Chris Pine isn’t just a Hollywood leading man — he’s a walking highlight reel of smoldering performances that prove charisma can be just as powerful as good looks.
While fans came to know him as the brown-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob who rocks well-tailored suits, Pine surprised everyone when he debuted an entirely new look for his 2024 self-directed comedy-thriller, Poolman. Swapping his prince charming-like locks and clean-shaven face for a gray mop of hair, full beard and a series of wide-brimmed hats and retro cardigans, the actor reminded Us that daring to be different is also totally sexy.
“I think there comes a certain wonderful point in your life where you don’t give as much of a FU anymore, and I think I probably hit that point,” Pine told E! News in 2024. “This whole film [Poolman], what I love about what we did is it’s the joy of everything, of design, of clothes, of cinema, of film, of shooting on film, of characters and weird characters.”
He added, “So, I tried to throw all the joy I could into it.”
While speaking to Indiewire later that year, he confessed that being an actor was never his dream, but something that just “took over” his life.
“It seemed to be fated and it made a lot of sense,” he told the outlet, noting that when it comes to choosing roles, “I go where my interest is.”
Here are Pine’s five hottest roles, ranked:
5. ‘Star Trek’
Pine didn’t just play Captain Kirk in the 2009 J.J. Abrams-directed space odyssey — he redefined hot by mixing sexy bravado with just enough softness to make Us swoon at warp speed. His perfect balance of rule-breaking swagger and flashes of vulnerability was the perfect depiction of who Kirk is at his core: half space cowboy, half heart-melting hero.
The even better news? He returned for 2013’s Star Trek: Into the Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, and was equally hot in all three.
4. ‘Into the Woods’
Pine proved he was more than space swagger when he stepped into 2014’s Into the Woods. Based on the Broadway play of the same name, the Rob Marshall film saw Pine as the dashing but hilariously shallow Prince Charming. And while the fairy-tale hair and adorable smirk certainly didn’t hurt, it was Pine’s ability to serve campy charisma with a wink and a nod that won Us over. (Watching him belt out a staggering rendition of “Agony” with Billy Magnussen was great too.)
A classic leading man with impeccable comedic timing is a combination no one can refuse.
3. ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’
If there was ever a movie — and a performance — that was underrated, it’s Pine’s portrayal of Edgin Darvis in 2023’s Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the film, and Pine, showed Us that hot isn’t always about being brooding or muscle-bound. Sometimes it’s quick wit, loyalty and a strong emotional center.
Pine plays Edgin in a way that makes him a leader anyone would want to follow, even if — or more likely when — the quest goes totally off the rails. He is charming, nerdy and, yes, very, very hot.
2. ‘Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement’
Who doesn’t love a little good-natured banter between rivals who are soon-to-be lovers? Pine may not have made his debut appearance in the beloved Princess Diaries franchise until Gary Marshall’s 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, but his crackling chemistry with star Anne Hathaway quickly won fans over. The actor played Lord Nicholas Devereaux, the next male heir to the throne of Genovia who threatens Princess Mia’s (Hathaway) coronation, as she must obey a law to marry before she can become queen.
It’s hard to believe Royal Engagement was Pine’s first movie, as the spark he brings to Nicholas — filled with just the right amount of mischief and charm — is undeniable. His performance is so swoonworthy, in fact, that fans are still crossing their fingers in hopes that he will return for the upcoming third film more than two decades later.
1. ‘Wonder Woman’
When the topic of Pine’s role as Steve Trevor in 2017’s Wonder Woman comes up, all it makes Us want to do is yell, “Hot!!!” at the top of our lungs. Pine is charming, sexy and adorable in all of his projects, but nothing quite comes close to Steve. The definition of a “man written by a woman” (in this case, literally, Ana Nogueira wrote the script), Steve takes no issue with being the damsel in distress to Gal Gadot’s Diana a.k.a Wonder Woman. He’s confident enough to play second fiddle without losing his own spark, letting Diana take the lead and proving that masculinity shines brightest when it uplifts, not overshadows.
Sometimes the bravest move is stepping aside so the real hero(ine) can do their job, and that’s exactly what Steve does here. It doesn’t get much hotter than that.
Bonus: ‘Poolman’
OK, hear Us out on this one. Pine portrays Darren Barrenman, a pool cleaner with a conspiracy theory hobby, in the self-directed Poolman. It’s not the typical “hot” that we’ve come to expect from the actor — he trades his starship uniforms and sleek suits for eccentric fits — but it’s also what makes it so endearing. Pine dares to be different as Darren, offbeat and just a little bit weird. It’s totally unpolished but also totally works (yes, even the gray long hair and beard) and has Us looking at our poolman a little differently every summer.
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