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James Marsden

James Marsden

Actor · Born September 18, 1973 (53) · Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

James Paul Marsden (born September 18, 1973) is an American actor. He began his acting career by guest-starring on the television shows Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993), Touched by an Angel (1995), and Party of Five (1995). Marsden gained fame for his portrayal of Cyclops in the X-Men film series from 2000 to 2014, and for his roles in the films The Notebook (2004), Superman Returns (2006), Hairspray (2007), Enchanted (2007), 27 Dresses (2008), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). He portrayed John F. Kennedy in the drama film The Butler (2013) and Tom Wachowski in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series (2020–present). Marsden starred in the science fiction series Westworld from 2016 to 2022 and in the black comedy series Dead to Me from 2019 to 2022, for which he received a nomination for a Critics' Choice Television Award. He played guest roles in the Modern Family (2011) and 30 Rock (2012–2013) sitcoms. He starred as a fictionalised version of himself in the mockumentary series Jury Duty (2023), for which he received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. Marsden has since starred in the thriller series Paradise (2025). Description above from the Wikipedia article James Marsden, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1973 (53)
From
Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
84 on Motif · 98 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 33% in 30 days

What are James Marsden's films like?

Across their 60 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy17 titlesTypical Motif score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action12 titlesTypical Motif score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Animation6 titlesTypical Motif score: 34th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Motif score: 46th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Motif score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Motif score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Motif score: 34th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Self
25%
Morality
15%
Society
10%
Survival
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds23 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 53 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 28 · Serious 14 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 28 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 30 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 22 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 24

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 36 · Relentless 10

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 32 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 6

Easy watch: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their easy watch movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 30 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

41 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 16 of 41 analyzed roles.

Hero
16 of 41
Trickster
5 of 41
Shadow
5 of 41
Ally
4 of 41
Shapeshifter
4 of 41
Mentor
3 of 41
Herald
2 of 41
Threshold guardian
2 of 41
Show the 41 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Joyful
20
Absurd
16
Thrilling
14
Warm
11
Other
73

How their films linger

Feel-good27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 14 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet29
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Marsden's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 68 of their 84 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Marsden's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

98 credits, 84 with a Motif page; 34 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2027)

    as Tom Wachowski

  • Avengers: Doomsday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    as Scott Summers / Cyclops

  • Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice(2026)

    as Quick Draw Mike

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Your Friends & Neighbors(2025)

    Show 10 episodes · as Owen Ashe

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Paradise(2025)

    Show 11 episodes · as President Cal Bradford

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3(2024)

    as Tom

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Unfrosted(2024)

    as Jack Lalanne

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Knuckles(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Wachowski (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Knox Goes Away(2023)

    as Miles Knox

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie(2023)

    as Hank (voice)

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Jury Duty Presents(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as James Marsden - Juror #14 (Alternate)

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Disenchanted(2022)

    as Prince Edward

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2(2022)

    as Tom Wachowski

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • My Little Pony: A New Generation(2021)

    as Hitch Trailblazer (voice)

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Precious Templeton: A Pony Tale(2021)

    as Tim Templeton

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Boss Baby: Family Business(2021)

    as Tim (voice)

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Stand(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Stu Redman

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Born of a Dream (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as F.A. Jones

  • A One-Time Special(2020)

    as Criss Cross (voice)

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Mrs. America(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Phil Crane

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Sonic the Hedgehog(2020)

    as Tom Wachowski

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Green Eggs and Ham(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo (voice)

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood(2019)

    Thanks

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Dead to Me(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ben Wood · as Steve Wood · as Steve Wood / Ben Wood

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Henchmen(2018)

    as Hank (voice)

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Shock and Awe(2017)

    as Warren Strobel

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tour de Pharmacy(2017)

    as Rex Honeycut

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Female Brain(2017)

    as Adam

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Westworld(2016)

    Show 28 episodes · as Theodore 'Teddy' Flood

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The D Train(2015)

    as Oliver Lawless

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Me(2014)

    as Rich Ruskin

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Unfinished Business(2015)

    as Jim Spinch

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Into the Grizzly Maze(2015)

    as Rowan

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Accidental Love(2015)

    as Scott

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Best of Me(2014)

    as Dawson Cole

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Loft(2014)

    as Chris Vanowen

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: Days of Future Past(2014)

    as Scott Summers

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Walk of Shame(2014)

    as Gordon

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues(2013)

    as Jack Lime

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Wander Over Yonder(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sir Brad Starlight (voice)

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Butler(2013)

    as John F. Kennedy

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • 2 Guns(2013)

    as Quince

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • As Cool as I Am(2013)

    as Chuck Diamond

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Robot & Frank(2012)

    as Hunter

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Bachelorette(2012)

    as Trevor Graham

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Small Apartments(2012)

    as Bernard Franklin

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Vietnam in HD(2011)

    Show 6 episodes · as Arthur Wiknik

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Straw Dogs(2011)

    as David Sumner

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Hop(2011)

    as Fred

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore(2010)

    as Diggs (voice)

    Motif score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Death at a Funeral(2010)

    as Oscar

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Box(2009)

    as Arthur Lewis

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Barry

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Party Down(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Botty

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Sex Drive(2008)

    as Rex Lafferty

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Pip's Predicament: A Pop-Up Adventure (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Prince Edward (voice)

  • 27 Dresses(2008)

    as Kevin Doyle

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Enchanted(2007)

    as Prince Edward

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(2007)

    as Corny Collins

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 13 episodes · as Criss

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Superman Returns(2006)

    as Richard White

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    as Scott Summers / Cyclops

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • 10th & Wolf(2006)

    as Tommy

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Lies & Alibis(2006)

    as Wendell Hatch

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Heights (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jonathan

  • The Notebook(2004)

    as Lon Hammond

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The 24th Day(2004)

    as Dan

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • X2: X-Men United(2003)

    as Scott Summers / Cyclops

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Evolution X - The Making of X-Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Interstate 60(2002)

    as Neal Oliver

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros(2001)

    as Cyclops (archive footage)

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Zoolander(2001)

    as John Wilkes Booth

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Sugar & Spice(2001)

    as Jack Bartlett

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • X-Men(2000)

    as Cyclops

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Gossip(2000)

    as Derrick Webb

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Disturbing Behavior(1998)

    as Steve Clark

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bella Mafia(1997)

    as Luka

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 13 episodes · as Glenn Foy

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • On the Edge of Innocence(1997)

    as Jake Walker

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Campfire Tales(1997)

    as Eddie (segment "The Hook")

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Gone in a Heartbeat(1996)

    as Michael Haller

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Public Enemies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Doc Barker

  • Second Noah (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 21 episodes · as Ricky Beckett

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Brav

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • 919 Fifth Avenue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Will

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Jake

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Boogies Diner (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jason

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Griffin Holbrook (as Jimmy Marsden)

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn(1994)

    as Tyler Cochran

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Search and Rescue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Nanny(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eddie

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Saved by the Bell: The New Class(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Chad Westerfield

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco(1993)

    as Steven Willis

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • An Innocent Girl (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Disavowed (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer · as Brad Griffin

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 98 titles, 94 of them dated from 1988 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

$492M worldwide

Highest rated

The Notebook (2004)

Motif 96th

Most popular right now

Westworld (2016)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19882026

Peak 2014 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 40 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 3 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting96 of 98: 95 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score53rdProducing2 of 98: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 98: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s30 · 29 acting · 1 crew2020s20 · 19 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 21% of 53 roles
970207121722

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 major awards from 12 major nominations, 2008–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  2. 2024
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
  3. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  4. 2021
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  5. 2017
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  6. 2014
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  7. 2008
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do James Marsden's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 62; across their 53 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Motif score across 84 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 84 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed32

Most divisive · actor

De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros (2001)

87th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Motif 97th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 50 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Marsden's work okay for kids?

Across up to 45 Motif titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore39 titles15–79 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity45 titles17–62 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity42 titles22–84 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs40 titles16–67 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense36 titles10–65 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does James Marsden work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Marsden's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rebecca Romijn shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles