12 Best James Marsden Movies & TV Shows, Ranked

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Static Media

All at once a prince and a criminal, there are few roles James Marsden isn’t perfect for. The charming everyman has dazzled audiences for over three decades and in over 80 film and television projects, ranging broadly in genre from experimental comedies and dark satires to indie science fiction stories and comic book blockbusters.

As of writing, Marsden’s biggest contemporary projects are the films in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise, in which he plays one of few human characters alongside Jim Carrey, opposite the voices of Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, and, most recently, Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog. But before he was chasing gold rings across dimensions, Marsden was already an unmissable star of screens big and small, so we’ve ranked his 12 best TV shows and movies, taking into account their overall quality, how they showcased his talent, and their impact on popular culture at large.

12. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Paramount Pictures

While James Marsden is now widely known as an actor who can handle comedy and drama in equal measure, he didn’t always feel that was a given. When he was cast in the Adam McKay sequel “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” it was only because Will Ferrell happened to have seen him in 2008’s “Sex Drive” (despite containing some great work from Marsden, it’s a fairly draining watch otherwise), and felt he could go toe-to-toe with his character, legendary newsman Ron Burgundy.

Marsden took on the role of Jack “Lame” Lime, an arrogant hotshot anchor whom the actor compared to Tom Brokaw with regard to his standing in the “Anchorman” world. He recalls getting to surprise people — such as Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen — at the initial table read by getting huge laughs on his lines. “It was a surprise that ‘Marsden is funny,’ was sort of the general feeling,” he recalled in a retrospective interview with Vanity Fair. Marsden is indeed funny in the final cut of the film as well, delivering possibly his wildest comedic performance to date.

11. 30 Rock

NBC

Despite courting cancellation through the majority of its run, Tina Fey’s groundbreaking NBC sitcom “30 Rock” remains one of the most beloved television shows ever produced. Satirizing Fey as the dysfunctional head writer of a “Saturday Night Live”-style variety show, it often juxtaposed her fast-paced career with her banal personal life. The latter included a string of well-intentioned but ill-fitting romantic partners, including James Marsden’s Criss Chros in Season 6.

As he reflected with Vanity Fair in 2020, “There was a time period where people like Matt Damon and Jon Hamm … were showing up and being boyfriends to Liz Lemon [Fey] and I thought, ‘Yeah, good company to keep.'” Expecting only to be a seasonal guest star, Marsden was shocked when he was not only asked to return but also was pitched a storyline in which Liz and Criss would marry. He enthusiastically accepted the offer. “It was, I think, the first time in my career that I was [working with] the major league players of comedy,” he said.

10. Robot & Frank

Samuel Goldwyn Films

In 2012, the same year James Marsden took on roles in comedies like “Small Apartments” and the Rebel Wilson-led “Bachelorette,” the actor also featured in a little-known but grossly underrated sci-fi movie called “Robot & Frank.” The film takes place in 2022, a once near-future that compelled Marsden. “It’s not like a very slick, futuristic movie,” he told Vanity Fair. “There’s a few new cars and a [few] technological advancements, but … We live in a world where, 10 years in the future, robots are installed in homes as caretakers for the elderly.”

Frank Langella stars as one such elderly person, an aging and agitating ex-con also named Frank. When Frank’s bitter attitude and symptoms of dementia alienate him from his only son Hunter (Marsden), Hunter gifts him the robot as a means of creating distance. Realizing that the robot lacks the moral code his other companions have, Frank thus endeavors to turn the machine into his new partner in crime.

9. The Butler

The Weinstein Company

Having been a fan of director Lee Daniels’ since his directorial debut (2005’s “Shadowboxer”), James Marsden was ecstatic when he was invited to audition for a role in his 2013 historical drama “The Butler.” This feeling mounted when Marsden learned how many Academy Award-winning or nominated actors were involved already, and that he was being considered to play U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The star-studded ensemble feature centers around Forest Whitaker’s Cecil Gaines, a butler who worked in the White House throughout five presidential administrations including Kennedy’s, and often had to contend with the political, social, and moral ramifications of his proximity to their power.

Marsden felt a “responsibility to history” (as he said in a behind-the-scenes interview) to justly portray the martyred leader. Though he donned prosthetic makeup and adopted Kennedy’s Boston accent through rigorous study, his primary goal was to portray him with as much humanity as possible. As a result, Marsden turns in one of his best performances to date in “The Butler,” despite having relatively little screen time compared to other projects featured higher on this list.

8. The Notebook

New Line Cinema

A defining romantic comedy of the early 2000s, “The Notebook” is an imperfect but effective film that had a lasting and indelible impact on the genre. While Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams star as Noah and Allie, the star-crossed lovers of the Nicholas Sparks adaptation, James Marsden plays Lon Hammond Jr. — a wealthy lawyer whom Allie must, of course, abandon by the end of the film for her true love. This marks the most popular example of a stock character Marsden often finds himself playing: the guy before “the one.”

In this case, specifically, this role led to unexpected consequences for Marsden, as the film’s audience grew much larger than he anticipated. “Nobody knew that it was gonna be such a massive hit, you know? You never know when you’re filming,” he told Good Morning America in 2020. “You hope that it’s gonna happen, but [for “The Notebook”], I don’t think anyone saw [that] coming.” Though he must occasionally weather a passionate fan or two, he also said many men approach him to share that it’s their favorite film of his. “It’s a pretty special thing to be a part of.” If you’ve yet to experience this classic story, you can currently watch “The Notebook” on streaming.

7. Hairspray

New Line Cinema

John Waters’ “Hairspray” is still a relevant story 35 years after it was released. It’s been turned into a highly successful Broadway musical, been revived as a live project starring Ariana Grande, and was updated as a modern movie musical in 2007. In the latter form — an equal parts hilarious and heartwarming comedy with no shortage of infectious tunes to sing and dance to — James Marsden plays Corny Collins, the charming host of a teen variety program that propels much of the plot. (As a teen, Marsden got his start performing in school musicals such as “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Good News.”)

The conflict at the story’s heart is racial segregation in the 1960s, as Collin’s show only allows Black dancers to be featured on an isolated day of programming. Speaking to The Oklahoman (an outlet from the actor’s native state), Marsden expressed that “Hairspray” shared similar themes to another popular project he was involved with — “X-Men.” “It’s the outcasts, the people who are different, who become the heroes,” he said. “Instead of retractable claws and laser beams, it’s the Twist and the Mashed Potato — singing and dancing.”

6. 27 Dresses

20th Century Studios

“27 Dresses” may not be the most profound film (when the romantic comedy was released in 2007, we described it as merely “a treat of light fun”), but it accomplishes exactly what it intends within the genre and has maintained a legacy as one of the best wedding movies ever made. It also sees James Marsden playing somewhat against type, finally as the romantic lead rather than the obstacle. “[In ’27 Dresses’], everyone will expect that I do not get [the girl],” he joked to Cinema.com at the time, “because historically, that is what happens to all my characters, I have all the bad luck.”

In the film, Marsden stars opposite Katherine Heigl as Kevin Doyle, a newspaper columnist who secretly plots to make a serial bridesmaid (Heigl) the subject of an ambitious but derisive lifestyle piece about the frivolity of weddings. Even if your mind can probably trace exactly where the plot is headed from there, Marsden and Heigl are stellar in an amusing-enough script aimed at the rom-com faithful.

5. Westworld

HBO

Polarizing as the series may have become as it progressed, there’s no denying that the first season of “Westworld” ranks among the best work HBO has ever done. Adapting both the book and film of the same name by influential sci-fi writer Michael Crichton, the show depicts a future in which an uncanny Wild West-themed amusement park is patronized by wealthy guests and populated by lifelike animatronics with artificial intelligence that (at the very least) borders on genuine sentience. James Marsden plays one of these robotic hosts — the dashing cowboy Teddy. Within the park, his role is clearly that of the romantic hero. Once his scripted love interest, Delores (Evan Rachel Wood), breaches the boundaries of the park to ignite a revolution, his role in the world becomes much more complicated — ultimately leading to an epic but fatal storyline that takes place during Season 2.

According to Marsden, showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy already had a four-season arc planned for Teddy before they shot a single scene of Season 2. At the same time they said he would be departing the show at the season’s end, they told him exactly when he’d return. This surely made it all the more disappointing when “Westworld” was suddenly canceled after its fourth season, a turn of events that Marsden spoke about publicly. “I’m never going to speak without gratitude about any of my experiences, but it would have been nice to be able to complete the story we wanted to finish,” he shared. 
Marsden’s performance on the show is nevertheless impressive, especially knowing he was trying to avoid television before he signed on. This leap of faith may not have led to the full story he hoped for, but it seemingly opened the door to a series of successful TV projects that shaped this chapter of his career.

4. Dead to Me

Netflix

Despite being temporarily dead to “Westworld,” James Marsden was far from dead to the world of prestige TV. In 2019, he was cast in the first season of Netflix’s buzzy black comedy series “Dead to Me,” in which he played bad guy Steve Woods. Steve is quickly revealed to be partially responsible for the deadly hit-and-run that throws the show into action, sparking a volatile friendship between his wife, Judy (Linda Cardellini), and Jen (Christina Applegate), the wife of the accident victim.

Massive spoiler alert for the end of the first season — Marsden’s tenure on the show was originally supposed to end with Steve’s sudden and shocking death in the finale. As powerful of a moment as it is in the series, the twist did leave the actor feeling slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t get to return for future seasons. That was when creator and showrunner Liz Feldman came to him with an unusual idea: Twins.
In Seasons 2 and 3, Marsden returns as Steve’s twin brother Ben. This is an appropriately soap-opera-style twist that — in addition to keeping Marsden on the call sheet — increases the tension brought about by Jen and Judy’s web of deception dramatically. He and Feldman both felt that the key to keeping this twist from breaking the show was to lean only slightly into the melodrama while otherwise continuing to play stakes as direly as he always had been. This mindset carried into the third season as well, especially in Ben’s more ridiculously tragic moments. “It was important to me that when he’s stumbling around … that can’t feel silly,” he told Gold Derby. “It’s got to feel like this guy is falling apart.”

3. Jury Duty

Amazon Freevee

It’s fitting that James Marsden’s unexpected career detour into some of the greatest television shows of the last decade resulted with the actor receiving his first Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations — though we’re not sure anyone expected it’d be because of a show like “Jury Duty.” The 2023 series is the underdog story of underdog stories, a genre-mashup of the traditional, scripted workplace sitcom and reality courtroom TV (part of the same bizarre crypto-reality subgenre of comedy that was pioneered by the dubiously ethical “Joe Schmo Show” on MTV and persists to this day largely through the work of Nathan Fielder). Ronald Gladden, an affable everyman who has no idea he’s on a TV show, is called in to serve on a “jury” alongside several strangers who are, in fact, actors playing characters. This includes the very recognizable James Marsden, who plays a caricature of himself.

Though Marsden may have appeared as something of a big fish in a small pond working on the series (which was dumped on Amazon’s oft-neglected FAST streamer Freevee), the actor was both exhilarated and terrified by the challenge this unusual format presented. “You get one take,” Marsden explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “If [Gladden] sees a hidden camera, or someone calls somebody by the wrong name, the whole thing is upended. That was really exciting to me, just from the perspective of [wondering], ‘Can we pull this off?'” And pull it off they did — “Jury Duty” was undoubtedly the biggest sleeper hit of the year, as well as one of our favorite shows of 2023 overall.

2. X2: X-Men United

20th Century Studios

It was difficult for us to decide which of the original “X-Men” films we should include on this list. Though some may disagree with our choice (and, really, it’s splitting hairs between the first two anyway), we feel the 2003 sequel “X2: X-Men United” takes everything great about the first entry and dials up the heat in terms of emotion, spectacle, and thematic complexity. James Marsden stars in the trilogy as Scott Summers — aka Cyclops, the leader of the titular mutant superhero team who has the ability to fire concussive blasts through his iconic visor. This costume piece was apparently difficult for him to work with as an actor, given how it removes his eyes from the performance in every scene. He told CBR at the time, “If I believe in the dialogue I’m just going to [act] like I didn’t have these glasses on and cross my fingers and hope that [the emotion is] conveyed.”

“X2” was a repeat success for Fox’s then-nascent Marvel endeavors, earning praise from critics and fans while raking in over $407 million worldwide. It also made Marsden a hot actor for superhero projects, so much so that he almost had to choose between shooting the ill-fated finale “X-Men: The Last Stand” and the DC Comics legacy sequel “Superman Returns.” In the decades since he took his final bow as Cyclops, Marsden’s career has branched into many interesting and seemingly rewarding directions — but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t miss his crime-fighting days. After several Fox “X-Men” made their return in 2024’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,” Marsden implied he was open to returning in an interview with Screen Rant. “I look back on that experience with such affection and reverence for all of it, and I loved playing that character,” he said. “It was one of the highlights of my career.”

1. Enchanted

Walt Disney Studios

Fifteen years after it cast a classic Disney spell on audiences, “Enchanted” is still a magically effective musical romantic comedy the likes of which we’ve yet to see again. Amy Adams plays Giselle, an archetypal lovesick princess who is banished from the (animated) fairytale kingdom of Andalasia to the rough, very real streets of New York City — where, of course, she unexpectedly finds the handsome divorce attorney Robert (Patrick Dempsey). Before that can happen, however, Giselle must reckon with her feelings for her prince Edward (James Marsden), who has chased her across dimensions dreaming of a true love’s kiss. “I always describe [Edward] as not necessarily being in love with Giselle, but being in love with being in love,” Marsden shared with Cinema.com.

“Enchanted” was a decisive critical and commercial hit (though some of us are still a little bitter Adams didn’t receive a nod for Best Actress). The buzz had fans understandably clamoring for a sequel — but five years after the premiere, Marsden was still in the dark and doubtful. “You know, we are playing animated characters that don’t age,” he warned Vanity Fair in 2012. “So that’s maybe a problem.” It ultimately took Disney until 2020 to greenlight the sequel project, which eventually became the surprisingly enjoyable Disney+ feature “Disenchanted.”
Marsden expressed his gratitude upon its release not only for getting to return as Edward, but also for having been offered the role back in 2007. He credits the opportunity to show audiences a new side of himself after “X-Men” with his unexpected professional longevity. “I’ve been lucky to have had a career for almost 30 years now in this business,” he told Nerds of Color, “and you go back to 1993 [and ask yourself], would you still be working in 2023? I’d probably say, ‘Maybe not, but if I get a couple of years out of it, that’s great.'”

NASA discovers ‘alien’ planet where it rains glass and scientists call ‘nightmare world’

Science and Health

Scientists have discovered a terrifying alien planet that, while it may look like Earth, conceals some deadly conditions that have led NASA to describe it as a “nightmare world”.The giant exoplanet – 11% bigger than Jupiter – has winds that reach up to 5,400 mph, around seven times the speed of sound, and has temperatures ranging from 919 to 1,220C. What’s more, this alien world named HD 189733 b – appears to “rain glass”, according to NASA. Describing it as the “killer you never see coming,” NASA said: “To the human eye, this far-off planet looks bright blue. But any space traveller confusing it with the friendly skies of Earth would be badly mistaken. “The weather on this world is deadly.”HD 189733 b is a giant gas exoplanet in the faint Vulpecula constellation in the northern sky, which lies approximately 64.5 light-years (19.8 parsecs) away from our Solar System. While our planet takes 365 days to circle the sun, a year on HD 189733 b takes just 2.2 days, with an orbital speed of 340,000 mph. Since its discovery in 2005 by French astronomers who saw it transit across its star’s face—HD 189733—it has been the subject of close atmospheric observation. If anyone were able to survive the scorching conditions and brutal winds, visitors would undoubtedly be killed by its deadly rain – molten glass. “Getting caught in the rain on this planet is more than an inconvenience; it’s death by a thousand cuts,” NASA said. “This scorching alien world possibly rains glass – sideways – in its howling winds.”Researchers discovered that its overall colour is a deep blue. While Earth’s blue colour comes from the reflection of our oceans, HD 189733 b’s is determined by a “hazy, blow-torched atmosphere containing high clouds laced with silicate particles”.Exoplanets – those located outside our Solar System – have been incredibly difficult to spot as they are usually concealed by the brightness of their star. NASA’s Kepler telescope was launched into orbit with the purpose of finding Earth-sized exoplanets that might support life. So far, over 5,500 have been discovered and more missions are in the works to find more. HD 189733 b, along with HD 209458 b (in the Pegasus constellation), were the first two planets to be directly spectroscopically observed – a way to study the interaction between light and matter by splitting light into its different wavelengths to determine its physical properties.This planet is thought to be tidally locked to its parent star, meaning it has a permanent day and night. Observations using the Spitzer telescope concluded that there is solid evidence for significant amounts of water vapour in the planet’s atmosphere. Follow-up observations using the Hubble telescope confirmed the presence of water vapour, neutral oxygen, carbon monoxide and methane – the latter of which has left scientists baffled.It is currently unknown how methane originated, as the planet’s incredibly high temperature should cause the water and methane to react, replacing the atmosphere with carbon monoxide. 

UK tourists issued terrorism warning for popular Mediterranean holiday spot

Travel

British tourists planning trips to Croatia have been warned terrorists could target the popular holiday destination with “indiscriminate” attacks.There is not indication that the popular destination is facing an imminent threat – but tourists have been urged to remain vigilant.Advice carried on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Croatia, attacks cannot be ruled out.”Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.”Offering further guidance on the risk of encountering terrorism abroad, the FCDO added: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.”Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.”Holidaymakers have been encouraged to consult the UK Counter Terrorism Policing for information and advice on staying safe abroad.They can also consult the FCDO’s guidance on reducing the risk while abroad.Croatia is an extremely popular tourist destination, with holidaymakers flocking to the Balkan destination for its idyllic scenery, wonderful weather, delicious seafood and festivals galore.An estimated 800,000 Britons visited in 2024, according to figures provided by the Croatian National Tourist Board.However, before travelling there prospective holidaymakers would do well to make sure to check the FCDO’s latest travel guidance. This will include the most up-to-date information on warnings and insurance, entry requirements, safety and security, health and getting help.Holidaymakers were advised that while crime levels are “low” and violent crime is “rare”, tourists should always protect themselves and their belongings, and be aware of attacks and sexual assaults in taxis.The FCDO warned: “Tourists have been overcharged at certain ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, sometimes by thousands of euros, and threatened with violence if they refuse to pay. Pickpockets operate in tourist areas. Avoid carrying large sums of cash, do not leave valuables unattended and use hotel safes if possible.”There have been reports of sexual assaults in taxis in Croatia.”To reduce risk and help prevent potential assaults tourists are advised to:Take a photo of the inside, where the number of the taxi is visible, and send it to a friend or someone elseShare their ride status on the taxi appMake a call while in the taxi telling someone which taxi it is and where they are goingBefore going abroad, it’s always wise to check the UK Government’s latest advice for the chosen country to ensure a safe, well-informed trip.Britons heading to the Caribbean were recently given a travel update as two countries are experiencing “limited” infrastructure.Those visiting an Asian holiday hotspot were alerted to new visa requirements they must follow, effective now.

Deva: Trailer of Shahid Kapoor’s film to release much sooner than you expected?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde have united for Rosshan Andrrews’ directorial, Deva. It is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. After the makers unveiled the blockbuster teaser and first song Bhasad Macha, the expectation from the trailer is sky-high. Fans are pumped up to watch their favorite in the soon-to-be-released trailer. Recently, it was reported that the Deva trailer will be out on January 21, but it seems like fans will get to witness Shahid’s larger-than-life aura a little early. The new development suggests that the makers have pre-poned the release of the trailer. Read on…Details about new trailer release date of Deva revealed
According to Times Now, the makers have now decided to release the most-awaited trailer on January 17, 2025. It is being said that the decision was taken due to the overwhelming response from the fans. After the teaser and the first song were released, fans were seen demanding the makers to launch the trailer. A source told the portal, “Shahid Kapoor and the Deva team decided to prepone the trailer launch to 17th January, following the overwhelming demand from fans after the teaser and first song.” Well, it will be interesting to see what the team of Deva has to offer. Will it be a grand event or just an online launch, nothing is certain on that front as of now. Earlier, a report by Bollywood Hungama suggested that the trailer of Deva will be out on January 21. A source told the portal, “Deva’s trailer will be out on Tuesday, January 21. The teaser and Bhasad Macha introduced audiences to the world of the film and showcased Shahid Kapoor’s massy avatar. The trailer will give more insight into the plot and highlight other actors, including Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, and others.”More about Deva
The trailer of Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde’s film is 2-minute, 22-second-long and it received a ‘UA 16+’ rating from CBFC. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, Deva is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and is set to release in theatres on January 31, 2025.

Emergency: Kangana Ranaut’s film to NOT release in Punjab? Find out

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Kangana Ranaut’s much-awaited film Emergency is finally set to release in theatres tomorrow, January 17, 2025. After being surrounded by controversies and multiple delays, the film will see the light of the day. But it seems like there are still some roadblocks for the Kangana Ranaut directorial. On Thursday, January 16, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to ban Emergency’s screening in the state. Here’s why…Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency to be banned in Punjab?
In the film, Kangana will be seen portraying the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It will showcase the 21-month emergency period from 1975 to 1977. Just a day before its release, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann demanding a ban on the movie. In his letter, he claimed that the film has ‘an anti-Sikh agenda to spread hatred against the community.’ According to Indian Express, the letter reads, “BJP MP’s movie depicts the 1984 attacks on the sacred Sikh shrines, including Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and other holy sites, along with the Sikh genocide and ethnic cleansing, in a way that suppresses the truth and works under an anti-Sikh agenda to spread hatred against the community. Moreover, the film also maligns the character of the Sikh martyr Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale.”The letter further stated, “The SGPC has already raised objections to the film with Punjab’s Chief Secretary but expressed disappointment over the government’s lack of action. The SGPC has also sent representations to all Deputy Commissioners in Punjab, urging them to prevent the movie’s screening.”The SGPC President also said that if Kangana’s film is released, it will ‘evoke anger and protests within the Sikh community.’ He further warned, “The Punjab government must take responsibility to ensure the movie is not released in the state. Otherwise, the SGPC will be compelled to launch strong protests across Punjab.”About Emergency
Apart from Kangana, the film will feature Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mahima Chaudhry as Pupul Jayakar, Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, and Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram. Post ending its theatrical run, the film will be dropped on Netflix.