Keanu Reeves beyond ‘John Wick’: Underrated movies you shouldn’t miss

Keanu Reeves is best known for playing Neo and John Wick, but his filmography is packed with quieter, stranger and more overlooked performances. From offbeat comedies to atmospheric dramas and ambitious science fiction, these films reveal a different side of the actor and deserve another look. (wikimedia commons)

A Scanner Darkly (2006): Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly is one of Reeves' most unusual films. He plays Bob Arctor, an undercover agent whose identity begins to unravel while investigating a dangerous drug called Substance D. Shot in live action and transformed through rotoscoping animation, the film creates a haunting, disorienting atmosphere. (wikimedia commons)

Man of Tai Chi (2013): Reeves stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut with Man of Tai Chi, while also playing the villainous Donaka Mark. The martial-arts film follows a young fighter drawn into an underground competition, allowing Reeves to explore his long-standing interest in martial arts from both sides of the camera. (wikipedia)

The Gift (2000): In Sam Raimi's supernatural thriller The Gift, Reeves takes a strikingly dark turn as Donnie Barksdale, an abusive husband accused of murdering a young woman. It is a far cry from his heroic roles and shows just how unsettling he can be when playing against type. (wikipedia)

The Neon Demon (2016): Nicolas Winding Refn's surreal fashion-world thriller gave Reeves a brief but memorable role as Hank, the unsettling manager of a motel. His appearance is small, but his threatening presence adds another layer of unease to the film's strange, stylised world. (wikipedia)

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009): Reeves plays Chris Nadeau, a younger man who becomes involved with the complicated title character, played by Robin Wright. The intimate drama explores ageing, identity, marriage and reinvention, giving Reeves a restrained role quite different from his action-heavy work. (prime video)

Thumbsucker (2005): In this quirky coming-of-age drama, Reeves plays Dr Perry Lyman, an orthodontist who becomes an unexpectedly influential figure in a troubled teenager's life. The film's offbeat humour and sensitive exploration of adolescence make it an interesting entry in Reeves' lesser-known filmography. (wikipedia)