Chris Pine’s film career began 20 years ago with The Princess Diaries 2 and he has been a mainstay on the big screen ever since, with over three dozen films to his credit, including his latest, Dungeons & Dragons: They’ve also had titles like Honor Among Thieves that gave us a glimpse into their lives off-screen. He has also starred in Star Trek’s third, fifth and Reconstruction films, as well as Wonder Woman’s first and second films, as Colonel Steve Trevor.
Born in Los Angeles on August 26, 1980, Chris began his acting career in the theater department at UC Berkeley before joining the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Before making waves in films, he appeared in television shows such as ER, The Guardian, and CSI: Miami Miami City. Of course, once he made it to the major leagues, he was invincible.
Here is a selection of the 10 most memorable films that overshadow the character and acting style of the talented Shia LaBeouf.
The Princess Diaries 2
Chris Pine’s beginnings in the film industry can also be attributed to The Princess Diaries 2. Here, the plot revolves around Anne Hathaway’s character Mia Thermopolis, who graduates from Princeton University and returns to Genovia. There she finds a new queen, namely her own grandmother, Queen Clarissa Renaldi, Julie Andrews. A task that Mia discovers while touching the throne results in her having to get married within a month. Then we have Chris Pine as Nicholas Deveraux, who complicates her royal plans. Despite many incidents along the way, both find traveling together interesting and enchanting.
Chris Pine started his acting career with The Princess Diaries 2. This film is mainly about Anne Hathaway, a character named Mia Thermopolis, who goes to her hometown of Genovia after graduating from Princeton University. There she meets her grandmother, Queen Clarissa Renaldi, played by Julie Andrews. Mia then learns that she has to get married within a month to become queen. He found this quite magical. You can stream the film on Disney+.
Just my luck
In Just My Luck you will experience a romantic twist on the classic Freaky Friday film. Lindsay Lohan plays Ashley Albright, a girl whose luck goes downhill after a kiss at a masked ball with Jake Hardin, played by Chris Pine. Jake’s life of bad luck alternates with Ashley’s seemingly perfect life. Of course, love wins in the end.
Chris Pine talks about his character Jake, noting how he handles his misfortune with grace and gratitude. He highlights the film’s core message: no matter how lucky or successful you are, the most important thing is to find someone to share your life with. You can watch the film streaming on Hulu, Tubi, or The Roku Channel.
Star Trek
Before its release, the idea of rebooting the original Star Trek with a brand new cast seemed like it would be a total disaster. But thanks to director JJ Abrams and a cast full of new talent, as well as a dose of Star Wars-style excitement, the film ended up being a hit. The plot involves a timeline disruption that creates a new timeline that brings the Enterprise crew together in a different way and sends them on a similar but altered adventure. Chris Pine shines as Captain James T. Kirk, a role famously played by William Shatner. The rest of the cast is equally impressive: Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as McCoy, Zoe Sald.
Pine raves about the character Kirk: “James Kirk is everything you could want: impulsive, cheeky, loud. He likes to flirt, he loves women. He likes to drink. He has big problems with authority and over the course of the film this guy will take all these different energies and form the character of a captain.”
Of Abrams, he adds: “He seamlessly combined big-budget action-adventure movies with really great character stories, which is a kind of art form that I don’t think a lot of people understand. We learn to love these characters and get to know them as people, not as heroes and not as people exploring the vastness of the universe, but as people you might meet one day. I think by building that love and relationship between the characters and between the audience and those characters after all that great action has taken place.”
All old knives
In The Contractor, the CIA uncovers a major leak that has resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. Chris Pine plays Agent Henry Pelham, who teams up with his colleague and former lover Celia Harrison, played by Thandie Newton. Together they try to identify the mole responsible for the leak and bring him to justice. You can stream the film on Amazon Prime.
Into the forest
Into the Woods, Chris Pine plays a supporting role as a prince who falls in love with Cinderella, played by Anna Kendrick. Based on the Broadway musical, the film is about a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who are under the curse of a witch (Meryl Streep) and are trying to have a child. To break the spell and restore the witch’s beauty, they must find a milk-white cow with corn-yellow hair, a blood-red cape and a golden shoe. Along the way, they meet Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack, all on their own quest.
For Pine, one of the hardest parts of Into the Woods was balancing acting, singing and dancing. He admits he was nervous about hitting the right notes and developed a deep respect for musical theater. Reflecting on the challenge, Pine notes how demanding she is even in the film and admires Broadway performers who can do it eight times a week while dancing. You can stream the film on Disney+.
Unstoppable
In Unstoppable, a large, unmanned train carrying dangerous toxins spirals out of control and threatens to cause an environmental disaster if it derails. Denzel Washington plays veteran railroad engineer Frank Barnes, while Chris Pine plays train conductor Will Colson. Both race against time to prevent disaster.
Pine describes the script as just like the train, relentless and full of momentum. He admires director Tony Scott’s unique visual style, noting how Scott’s expertise creates a suspenseful build-up of events that leads to perfectly controlled chaos.
Star Trek: Beyond – Journey into the Past
While 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness didn’t quite match the excitement of its 2009 predecessor, the third installment in the rebooted series rounds things out nicely and comes closest to the spirit of the original Star Trek television series. In this film, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) grapples with his place in the universe as he and the Enterprise crew face off against Krall (Idris Elba), a fearsome enemy with a Starfleet past.
Chris Pine notes that the first two films focused heavily on the dynamic between Spock and Kirk due to their different personalities. However, he praises this film for shifting the focus to the entire crew and allowing viewers to explore the other characters and their interactions more deeply. Pine emphasizes that Star Trek is about the entire crew as a family, not just Kirk or Spock, and he appreciates how this installment highlights the different dynamics within that family. You can stream it on Paramount+.
Wonder Woman
Set during World War I, Wonder Woman sees Gal Gadot’s titular heroine leave her remote paradise island to hunt down Ares, the god of war who threatens to destroy the world. Her journey begins with her meeting Chris Pine’s Colonel Steve Trevor, leading to an endearing and awkward romance between the two.
Chris Pine was drawn to the project primarily because of director Patty Jenkins. Her vision had captivated him before he’d even read the script, and when she compared it to classics like Diamond in the Sky and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, he was sold on the idea. Pine was excited to play a character who fit the adventurous mold.
Pine also appreciated the dynamic between Trevor and Wonder Woman, noting how compelling it is to see two characters who are so different yet have great chemistry. He compares their relationship to classic screen couples like Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant in His Girl for Special Occasions, Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in The Hunt for the Green Diamond and Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in The Proposal. Pine had a blast working with Gal Gadot and enjoyed the comedic aspects of their interaction. You can stream the film on Max or Netflix.
Don’t worry, darling
If you’re a fan of the 1970s thriller The Stepford Wives, you might find Don’t Worry Darling a modern take on the story. Set in the 1950s, the film follows Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) as they move to a seemingly perfect experimental town called Victory. Everything looks ideal, especially the women, but Alice’s joy quickly turns to fear when she discovers the dark truth behind the facade. Chris Pine plays one of his rare villain roles as Frank, the antagonist in this eerie tale. You can stream the film on Max.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
In Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the classic game is transformed into a hilarious and thrilling fantasy adventure. Chris Pine plays a charming thief who joins a quirky band of adventurers on an epic quest to find a long-lost relic. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when they anger some very powerful enemies.
Pine explains what drew him to the film: “What I really liked about the film or the idea of the film is that it’s a crew of extraordinarily ordinary people and I’m definitely the captain of this ship. The guy I play is a failure in life and most of the things he sets out to do, but he’s incredibly optimistic. So what gets him through is his ability to see the positive and a glass-half-full attitude towards life. He’s the great motivator and party planner, even though he has no discernible skills.” You can stream the film on Paramount+.
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