James Marsden’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

James Marsden’s best movies and TV shows highlight his career of versatile projects and winning performances. The American actor began his career in the mid-1990s with small roles and bit parts before finding more success with notable parts in Gossip and Disturbing Behavior before finding his breakout role in one of the early superhero movie successes, X-Men. From there, Marsden continued to find roles that showcased different sides of his talents, from the charming romantic lead to the villain to a comedic role.

Marsden refused to allow himself to be typecast into one type of role, constantly shifting the audience’s perception of him as an actor. He was able to join big franchises in supporting roles, stand out on hit television shows, and even found acclaim playing himself. With a steady career that has lasted decades, Marsden shows no signs of slowing down, but his best movies and TV shows already leave a number of notable roles to look back on.

10

Superman Returns (2006)

As Richard White

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

7.6/10

Superman Returns

PG-13
SuperheroActionAdventureSci-Fi

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns follows the events surrounding the hero’s return to Earth after a five-year absence. When Superman (Brandon Routh) arrives back on Earth, he discovers that Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has developed a plan to use kryptonite crystals to establish a new landmass that he intends to sell off to the highest bidder. With Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) now married with a child, Superman must come to terms with everything he left behind in order to stop Luthor’s villainous scheme.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

June 28, 2006

Runtime

2h 34m

Cast

Brandon Routh
, Kevin Spacey
, Kate Bosworth
, James Marsden
, Parker Posey
, Frank Langella
, Sam Huntington
, Eva Marie Saint

Director

Bryn Singer

While James Marsden has the look to play a convincing Superman himself, he took on a supporting role in Superman Returns. Serving as a direct sequel to the Richard Donner Superman movies, Superman Returns stars Brandon Routh as the Man of Steel who has been absent from Earth for years, looking for the truth about his homeworld. Now returned, he finds himself targeted by Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) while also finding his relationship with Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has changed.

Marsden plays Richard White, Lois’ new fiancé and the nephew of The Daily Planet boss Perry White (Frank Langella). While Richard could have been a forgettable romantic rival, Marsden helps to make him a more layered character, showing himself to be a noble and heroic man even if he cannot fly. The movie was criticized for being a slower-paced superhero movie at the time, but Routh makes for a great Superman and it is a wonderful throwback to the more lighthearted take on the character.

9

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)

As Tom Wachowski

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

6/10

26

8.4/10

Sonic the Hedgehog

PG

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 family adventure film directed by Jeff Fowler, focusing on Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog who teams up with a small-town sheriff. They work together to thwart the plans of the evil Dr. Robotnik, who seeks to exploit Sonic’s extraordinary abilities for global domination.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

February 12, 2020

Cast

Jim Carrey
, James Marsden
, Neal McDonough
, Tika Sumpter
, Ben Schwartz
, Adam Pally

Director

Jeff Fowler

Among his many accomplishments as an actor, James Marsden can name himself as one of the few leads of a video game adaptation that actually turned out to be a success. Sonic the Hedgehog is a comedy-action movie that brings the beloved Sega character to the big screen. Ben Schwartz voices the speedster critter hiding out on Earth when his powers are discovered by the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) who seeks to use them for his plans of world domination. Sonic then partners with a kind sheriff named Tom (Marsden) to save the day.

The first movie is basically a buddy action comedy with Marsden managing wonderful chemistry with his animated partner.

The first movie is basically a buddy action comedy with Marsden managing wonderful chemistry with his animated partner. Tom becomes like a surrogate father to Sonic, making for a touching relationship that Marsden fully commits to. While Tom is not as prominent of a character in the sequels given the new characters who are introduced, this first movie shows him as an important part of Sonic’s story and the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise.

8

The Notebook (2005)

As Lon Hammond

The Notebook Movie Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

7/10

3/10

The Notebook

PG-13

Adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, The Notebook is a romantic drama film that follows a couple who fall in love during the 1940s. Duke, an older man, recounts the story of two young lovers whose lives never lined up quite right to a fellow patient in his nursing home. Reading from the notebook pages, the movie keeps flashing from the present into the past to tell the story of the one that got away.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

June 25, 2004

Cast

Ryan Gosling
, Rachel McAdams
, James Garner
, Gena Rowlands
, James Marsden
, Kevin Connolly
, Sam Shepard
, Joan Allen

Director

Nick Cassavetes

Much like in Superman Returns, James Marsden plays the “other man” in The Notebook, but still manages a way to shine in the role. The Notebook is a sweeping romance drama starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Set around the time of World War II, McAdams plays Allie, the daughter of an affluent family who finds herself falling for the poor but passionate local boy, Noah (Gosling). When the war takes them apart, they struggle with what their future will hold.

Once again, Marsden avoids simply making Lon the adversary to the central romance of the story, as Lon is a kind and caring man to Allie.

Marsden plays Lon Hammond, a soldier who was nursed by Allie and fell in love with her while she had presumed Noah was killed in action. Once again, Marsden avoids simply making Lon the adversary to the central romance of the story, as Lon is a kind and caring man to Allie. The Notebook‘s romance struck a chord with many audiences, becoming regarded as one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking movie romances of all time.

7

Hairspray (2007)

As Corny Collins

fgmka3htfvi5ogw1eydr9xpysxh.jpg

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Hairspray

PG

Hairspray is a musical comedy film directed by Adam Shankman, based on the Broadway musical of the same name. Set in 1960s Baltimore, it follows teenager Tracy Turnblad, played by Nikki Blonsky, who dreams of dancing on a popular TV show. Featuring performances by John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Zac Efron, the film explores themes of racial integration and body positivity.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 19, 2007

Cast

John Travolta
, Michelle Pfeiffer
, Christopher Walken
, Amanda Bynes
, James Marsden
, Queen Latifah

Director

Adam Shankman

Showing off new sides of his talents, James Marsden joined the all-star cast of the musical comedy Hairspray. Based on the Broadway musical, which is in turn based on John Waters’s 1980s movie of the same name, Hairspray is a vibrant and fun saga set in 1962’s Baltimore. It follows overweight and kindhearted teenager Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), who pursues her dream of dancing on a local television show while also becoming a crusader against racial segregation.

Marsden has a standout supporting role in the movie as Corny Collins, the host of the popular dance show who is self-centered at times but eventually uses his platform to spread the message of racial justice. The movie mixes absurdity, sweetness, and catchy music effortlessly for an entertaining ride. It also features an incredible cast with John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, and Michelle Pfeiffer among others.

6

30 Rock (2013-2013)

As Criss Chros

30 Rock TV Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

8/10

30 Rock

TV-14

Tina Fey’s absurdist comedy series follows Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictional live sketch comedy show operating out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which is where the show derives its name. Loosely based on Fey’s experiences as a writer on Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons with a supporting cast that included Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer. 

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 11, 2006

Cast

Tina Fey
, Alec Baldwin
, Tracy Morgan
, Jane Krakowski
, Jack McBrayer
, Scott Adsit
, Judah Friedlander
, Katrina Bowden
, Keith Powell
, Lonny Ross

Seasons

7

Once James Marsden had established his comedic skills in a number of projects, he had the opportunity to join one of the best sitcoms of all time. 30 Rock is a series that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures and hijinks of a late-night sketch comedy show. At the center is the show’s head writer, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), who balances her demanding stars (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski) as well as her power network boss, Jack (Alec Baldwin).

Marsden joined the series in season 6 and remained on for the rest of the series as Criss, Liz’s boyfriend who later becomes her husband. Marsden has a lot of fun playing the somewhat oblivious yet sweet love interest who has his own comedic voice. The series might have set itself up as a show business comedy, but it set itself apart from other sitcoms with its willingness to break from reality and be completely absurd.

5

Enchanted (2007)

As Prince Edward

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7.2/10

Enchanted

PG

Starring Amy Adams as Giselle, Enchanted follows its heroine as she is cast out of her animated fantasy world by an evil queen, ending up in the middle of New York City where she meets Robert, a jaded lawyer who reluctantly takes the clueless Giselle in. As Giselle begins to adjust to life in the real world, and her relationship with Robert deepens, she must reconcile what she thought she wanted with where life has taken her. Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, and Susan Sarandon also star. 

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

November 21, 2007

Cast

Patrick Dempsey
, Amy Adams
, Timothy Spall
, Susan Sarandon
, Idina Menzel
, James Marsden

Director

Kevin Lima

Enchanted was one of the first big movies that gave Marsden the opportunity to showcase his comedic skills and he certainly didn’t waste the opportunity. Amy Adams stars in the Disney movie as Giselle, a young princess from an animated world who suddenly finds herself transported into live-action New York City. As she learns more about this world and gains an independence she never knew she had, her betrothed, Prince Edward (Marsden), ventures into the real world to find her.

Marsden returned for the 2022 sequel, Disenchanted.

Marsden is one of the comedic highlights of the movie, perfectly playing the well-meaning but oblivious dashing hero. His fish-out-of-water moments in the Big Apple make for the biggest laughs, while his endearing performance makes Edward endlessly likable. The film is a terrific fairy tale that has a lot of fun playing on the tropes of classic Disney Princess movies with Adams delivering a charming and funny lead performance.

4

Westworld (2016-2022)

As Teddy Flood

Westworld Season 4 Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

6/10

6.4/10

Westworld

TV-MA

HBO’s Westworld is a dystopian science fiction western that is based on the Michael Crichton-directed film, Westworld. The series centers on high-paying guests who visit a western theme park full of human-like androids to live out wild fantasies. Westworld would later introduce a futuristic mid-21st century where the world is run by an artificial intelligence called Rehoboam. The series was incredibly popular during its four-season run but was canceled by HBO in November 2022.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 2, 2016

Cast

Anthony Hopkins
, Evan Rachel Wood
, Shannon Woodward
, Ed Harris
, James Marsden
, Jimmi Simpson
, Jeffrey Wright
, Tessa Thompson
, Thandie Newton
, Rodrigo Santoro

Seasons

4

James Marsden was part of the incredible all-star cast of one of HBO’s most exciting shows. Westworld was an expansive remake of the B-movie from 1973 that imagines a futuristic and immersive theme park in which guests enter a simulated world designed like the Wild West. The world is populated by androids known as “hosts” who are designed to help fulfill the fantasies of these guests. However, it is all thrown into chaos when those hosts start developing minds of their own.

Marsden is heartbreaking in the role as Teddy seems to have a good heart but does not possess the same independence as some of the other hosts, constantly feeling like a pawn for others.

Marsden steps into the role of Teddy Flood, one of the park’s hosts, a noble cowboy who is oblivious to the existence of constant death and mistreatment he encounters. Marsden is heartbreaking in the role as Teddy seems to have a good heart but does not possess the same independence as some of the other hosts, constantly feeling like a pawn for others. The show is an engrossing and thought-provoking sci-fi story, and while Westworld was canceled before its story could be concluded, it remains an entertaining show to revisit.

3

Dead To Me (2019-2022)

As Steve Wood / Ben Wood

Dead to Me Netflix TV Poster

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Success!

Dead to Me

Comedy

Dead to Me stars Christina Applegate (Jen Harding) and Linda Cardellini (Judy Hale), who form an unlikely friendship after Jen loses her husband in a tragic car accident. The black comedy was created by 2 Broke Girls writer Liz Feldman and came to a close after three seasons on Netflix.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

March 3, 2019

Cast

Linda Cardellini
, Christina Applegate
, James Marsden

Seasons

3

Showrunner

Liz Feldman

James Marsden managed not one but two memorable roles in the Netflix dark comedy-drama Dead to Me. The series stars Christina Applegate as Jen, a woman whose husband was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Struggling with the grief, she attends a support group where she meets Judy (Linda Cardellini), a woman who claims to have lost her partner as well. While the two become close, Judy is hiding the fact that she was the one who accidentally killed Jen’s husband.

Marsden appeared in season 1 of Dead to Me as Steve, Judy’s mean-spirited ex-fiance. It was a lot of fun seeing Marsden play against type as an unlikable character, but he returned in season 2 as Ben, Steve’s twin brother, showing her versatility in one series. The show is a funny ride through some dark humor, but it also explores the concept of grief in some thought-provoking ways while also featuring a genuinely moving relationship between its two main characters.

2

X-Men (2000)

As Scott Summers / Cyclops

X-Men 2000 Movie Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

9.3/10

X-Men

PG-13
ActionAdventure Sci-FiSuperhero

X-Men is the first film in the long-running superhero franchise centering on the iconic Marvel team. Wolverine and Professor X take center stage as they and the other X-Men attempt to stop Erik Lehnsherr (aka Magneto) after he has a violent response to the proposed Mutant Registration Act. Hugh Jackman stars as Wolverine, alongside Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, and Anna Paquin.

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 14, 2000

Runtime

104 Minutes

Cast

Hugh Jackman
, Patrick Stewart
, Ian McKellen
, Anna Paquin
, Halle Berry
, Famke Janssen
, James Marsden
, Ray Park
, Rebecca Romijn

Director

Bryan Singer

Likely the most famous role of James Marsden’s career, he helped bring one of Marvel’s most popular heroes to life in the X-Men movie franchise. The first live-action X-Men movie brought audiences into the world of Marvel’s mutants with a story that focused on Wolverine (High Jackman), a lone mutant who is taken in by Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his band of heroes. Together, they face off with the ruthless mutant Magneto (Ian McKellen), who seeks to save his kind by waging war on humanity.

Marsden effectively plays the stoic hero role and has a fun dynamic with Jackman as Wolverine and Cyclops constantly butting heads.

Marsden steps into the role of Cyclops, the heroic leader of the X-Men with the ability to shoot lasers from his eyes. Marsden effectively plays the stoic hero role and has a fun dynamic with Jackman as Wolverine and Cyclops constantly butting heads. While Marsden played the character in several other movies in the franchise, he was sadly underused, with the first movie showing the potential that was wasted with his take on the character.

1

Jury Duty (2023)

As James Marsden

Jury Duty 2023 Amazon TV Poster

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Success!

Jury Duty

ComedyDocumentary

Jury Duty is a comedy/documentary series created for Amazon Freevee that explores the inner workings of the American Judicial system – with a twist. The show follows a unique format where a fake court case is created, with the entire experience controlled from inside and outside of the courtroom, and everyone is in on it except for a single juror. The show explores the fictional case through the perspective of the singular outlying juror. 

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 7, 2023

Cast

Ronald Gladden
, James Marsden
, Ishmel Sahid
, Edy Modica
, Mekki Leeper

Seasons

1

Creator

Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky

With his long and successful career over the years, it is surprising that one of James Marsden’s most acclaimed roles is playing himself. Jury Duty is a hilarious mockumentary that follows a group of dysfunctional people coming together to serve on the jury of a case. However, the brilliant part of the show is that everyone is in on the fact that this is all fake, except for one member of the jury who thinks that it is all real.

The show is hilarious with the constant absurdity and outrageousness happening with the case, but the funniest moments come from Marsden, who plays an exaggerated version of himself who has been selected for the jury. Marsden completely commits to presenting himself as a vain, self-centered, and oblivious actor. It is such a convincing performance that Marsden ended up being nominated for Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for the role of himself.