There are only a handful of WWE wrestlers who have attained success in movies, and John Cena certainly ranks neat the top. Cena has moved on from the straight-up action movies he once starred in under the WWE banner and has compiled quite an impressive filmography.
With the Peacemaker series now running to a good reception, it’s worth looking into how audiences feel about the movies and TV shows in which John Cena has starred in the past. What’s interesting is that quite a few lesser-known works show up here, and it’s worth finding out the material that fans have connected with the most.
The Wall (2017) - 6.2
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
One of the lesser-known war movies to be made, this one focuses on two soldiers who are flanked by an enemy sniper. It’s an intense thriller that sees John Cena alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the only two characters, with the story told through their point of view as they’re separated by a wall.
The concept is interesting for the fact that the action remains situated in just one location with complete ambiguity over where the enemy will attack from. Certain viewers have found it to contain slow pacing, but the atmosphere deserves credit for the way it packs in the tension.
Blockers (2018) - 6.2
Stream On FuboTv
This movie’s score is interesting because it has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than an IMDb rating, which means viewers didn’t enjoy it as much as critics. John Cena’s role remains widely appreciated, however, having played against type as a suburban dad with no mean bone in his body.
The premise is about Cena’s character teaming up with two other parents to stop their children from losing their virginities. It’s a comedy that makes full use of Cena’s talent in the genre and fans will certainly see a different side of him through the many acts of physical comedy he displays here.
Trainwreck (2015) - 6.2
Stream On Peacock
John Cena was nowhere near the realm of being considered an actor when this movie came out and it serves as the film that put him on the map. He’s far from the main character, with Amy Schumer and Bill Hader the star duo who headline this romantic comedy about a woman who just can’t commit.
Cena is considered the breakout star, though, appearing as a disgruntled boyfriend of the main character who wants a bigger commitment but has a tendency to be completely clueless to a hilarious degree. It’s a bit high on the raunchy material than Cena fans might be used to, but it’s a unique performance nonetheless.
Vacation Friends (2021) - 6.3
Stream On Hulu Plus
Perhaps one of John Cena’s stranger roles for the way he acts completely over-the-top, this movie sees him play a party guy who gets too attached to a soon-to-be-married couple. The antics of Cena and his designated love interest make up for most of the comedy here.
The movie doesn’t have too many laugh-out-loud moments, which might be the reason for the relatively lower rating, although Cena is once again a stand-out performer. With the presence of another comic in Lil Rel Howery to contrast with Cena’s overenthusiastic character, the film is good for a breezy watch.
Bumblebee (2018) - 6.7
Stream On Paramount+ And FuboTv
The Transformers got the major boost it needed with this entry, which initially served as a prequel but then became the first in a reboot. John Cena appears as an agent who’s tasked with finding the titular Transformer and hunts him down to where he’s hiding at a teenage girl’s house.
The movie isn’t action-packed like the previous Transformers installments but contains a whole lot more heart and wholesome moments. Cena’s character is inherently a protagonist, with the movie showing his turn into understanding Bumblebee’s benevolence and their eventual alliance.
Ferdinand (2017) - 6.8
Stream On Disney+
John Cena had never really headlined a big-budget movie on his own prior to this animated feature, where he voices the titular bull. The story is about Ferdinand, who’s a pacifist animal and has to avoid fighting in a bullfighting competition because it clashes with his beliefs.
It’s a light-hearted affair as animated movies go and might not be as geared toward older audiences. Still, Cena delivers a firmly committed performance, which is funny to consider since he’s known mainly for being a tough WWE wrestler. The movie’s heartwarming moments also make it a great watch for fans of family-oriented material.
American Grit (2016-17) - 7.0
Buy/Rent On Amazon Instant Video
The first reality show hosted by John Cena, American Grit had him overlook a survival-based concept where contestants had to go through several obstacles. The participants were required to undertake tasks designed by the military to see who had the greatest resolve.
Cena didn’t partake in the obstacles himself but was there to guide audiences into the concept and provide contestants with the support they needed. The show lasted for two seasons, yet has a surprisingly high IMDb score compared to Cena’s other films and TV series.
Tour De Pharmacy (2017) - 7.1
Stream On HBO Max
It was around the time of this movie’s release that John Cena had started to really branch out into film, as he was seen in a satirical story about doping in sports. His character is perhaps the most eccentric of the bunch, which is saying something since everyone is a parody of sports figures.
The main outline is about a group of cyclists competing in the 1982 Tour de France, with all of them having a secret to hide. The film isn’t as acclaimed by fans as it is by critics, although it still shows up right near the top for John Cena’s list of credits and is much more hilarious in hindsight.
The Suicide Squad (2021) - 7.2
Stream On HBO Max
Largely considered to be the best role John Cena’s played in his career, the Peacemaker character first debuted in The Suicide Squad. The movie is an ensemble effort where Task Force X is forced to infiltrate Corto Maltese and seek out US government files from the Jotunheim prison.
Cena’s character is the villain in a cast who are all arguably antagonists to an extent. Peacemaker’s extreme views on the matter of attaining peace make him a funny and out-of-place character who possesses a dangerous edge that comes out in the film’s climactic moments.
Peacemaker (2022) - 8.4
Stream On HBO Max
The success of The Suicide Squad instantly brought in massive interest for the Peacemaker character, although the TV series was filmed prior to the movie’s release. This show is easily Cena’s greatest critical and audience success, having high ratings in both regards.
Peacemaker is tasked with putting an end to mysterious butterfly creatures that are controlling people’s minds and is provided with his own team to do so. It brings out Cena’s greatest comedic strengths, with plenty of action involved to go in this provocative series created by James Gunn.