Chris Pine has been a staple in Hollywood for years. We can't wait to see what he does next, whether it's front of or behind the camera. Pine made his feature film debut in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) and is perhaps best known for his role as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film series.
In addition to his various on-screen roles since, Pine also voiced Jack Frost in Rise of the Guardians (2012) and even nabbed a voice-over Primetime Emmy nod for his work on SuperMansion (2015). And why not? Acting is in his blood. Per Variety, Pine recently made a surprise appearance at the premiere of Five Days at Memorial, which co-stars his dad. As we count down the days to his potentially scene-stealing turn in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling, his leading turn in the new Dungeons and Dragons movie as well as a new Star Trek film in the works, here's a closer look at the leading man's finest films to date.
5 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) was rebooted as the intended first film in a new series. Due to mixed reception, a sequel was never made. Despite this, however, the franchise lives on with John Krasinski's TV series on Amazon Prime Video, which has garnered critical acclaim across the board. In Shadow Recruit, Tom Clancy's Cold War hero is reborn for 21st Century audiences — and portrayed by Pine, coming off his Star Trek success. In the story, the young covert C.I.A. analyst uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack. The film undoubtedly showcases Pine's leading-man chops, which he continued to show off the years to come.
4 The Finest Hours (2016)
Disney's The Finest Hours is a rousing, old-fashioned tale of remarkable heroism and grit. A massive winter storm capsized the oil tanker SS Pendleton off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts on February 18, 1952. Unfortunately for them, another ship, the SS Fort Mercer had the same problem hours before. The Coast Guard sent a fleet of boats to the Fort Mercer, and then were caught completely off guard by the Pendleton disaster. Defying all conceivable odds, a crew of guardsmen, led by Bernie Webber (Pine), ventured into the storm and saved more than 30 men from the Pendleton. Maybe this isn't a "shoot-em-up" flick, but that doesn't mean The Finest Hours doesn't possess thrilling action sequences.
3 Unstoppable (2010)
One of the best aspects of Unstoppable is the chemistry between Pine and Denzel Washington. Given his ability to hold the screen opposite an Oscar-winning heavyweight, it's no wonder Pine went on to nab highly successful Hollywood projects the years following. Washington fills his role as the weathered veteran perfectly. Pine, in contrast, is equally good as the young, cocky upstart. Tony Scott directs the action well and moves the story along as quickly as he can. The director's signature mark is on every shot of the film and helps tie the action scenes together.
2 Wonder Woman (2017)
When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana — an Amazonian warrior in training — leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny. Such is the premise of Wonder Woman, the 2017 American superhero film. It's the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe and the second live-action theatrical film featuring Wonder Woman, following her debut in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In addition to its 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984, a third film is in development with director Jenkins and Gal Gadot set to return. Pine plays Steve Trevor, American pilot and the love interest of Diana.
1 Star Trek (2009)
Star Trek is the 11th film in the Trekkie franchise, a reboot that features the main characters of the original TV series portrayed by a new cast. The film follows James T. Kirk (Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) aboard the USS Enterprise as they combat a Romulan from their future who threatens the United Federation of Planets. The story takes place in an alternate reality because of time travel — also a behind-the-scenes attempt to free the film and the franchise from established continuity constraints while simultaneously preserving original story elements.
The film's end result was released to critical acclaim. It was a box office success, grossing more than $385 million worldwide against its $150 million production budget. It was followed by the sequels Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond in 2013 and 2016, respectively, with a fourth film in the works to reunite the cast. We can't wait to see Pine return to the captain's chair. He'll always be a true action hero in our books, even if/when his upcoming projects end up tending toward the dramatic side.