James Marsden Movies to Watch Before Sonic the Hedgehog 2

James Marsden appears in the sequel of the 2020 film ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ as Tom Wachowski, who befriends Sonic. ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ releases on April 8. It is based on the video game franchise published by Sega. Marsden has been a part of some of the greatest films such as ‘The Notebook’, ‘Enchanted’, and ‘27 Dresses’, among others.

The actor has starred in films as a prince as well as a superhero. Let’s take a look at some of his previous work in amazing acting roles in films and television series.

Enchanted (2007)

Banished by an evil queen, Princess Giselle (portrayed by Amy Adams, ‘Arrival’) from a fairy-tale world lands in modern Manhattan. There, the music, magic and “happily ever after” are sorely lacking where she is adrift in this strange new place. This is until a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’) comes to her aid. Giselle begins to fall for her flawed benefactor. However, the storybook romance gets complicated when a prince from her world comes to rescue her.

James Marsden took on the role of Prince Edward in this 2007 film. Marsden starred in ‘Enchanted’ alongside Idina Menzel (‘Frozen’, ‘Glee’), Timothy Spall (‘Mr. Turner’, ‘Spencer’), Rachel Covey (‘Duane Hopwood’), Susan Sarandon (‘Thelma & Louise’, ‘Dead Man Walking’), Kevin Lima (‘Tarzan’, ‘Aladdin’), Julie Andrews (‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘The Princess Diaries’), among others. A sequel to this film called ‘Disenchanted’ is in the works with no release dates yet.

Watch ‘Enchanted’ on: Disney+

27 Dresses (2008)

Katherine Heigl is a perennial bridesmaid Jane in ‘27 Dresses’ who always put the needs of others before her own. She becomes the go-to gal whenever someone needs help with wedding plans. But when Jane’s younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman, ‘Watchmen’) snags the man (Edward Burns) she secretly loves, Jane finds herself questioning her role as a wedding junkie. She does this for the first time in her life!

Meanwhile, James Marsden is a handsome reporter who sees Katherine Heigl’s character’s unusual story as his ticket off the bridal beat. Judy Greer (‘Halloween Kills’, ‘13 Going On 30’), Peyton List (‘Cobra Kai’), Melora Hardin (‘17 Again’, ‘The Office’), and Krysten Ritter (‘Jessica Jones’, ‘Breaking Bad), among others.

Find ‘27 Dresses’ on: HBO Max

The Best of Me (2014)

Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, in ‘The Best of Me’, James Marsden portrays Dawson, the high-school sweetheart of Amanda (portrayed by Michelle Monaghan, ‘Mission Impossible III’, ‘True Detective’), who have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual, beloved friend. They see each other again after twenty years of being apart.

This reunion reignites the love they have never forgotten. However, the high-school sweethearts soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today in the 2014 film with Luke Bracey (‘Little Fires Everywhere’), Liana Liberato, Gerald McRaney (‘NCIS: Los Angeles’), Sean Bridgers (‘The Thing About Pam’), and Robby Rasmussen (‘Westworld’), among others.

Find ‘The Best of Me’ on: Amazon | Netflix

The Notebook (2004)

In one of the most popular romance movies, ‘The Notebook’, Marsden takes on the role of a lead’s love interest. Adapted from ‘The Notebook’, in 1940s South Carolina, a mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling, ‘La La Land’, ‘Drive’) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams, ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’) are desperately in love but Allie’s parents don’t approve. Noah goes off to serve in World War II. This seems to mark the end of their love affair.

In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden), but Noah returns to their small town years later. Noah is back on the cusp of Allie’s marriage. Upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over. The 2004 film also stars James Garner (‘The Rockford Files’, ‘Maverick’), Gena Rowlands (‘A Woman Under the Influence’, ‘Opening Night’), Joan Allen (‘Face/Off’, ‘The Bourne Supremacy’), Kevin Connolly (‘Entourage’), and Matthew Barry, among others.

Find ‘The Notebook’ on: Netflix

Hairspray (2007)

In the 2007 film ‘Hairspray’ helmed by Adam Shankman, Marsden took on the role of Corny Collins, the host of The Corny Collins Show, with politically progressive attitudes. According to TV tropes, the star beat out his X-Men co-stars Joey McIntyre and Hugh Jackman for the role. This film is set in 1960s Baltimore, wherein dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) auditions for a spot on “The Corny Collins Show” and wins, becoming an overnight celebrity.

She becomes a trendsetter in dance, fun and fashion. Perhaps her new status as a teen sensation is enough to topple Corny’s reigning dance queen and bring racial integration to the show in this movie also starring John Travolta (‘Grease’, ‘Pulp Fiction’), Zac Efron (‘High School Musical’, ‘The Greatest Showman’), Adam Shankman (‘A Walk to Remember’, ‘Step Up’), Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Scarface’, ‘Batman Returns’), Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes (‘She’s the Man’, ‘Easy A’), Christopher Walken (‘Catch Me If You Can’, ‘Pulp Fiction’), Brittany Snow (‘Pitch Perfect’), and more!

Stream ‘Hairspray’ on: Netflix

X-Men

James Marsden has been a part of the popular X-Men franchise as well. The actor starred in ‘X-Men’ (2000), ‘X2: X-Men United’ (2003), ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ (2006), ‘X-Men: Days of the Future Past’ (2014) as Scott Summers/Cyclops alongside Hugh Jackman (‘The Greatest Showman’), Rebecca Romijin (‘Feme Fatale’), Patrick Stewart (‘Star Trek: Picard’), Famke Janssen (‘How To Get Away With Murder’, ‘The Blacklist’), Ian McKellen (‘The Hobbit’, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ and Halle Berry (‘Monster’s Ball’, ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, ‘Die Another Day’).

Stream the aforementioned titles, HERE: ‘X-Men’ | ‘X2: X-Men United’ | ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ | ‘X-Men: Days of the Future Past’

Superman Returns (2006)

James Marsden portrayed Richard White in the 2006 film ‘Batman Returns’, wherein Lex Luthor plots to destroy the Man of Steel once and for all. Superman (Brandon Routh, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’) returns after a long absence to a much-changed world, but Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth, ‘Before I Wake’) has moved on with her life. Society has learned to survive without him but Superman must find a way to reconnect with her.

He must find his place in a world that may no longer need him starring Parker Posey (‘Lost in Space’), and Sam Huntington (‘Being Human’, ‘Good Girls’). Frank Langella (‘Frost/Nixon’, ‘Robot & Frank’), Kal Penn (‘Designated Survivor’), and Eva Marie Saint (‘Exodus’), among others.

Find ‘Superman Returns’ on: Netflix | HBO Max | Apple iTunes | YouTube | Amazon | Vudu | DIRECTV

Dead to Me (2019)

‘Dead to Me’ is a Netflix series wherein Jen’s (Christina Applegate, (‘Married… with Children’, ‘Bad Moms’) husband recently died in a hit-and-run. The sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime, on the other hand, optimistic free spirit Judy (Linda Cardellini, ‘Freaks and Geeks’, ‘Green Book’) has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own, and these ladies meet at a support group. Despite their polar-opposite personalities, they become unlikely friends as the duo bond over bottles of wine and a shared affinity for “The Facts of Life”.

Judy tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret. This secret could destroy her life as she knows it in this dark comedy which sees Marsden in the role of Judy’s husband. ‘Dead to Me’ explores the weirdly funny sides of grief, loss and forgiveness featuring a cast that includes Luke Roessler (‘It Chapter Two’), Natalie Morales (‘Santa Clarita Diet’), Sam McCarthy (‘Condor’), Steve Howey (‘Shameless’), Valerie Mahaffey (‘If I Were You’), Katey Sagal, Brandon Scott (‘Channel Zero’), among others.

Stream ‘Dead to Me’ on: Netflix

Westworld (2016)

‘Westworld’ isn’t your typical amusement park, it is intended for rich vacationers. The futuristic park is looked after by robotic “hosts”. It allows its visitors to live out their fantasies through artificial consciousness. No matter how illicit the fantasy may be, there are no consequences for the park’s guests. It allows for any wish to be indulged.

The TV Series is based on the 1973 Michael Crichton movie of the same name and features an all-star cast including Evan Rachel Wood (‘True Blood’), Jeffrey Wright (‘The Batman’, ‘No Time To Die’), Thandiwe Newton (‘Mission: Impossible 2’, ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’), Ed Harris (‘The Truman Show’, ‘Apollo 13’), Ben Barnes (‘Shadow and Bone’, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’), Tessa Thompson (‘Men in Black: International’, ‘Thor: Ragnarok’)and James Marsden as Teddy Flood.