
James Franco
ActingAbout James Franco
James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. For his role in 127 Hours (2010), he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Franco is known for appearing in films such as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008), Eat, Pray, Love (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He frequently collaborates with fellow actor Seth Rogen, including in Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), Sausage Party (2016), and The Disaster Artist (2017), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Franco's first prominent acting role was on television. He starred as Daniel Desario on the short-lived ensemble comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), which developed a cult following. He portrayed the title character in the television biographical film James Dean (2001), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and received nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and Primetime Emmy Award. Franco also had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera General Hospital (2009–2012) and starred in the limited series 11.22.63 (2016). He starred in the David Simon-created HBO drama The Deuce (2017–2019).
James Franco Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of James Franco reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of James Franco's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 88% of James Franco's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Car Kid, which stands out as a key performance.
Best James Franco Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from James Franco's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie James Franco has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hey Joe | Dean Barry | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | Cowboy (segment "Near Algodones") | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Blood Heist | Farmer Simon | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Disaster Artist | Tommy / 'Johnny' | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Why Him? | Laird Mayhew | Average | Similar → |
| 2016 | The Labyrinth | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Call Me Lucky | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Little Prince | The Fox (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Black Dog, Red Dog | Leo | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Killing Animals | Mr. Hurston | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | True Story | Christian Longo | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men | George | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Dave Skylark's Very Special VMA Special | David Skylark | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Veronica Mars | James Franco (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Homefront | Morgan 'Gator' Bodine | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Here Comes the Night Time | Man on Phone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | What Is Cinema? | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Comedy Central Roast of James Franco | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | A Fuller Life | Self - Reader (segment "Copy Boy") | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Iceman | Marty Freeman | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Eames: The Architect and the Painter | Self - Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes | Will Rodman | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | 127 Hours | Aron Ralston | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Howl | Allen Ginsberg | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Saturday Night | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Milk | Scott Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Pineapple Express | Saul Silver | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | In the Valley of Elah | Sergeant Carnelli | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | An American Crime | Andy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Interview | Boyfriend on Phone (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Knocked Up | Sol (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | New Goblin / Harry Osborn | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Holiday | James Franco (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Flyboys | Blaine Rawlings | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Tristan & Isolde | Tristan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Annapolis | Jake Huard | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | The Great Raid | Captain Prince | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Fool's Gold | Brent | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Harry Osborn | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Blind Spot | Danny | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Mother Ghost | Skateboarder guy | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Car Kid | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Spider-Man | Harry Osborn | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | James Dean | James Dean | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Mean People Suck | Casey | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | To Serve and Protect | Matt Carr | Hit | Similar → |
James Franco - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of James Franco?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Franco is "The Car Kid" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has James Franco acted in?
James Franco has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by James Franco?
Other notable films include "Killing Animals", "Blood Heist", and "National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men".




