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James Marsters

James Marsters

Actor · Born August 20, 1962 (64) · Greenville, California, USA

James Wesley Marsters (born August 20, 1962) is an American actor and musician. Marsters first came to the attention of the general public playing the popular character Spike, a platinum-blond English vampire in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel from 1997 to 2004. Since then, he has gone on to play other science fiction roles, such as the alien supervillain Brainiac on the Superman-inspired series Smallville, the omnisexual time traveller Captain John Hart in British science-fiction show Torchwood and terrorist Barnabas Greeley in Syfy's Caprica. In 2007, Marsters appeared in a supporting role in the mainstream movie P.S. I Love You and as the main antagonist, Piccolo, in the 2009 fantasy adventure film Dragonball Evolution. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Marsters, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 20, 1962 (64)
From
Greenville, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 53 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 65 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are James Marsters' films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits 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
27%
Self
23%
Morality
20%
Survival
13%
Ideas
7%
Society
6%
Power
4%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 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 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 3

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 8 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 8
Shadow
2 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Threshold guardian
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Absurd
5
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
6
Dread
3
Other
14

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous5

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 Marsters' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Marsters' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits 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

53 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Isla Monstro(2024)

    as Reggie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Abruptio(2023)

    as Les Hackel

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Curses!(2023)

    Show 20 episodes · as Larry (voice)

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Casa Grande(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Miller Dalton

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Leverage: Redemption(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Order(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Xavier

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • A Bread Factory, Part One(2018)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Bread Factory, Part Two(2018)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Runaways(2017)

    Show 33 episodes · as Victor Stein

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • DuckTales(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Nosferatu (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • New Life(2016)

    as William Morton

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Dudes & Dragons(2015)

    as Lord Tensley

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Billie Bob Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Witches of East End(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mason Tarkoff

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Metal Hurlant Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Brad Davis · as Docteur Rowan

  • Ultimate Spider-Man(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Korvac/Chitauri #3 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Three Inches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Troy Hamilton

  • Three Inches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · as Victor Hesse

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Dandy Highwayman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Caprica(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Barnabas Greeley

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Super Hero Squad Show(2009)

    Show 52 episodes · as Mister Fantastic

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • High Plains Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Sam Danville

  • Warehouse 13(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sutton

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Moonshot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Buzz Aldrin

  • Dragonball: Evolution(2009)

    as Lord Piccolo

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jay Pollack

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Argyus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Capture of the Green River Killer(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ted Bundy

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • P.S. I Love You(2007)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Superman: Doomsday(2007)

    as Lex Luthor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Dudley Payne

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Shadow Puppets(2007)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Torchwood(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Captain John Hart

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Stark

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cool Money(2005)

    as Bobby Comfort

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Damian Lake

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Spider-Man: The New Animated Series(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sergei (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Strange Frequency 2(2002)

    as Mitch (segment 'Soul Man')

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · as Grant Mars

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Simon

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 13 episodes · as Milton Fine

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Strange Frequency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch Brand

  • Andromeda(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlemagne Bolivar

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • House on Haunted Hill(1999)

    as Channel 3 Cameraman

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Winding Roads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Billy Johnson

  • Angel(1999)

    Show 24 episodes · as Spike

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 101 episodes · as Spike

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric Swan

  • Moloney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 21 episodes · as Billy O'Hara

  • Medicine Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mickey Collins

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Reverend Harding

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1990 to 2024; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

P.S. I Love You (2007)

$157M worldwide

Highest rated

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

19902024

Peak 2008 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1990s8 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 38% of 8 roles

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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do James Marsters' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 13; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 40 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Isla Monstro (2024)

96th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Midcredits 93rd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 27. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove 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 Marsters' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles24–71 · median 54 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles32–50 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles31–45 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles33–38 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles28–69 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most 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 Marsters work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Marsters' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Patrick Wang shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers