Before He Was Captain America: 10 Forgotten Chris Evans Movies

1. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

Before he was America's golden boy, Chris was Jake Wyler, the popular jock in this teen comedy. Jake bets he can turn an artsy girl, Janey, into prom queen material. But ah, plot twist – things get complicated when Jake falls for Janey. Cliché? Absolutely, but that's the point of this satire. It's a hilarious tribute and parody of the teen movie genre. Imagine every teen film you've watched, and this movie pokes fun at all of them, in the most endearing way.

2. The Perfect Score (2004)

Now, who hasn't stressed over the SATs? In The Perfect Score, six high school students, including Evans' character Kyle, are desperate to ace this dreaded test. When studying doesn't cut it, they hatch a plan to steal the answers. As you can imagine, nothing goes according to plan. Friendships are tested, unexpected alliances are formed, and comedic chaos ensues. It's a lighthearted, teenage rebellion flick that might make you reminisce about your own high school shenanigans.

3. Cellular (2004)

Ring, ring, it's Chris Evans on the other end of the line! In Cellular, Evans plays Ryan, a guy who receives a random call from a woman, Jessica Martin, who claims she's been kidnapped. Now, if you're thinking Ryan's got the wrong number, you're wrong. Our lad steps up, diving headfirst into a world of crime and corruption to save Jessica. The catch? If the call ends, so does her life.

4. London (2005)

In this film, Chris switches gears, playing Syd, a man knee-deep in heartbreak and substance abuse after his girlfriend London leaves him. Just when he thinks he's okay, boom – he finds out about London's going-away party, to which he wasn't invited. So, what does our heartbroken hero do? Crash the party with a friend, of course. It's messy, it's raw; relationships and personal demons are laid bare.

5. Sunshine (2007)

Forget the shield; in Sunshine, Evans is part of a team tasked with reigniting the dying sun to save Earth. He plays Mace, the engineer of a spaceship carrying a stellar bomb with the power of a thousand nuclear explosions. But the mission isn't as straightforward as it seems. Equipment fails, moral dilemmas arise, and the crew faces unimaginable threats. In the void of space, Mace and the team grapple with the daunting task.

6. Street Kings (2008)

In Street Kings, Evans swaps the superhero spandex for the badge of Detective Paul Diskant. He's the fresh face, the idealist, partnered with Keanu Reeves' gritty veteran cop. When they're thrust into the murky waters of a murder investigation, things get complicated. We're talking betrayal, corruption – the kind of stuff that makes you question the good guys. It's Los Angeles painted in a hue of grey, where morality isn't black and white.

7. The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)

In a world far from the action and superheroes, Evans steps into the shoes of Jimmy Dobyne, a charming yet troubled young man in this romantic drama. Based on Tennessee Williams' screenplay, the film captures the emotional turmoil of Fisher Willow (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), a rebellious debutante who falls for Jimmy. Set in the opulent but stifling world of 1920s Southern aristocracy, Jimmy and Fisher grapple with societal expectations and scandalous secrets.

8. Puncture (2011)

Mike Weiss isn't your typical hero. He's a drug-addicted lawyer, with Evans giving a performance that's as raw as it is riveting. When Mike takes on a case involving a nurse pricked by a contaminated needle, he finds himself up against a wall of corporate greed and corruption. It's a David vs. Goliath tale, with Mike, shaky and erratic, standing up against the system.

9. Fierce People (2005)

Imagine a teenager trapped in a world of opulence and danger; that's Finn Earl, played by Anton Yelchin. But where does Chris fit in? He's Bryce, the charismatic yet unsettling son of a wealthy family that Finn and his mother become entangled with. It's a dark, coming-of-age story where affluence and privilege mask sinister undercurrents.

10. The Nanny Diaries (2007)

Who wouldn't want Chris Evans as the boy next door? In The Nanny Diaries, Scarlett Johansson's Annie braves the world of upper-crust New York City nannying and finds Harvard Hottie (Evans) living in the building. Amidst her chaotic life managing a neglectful mother and a precocious kid, Hottie offers a slice of romance and normalcy.