Heading into the latest Fast & Furious film release, fans were taken by surprise over the reveal that John Cena would be playing a major role. While he’s poised to be the central villain, it isn’t the first time that Cena has seized the spotlight. Always having given his 100% in all his ventures, Cena has turned out memorable performances across media.
For this list, we’ve compiled 10 performances of his that prove he’s up to the task to appear as a central Fast & Furious character, based on his mettle as an actor across genres. This includes performances on TV series and during his career as WWE’s main Superstar.
12 Rounds (2009)
While Cena had started out with The Marine in his list of acting credits, it was 12 Rounds that gave the first indication of his prowess in action. Here, he played a man who had to go through a dozen “rounds” of challenges in order to save his girlfriend.
Being somewhat reminiscent of Die Hard, Cena managed to make his protagonist a likable character whose tireless efforts to save the one he loved was something the viewer could get behind.
Trainwreck (2015)
He’d been known for his family-friendly image before Trainwreck took the world by surprise, as Cena unleashed a foul mouthed and hilariously sensitive man quite unlike his usual persona. It turned out to be his first comedic performance that wasn’t geared toward a younger audience.
As it turned out, Cena was the best thing to come out Trainwreck, as his scenes are the funniest of the lot what with his character being utterly clueless and messing up interpretations of the scenarios he finds himself in.
Saturday Night Live (2016)
Following in the footsteps of the Rock, Cena showed an audience made up of millions that he had the chops to pull off a live comedic performance, multiple of those. On SNL, he was seen in numerous skits that poked fun at both his persona and size.
Being one of the few episodes of SNL where every skit was a winner, Cena excelled in sketches like the one where he played a buffoonish student, and a spoof of his wrestling background.
Legendary (2010)
Turning around the opinion of the public is something Cena has done well in his long career, and he proved he wasn’t just a muscle head when he took a dramatic turn in Legendary. In this film, Cena portrayed a multi-layered character who meant well but had a history with criminal activities.
Being a sports drama about two brothers, with the elder one coaching his younger sibling, the movie deserves a watch for the surprisingly heartwarming performance delivered by Cena.
WrestleMania XXVIII (2012)
We can’t mention John’s performances without bringing up his time with the WWE, and his most emotional moment has to be during the “Once in a Lifetime” bout with the Rock. Although he lost the encounter, it was the storytelling in the match that made it so memorable.
With the fans firmly backing the Rock to win in his hometown, Cena initially played the reluctant villain, before turning opinions around as he lived by his never-say-die attitude and nearly beat his rival. The image of him hunching by the ramp after his loss is one that is sure to make even the most ardent Cena-hater emotional.
Sisters (2015)
We mentioned how Cena had been stereotyped with being a muscle head, and he played a guy just like that in Sisters. However, making this performance so funny was the fact that it was poking fun at the perception that surrounds men of his size.
Featuring in a film about two sisters in their thirties throwing a huge party that goes out of control, Cena’s delivery of dry comedy had more than a few viewers reckoning him as a future star in this genre. Perhaps this was why he was cast in the upcoming The Suicide Squad.
The Wall (2017)
Films with a minimal cast or dialogue are the hardest ones to put through, but when there’s chemistry between the leads, this challenge can be overcome. In The Wall, Cena and Aaron-Taylor Johnson were just the right pairing for the job.
A story about two soldiers with just a wall separating them from the enemy, Cena’s character drew sympathy from the viewer for his incredible grit and patriotism. The Wall also went a long way in proving that Cena could shine in a limited setting as well, as his gripping portrayal keeps you watching.
Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
We’ve got another comedy here, yet Cena’s performance wasn’t that of a wholly likable guy. Instead, he played the part of Roger, a bully of a man who antagonizes the stepfather of his child. Even so, Cena’s penchant for comedy enabled him to make one laugh.
He didn’t feature too largely in the film, but the scenes he was in were among the funniest in the movie as the plot progression was brought forward through some awkwardly comedic moments related to his character. Cena showed how he could be a jerk and still retain his funny side.
The Reunion (2011)
The film in itself was a real dud with barely any story to really follow; however, The Reunion should still be granted a viewing for John Cena’s performance. Here, he played a suspended cop who reluctantly reunites with his family.
Making this worthy of mention is how Cena’s character ticked the boxes of action and comedy well, with the latter coming in the form of some truly savage remarks. He was easily the only good thing about the film, and it’s worth a watch to see how far Cena’s come in the acting game.
Bumblebee (2018)
Being part of the only Transformers film so far to be critically lauded is certainly a big deal, and John Cena was praised for his role as the no-nonsense US agent Jack Burns. If you’re looking for a part that closely resembles his turn in Fast & Furious 9, then this might be it.
Engaging in action packed sequence against cars who transform into giant robots, Cena was in top form with his stoic demeanor while being an inadvertent villain to the story as well. It also helped that he got some of the best lines in the movie.
