James Corden’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Though James Corden might be known as a late-night and frequent award show host stateside, his best movies and TV shows see him in many different roles. Corden got his start in the UK as a teenager in movies and television long before he made his way across the pond to appear in more Hollywood projects and become one of the best-known faces of late-night talk shows.

Though Corden has a variety of roles under his belt, he is really at his best in comedies – or in the role of the comedic relief. He has a natural warmth to him that makes him really work as the supportive best friend or the guy making everyone else in the room laugh while the more dramatic characters are going through it. His best roles largely reflect that comedic talent – as well as some of his musical skills.

10

All Or Nothing (2002)

James Corden As Rory

All or Nothing (2002) - Poster

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All or Nothing

R

Drama

Release Date

October 18, 2002

Runtime

128 Minutes

Cast

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    Phil

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    Lesley Manville

    Penny

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    Ruth Sheen

    Maureen

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    Alison Garland

    Rachel

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All Or Nothing is one of Corden’s earliest movie roles. It is also one of Corden’s highest-ranked movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie is set in modern-day London, following the lives of three working-class families. Their stories loosely connect as two of the mothers work in the same store and the daughter of one family has a crush on the son of another, but most of their stories remain separate from one another. It’s an examination of what life is really like for those living paycheck to paycheck in the heart of England.

Corden plays the teenage son of one of the families. He is lazy, without a job, and without any prospects. He also finds himself the target of abuse from other boys in the neighborhood. While the movie is well-acted and shot, it ranks lower among Corden’s best roles because so much of the focus here is on Corden’s weight instead of his character. Corden is a great actor, and his roles should not be dependent on his size.

9

Ocean’s Eight (2018)

James Corden As John Frazier

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Ocean’s Eight

PG-13

Crime

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6/10

6.0/10

Release Date

June 8, 2018

Runtime

111minutes

Cast

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    Helena Bonham Carter

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    Denisa Juhos

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Ocean’s 8 might not have done as well commercially as Ocean’s 11, but the movie was a breath of fresh air for the Ocean’s franchise. The story followed Sandra Bullock as the sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean on her own heist. She assembles an all-female team to infiltrate the Met Gala and steal some of the most expensive jewels on the planet in an effort to get revenge against the ex who previously landed her in prison.

Corden plays a supporting (and antagonistic) role in the movie as an insurance investigator responsible for finding out what happened to the stolen necklace when the fake replacement is discovered. Corden plays his character as methodical and intelligent, someone who is already familiar with members of the Ocean family and knows in his bones that Bullock’s Debbie likely pulled off the complicated heist, but he cannot figure out how.

It’s a great role for Corden as it pits him against the controlled talent of Sandra Bullock, and there is a lot of fun to be had in their scenes.

Sandra Bullock wearing a purple dress in the jungle in The Lost City

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8

Trolls (2016)

James Corden As Biggie

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Trolls

PG

Animation

Adventure

Family

ScreenRant logo

5/10

9.0/10

Release Date

November 4, 2016

Runtime

93 Minutes

Cast

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    Russell Brand

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    Caroline Hjelt

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Trolls is inspired by the troll dolls that were popular in the 1980s and ‘90s, but the animated movie is also a jukebox musical, using pop songs to help tell the story of the adorable creatures.

The Trolls of the story live in a community where they have escaped the Bergens, creatures that typically eat them. When Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) decides to throw a party to celebrate being free of the Bergen, the Bergen are drawn to the celebration and everyone is put in danger all over again. Poppy, ever the energetic optimist, has to team up with the much more pessimistic Branch (Justin Timberlake) to save the day.

Corden lends his voice to the movie as Biggie, a large troll who is friendly to everyone he meets. Corden is perfect for a role like this one because of his high energy, and he reprises the role in other installments of the franchise.

Trolls was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Satellite Award.

7

Doctor Who (2010-2011)

James Corden As Craig

doctor who 2005

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Doctor Who

TV-PG

Sci-Fi

Adventure

104

8.6/10

Release Date

2005 – 2022-00-00

Network

BBC

Cast

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    Jodie Whittaker

    The Doctor

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    Christopher Eccleston

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With Doctor Who being a British institution, it seems like nearly every actor who works in the film industry in England, Scotland, or Ireland has likely appeared in at least a single episode of Doctor Who. James Corden has appeared in two.

The series, which follows an alien being who can time travel, has seen many incarnations of the titular Doctor over the years and many traveling companions. Corden’s Craig ends up as a companion on an adventure, but only briefly, unlike the characters who tag along with the Doctor for a season or two.

Corden actually plays a flatmate of the Doctor when he remains on Earth. Initially, the two do not get along, and Corden plays Craig’s jealousy of the Doctor hitting off with his friends perfectly. He also gets to neatly give Craig a full arc despite only appearing in two episodes, showing how much he comes to trust and care for the doctor, making Craig feel like more than a simple guest star.

Custom Doctor Who image of Matt Smith as Eleven, Ncuti Gatwa as Fifteen, Christopher Eccleston as Nine, and David Tennant as Ten

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6

The History Boys (2006)

James Corden As Timms

The History Boys

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The History Boys

R

Comedy

Documentary

Drama

Release Date

October 2, 2006

Runtime

104 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of James Corden

    James Corden

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    Stephen Campbell Moore

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    Richard Griffiths

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    Richard Griffiths

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In 2004, James Corden actually played Timms in the stage play of The History Boys. He also played the role as the show made it to the stage in Australia, New Zealand, China, and on the Broadway stage in the US. He reprised the role when the story was adapted for film in 2006.

The story follows a group of students who are hoping to get into Oxbridge University. It’s not unlike movies like Dead Poets Society, which center on how the students learn and grow during their formative years. Here, the students begin to question if the things they are doing to guarantee a spot in school are really worth it.

Corden’s Timms is the class clown. He is always ready with a quip, a joke, and is a higher-energy character than most. The character remains one of the best he has played in his career, as evident from him revisiting the role so often.

Most of the History Boys cast members cameo in the movie The Lady In The Van in 2015, including Corden as a street vendor.

5

The Late Late Show (2015-2023)

James Corden As Himself

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The Late Late Show with James Corden

TV-14

Talk

Comedy

Music

Release Date

2015 – 2023-00-00

Network

CBS

Cast

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  • Headshot Of James Corden

    James Corden

    Self – Host

  • Headshot Of Jeff Goldblum In The 2024 BAFTA Television Awards

    Jeff Goldblum

    Self – Guest

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    Tessa Thompson

    Self

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    Katy Perry

    Herself

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While there has been plenty of criticism of James Corden’s interviews being too scripted or him being too “fake,” which has led to backlash against Corden, he did help to revitalize late-night television when he became the host of The Late Late Show.

While much of the format is like other late-night talk shows that interview celebrity guests to promote new movies, shows, or albums, Corden’s version of the show featured a lot more musical entertainment – from himself. Corden and guests recreated Broadway shows in minutes and drove around to do “Carpool Karaoke” as a unique interview segment. It’s a fun way to both chat with guests and see them singing along to the “radio” in a relatively normal situation.

The latter is what helps to make the show unique, so unique in fact that Apple TV and CBS signed a deal to create an entire show built around the concept, though Corden would not be the host of that.

Mariah Carey was the first musical guest to do the “Carpool Karaoke” segment for The Late Late Show, though Corden had done versions of the segment in other projects.

4

Starter For 10 (2006)

James Corden As Tone

Start for 10 (2006) - poster

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Starter for 10

PG-13

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Release Date

October 15, 2006

Runtime

92 minutes

Cast

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Though Corden plays a smaller supporting role in Starter for 10, it is his highest-ranked movie by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with 90% and a favorable 69 on Metacritic. Starter for 10 sees Corden share the screen with his friend Dominic Cooper again, whom he costarred with in History Boys.

The movie stars James McAvoy as an ambitious university student with a working-class upbringing. With a brain like a sponge, he has absorbed a lot of trivia in his time and seeks out the university quiz team. Through a lot of false starts with his peers and the team, he eventually bonds with a few new friends and falls for a girl.

Cooper and Corden appear in the movie as friends of McAvoy’s from before his university days. They get to play a little more rough around the edges and all around fun compared to the other cast members, and they really help to bring the movie to life.

James Corden and Dominic Cooper were actually roommates when they were both starting out in the acting world.

3

Into The Woods (2014)

James Corden As The Baker

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Into the Woods

PG

Musical

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

7/10

4.7/10

Release Date

December 25, 2014

Runtime

125minutes

Cast

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    Emily Blunt

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James Corden has not had a lot of luck with musical adaptations in which he has appeared, despite being very talented and a big fan of musicals. His role in Prom was panned, Cats was a critical nightmare, and the adaptation of Cinderella, which he produced, did not do as well as hoped. Into The Woods, however, is a gem among his musical adaptations and one of Corden’s best movies to date.

Into The Woods adapts the Broadway musical of the same name, though it does trim down some storylines due to the length of the movie. The musical brings several fairytale characters the audience knows together into a new story. Corden appears as the Baker, playing opposite Emily Blunt as his wife who is not satisfied with her lot in life.

Corden’s character is not particularly likable in the musical, but he is not supposed to be, and he is fully immersed in the fairy tale world, bringing the Baker to life perfectly. The movie was nominated for three Oscars and three Golden Globes.

2

Begin Again (2013)

James Corden As Steve

0146301_poster_w780.jpg

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Begin Again

R

Drama

Comedy

Documentary

Musical

Romance

Release Date

September 7, 2013

Runtime

104 minutes

Cast

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    James Corden

    Gretta James

  • Headshot Of Keira Knightley

    Keira Knightley

    Dan Mulligan

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    Mark Ruffalo

    Dave Kohl

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    Hailee Steinfeld

    Violet Mulligan

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Music as a driving force in a movie can be difficult to make work, especially when the movie itself is not a musical, but instead is a story about the creativity and love for music. Begin Again works on every level. It’s also an underrated and beautifully shot movie.

The movie follows Keira Knightley as Gretta, a songwriter who is incredibly shy about performing. Luckily, she has a best friend (Corden) who believes in her talent and gets her up on stage just in time for a record producer to see her and want to make a unique concept album with her – recording outside in different places in New York. While that has got to be a sound editor’s nightmare, the movie makes it work in a beautiful story of getting art out into the world the way the artist intends it.

Corden appears in the movie as a musician and Gretta’s best friend. While she is more mellow and even timid, he is not. Corden gets to be larger than life here, encouraging Gretta to follow her dreams and even helping her leave an angry musical voicemail for her boyfriend. It’s a fantastic supporting role for him that showcases his musical talent and his comedic timing.

Helen Webb (Keira Knightley) with blood on her face holding a pistol in Black Doves

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1

Gavin & Stacey (2007-2010, 2019, 2024)

James Corden As Neil “Smithy” Smith

Gavin & Stacey (2007)

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Gavin & Stacey

Not Rated

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

2007 – 2024-00-00

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Alison Steadman In The British Independent Film Awards

    Alison Steadman

    Stacey Shipman

  • Headshot Of James Corden

    James Corden

    Pam Shipman

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Mathew Horne

    Gavin Shipman

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    James Corden

    Smithy

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Perhaps it is because Corden had such a hand in bringing it to life that he fits so well into the series.

Gavin & Stacey was a real labor of love for James Corden. Not only did he appear in the main cast of the series, but he also co-created the show, wrote scripts for it, and produced it. He has also returned to play his character Smithy in multiple specials following the end of the series.

The British sitcom follows the title characters and their families from their first meeting and tracks their relationship. While their stories are initially very separate, all aspects of their lives slowly converge. They are from two different areas of England and have very different families and different best friends, so much of the comedy comes from the melding of their two lives.

Smithy is the best friend of the titular Gavin. Corden’s co-writer and co-creator Ruth Jones plays the best friend to Stacey. Corden’s Smithy and Jones’ Nessa provide a contrasting relationship in the supporting roles for the viewers to enjoy. Smithy also provides a lot of the comedy for the show as he is one of the most likable Gavin & Stacey characters and a great friend, but he also has a distinct disdain for Nessa despite repeatedly ending up in bed with her.

Smithy is definitely one of the best characters James Corden has ever played, which contributes to Gavin & Stacey being the best project of his career so far. Perhaps it is because Corden had such a hand in bringing it to life that he fits so well into the series.

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