Chris Evans turns 44 today and it's the perfect time to revisit some of his most underrated performances!
Chris Evans, our beloved Captain America, turns 44 today! While his role in the 'Avengers' franchise made him one of the highest-paid actors in the world, his journey began with television roles and teen films, including ‘Not Another Teen Movie’. He received further attention for playing the Marvel Comics character the Human Torch in ‘Fantastic Four’ and its sequel, ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.’ From there, Chris Evans' roles in film adaptations of comic books and graphic novels and most notably as Captain America in various Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, led him to become one of the most successful American actors. On his birthday, let’s take a look at some of his underrated films that truly deserve your attention.
The 2017 drama film ‘Gifted’, directed by Marc Webb, features Chris Evans alongside Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer. The story centers on a highly intelligent seven-year-old girl who becomes the focus of a custody battle between her maternal uncle and grandmother. Often regarded as one of Chris Evans' most underrated performances, ‘Gifted’ found renewed popularity in 2024, becoming a global hit on Netflix seven years after its initial release.
(Credit: The Seattle Times)
‘Cellular’ is an action thriller directed by David R. Ellis, featuring a cast that includes Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Jason Statham, William H. Macy, along with Noah Emmerich, Richard Burgi, Valerie Cruz, and Jessica Biel. The story revolves around a female science teacher who is abducted by home invaders but manages to randomly connect with a stranger through a broken phone and pleads for help. As the man alerts the authorities, he soon discovers that the kidnappers are actually corrupt cops from the Los Angeles Police Department. What follows is a tense struggle for survival involving multiple desperate characters. While ‘Cellular’ is an action-packed thriller, its comedic undertones make it especially entertaining and worth a watch.
‘Snowpiercer’ is a post-apocalyptic action thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho and based on the French climate fiction graphic novel ‘Le Transperceneige’ by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette. Marking Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho’s first English-language film, ‘Snowpiercer’ is set on a perpetually moving train that travels across a frozen, post-apocalyptic Earth. Chris Evans stars as Curtis, a determined rebel leading an uprising to liberate the oppressed passengers living in the train’s tail section.
‘The Iceman’ is an American biographical crime film loosely inspired by the life of contract killer Richard Kuklinski. Directed by Ariel Vromen, the film features Michael Shannon in the lead role, with supporting performances by Winona Ryder, Chris Evans, James Franco, and Ray Liotta. Chris Evans portrays Mr. Freezy, a freelance hitman, delivering a chilling and nearly unrecognizable performance. Though his role is smaller compared to others on this list, Evans makes a strong impact with every scene he appears in.
‘Sunshine’ is a science fiction psychological thriller directed by Danny Boyle, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, Troy Garity, and others. Set in the year 2057, the film follows a crew of astronauts aboard the Icarus II as they embark on a perilous mission to reignite the dying Sun and save Earth. ‘Sunshine’ is a thought-provoking and visually striking film, though it has divided audiences with its bold narrative choices. Chris Evans plays Mace, an engineer struggling to hold things together, delivering a compelling performance.
