sees value in sharing his setbacks with his children, using his less successful projects as teaching moments. Reynolds explained,

My kids, all they see is a winner. When I go outside, I get pats in the back and it’s a selfie parade, and I oblige everyone pretty much. My kids only see that. So, I’ve learned lately to make sure [I am] talking about the failures and how that is literally the base and ingredient for everything else.

Alongside Olin, Reynolds and Lively are parents to three daughters: James, Inez, and Betty. For Reynolds, being open about his professional missteps is just as important as celebrating his successes.

Parenting Challenges and Playful Rivalry

Reynolds has also spoken candidly about the differences between raising his daughters and his son. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, he joked about the unique energy Olin brings to the family dynamic, saying,

Three girls—just so easy. And then the boy, who’s gotta break everything. I’m, like, in direct competition with this young man.

He went on to quip that if he and Lively had started their family with three boys, he might have reconsidered having a fourth child, joking,

There’s no way. I would give myself a punching vasectomy. There’s no way I would allow that to happen.

Though his humor sometimes stirs up reactions online, Reynolds remains unapologetically himself, both as a parent and as a performer. For now, Green Lantern continues to play on repeat in the Reynolds household, serving as a reminder that even Hollywood ’s biggest flops can become family favorites.