Catch up with Hutcherson’s most memorable film roles before The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 hits theaters!
2012 was a banner year for Josh Hutcherson. In The Hunger Games, Hutcherson was cast as Peeta Mellark opposite Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen, and together their characters emerged triumphant in the deadly competition while faking a love that only Peeta felt at the time. Both Hutcherson and Lawrence went on to star in three “Hunger Games” sequels, including the upcoming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. During the events of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Hutcherson was largely sidelined because Peeta was a prisoner of the enemy. For “Part 2,” Katniss and Peeta have been reunited for the final battle against President Snow’s regime.
While The Hunger Games changed the perception of Hutcherson’s career, it was far from his big break. He’s been acting professionally for 13 years, and he headlined his first movie when he was only 13 years old. How many people can say that?
It’s unclear if Hutcherson will be able to become a box office superstar like Lawrence has, but the length of his career and his successful transition from child actor to adult actor make a strong argument for his longevity.
Ahead of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’s release on Friday, November 20, ComingSoon.net is looking back at the 10 most memorable Josh Hutcherson movies. He hasn’t always had top billing, but he’s been steadily rising in prominence for years.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Little Manhattan (2005)
As noted above, Hutcherson was only 12 to 13 years old when he headlined Little Manhattan while portraying a ten-year-old boy named Gabe. Little Manhattan was an unusual romantic comedy in that it was more about Gabe’s exploration of the nature of romantic love rather than a fully realized romance. Gabe falls for Rosemary (Charlie Ray), a slightly older girl who basically makes him feel things that he doesn’t understand.
Little Manhattan was a charming little film that barely anyone saw. But it was a big step forward for Hutcherson.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Zathura (2005)
Hutcherson’s next film, Zathura, was seen by a much larger audience even if it wasn’t a blockbuster hit. Once again, Hutcherson had a leading role as Walter Budwing, but this time he starred opposite Kristen Stewart as his sister (and she’s done all right for herself). Hutcherson spent most of his screentime playing off of Jonah Bobo as Danny, Walter’s brother.
Zathura revolved around a board game (which shared its name with the movie) that sent the Budwing siblings on an intergalactic adventure as they tried to complete the game and return home. If that sounds similar to Jumanji, it’s because the Zathura novel (that inspired the movie) was actually the sequel to Jumanji.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: RV (2006)
In RV, Hutcherson was once again in a supporting role. But when the actor you’re supporting is Robin Williams, it’s still a major milestone! Hutcherson played Carl, the son of Williams’ Bob. The whole plot of RV revolves about Williams’ character tricking his family into going on a cross-country vacation with him so he can attend a critical business meeting and keep his job.
The story kind of plays out the same way that most of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies did in the ‘80s and ‘90s. And say what you will about RV, but it made more money than Zathura did! Although Zathura was a better film…
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
With Bridge to Terabithia, Hutcherson once again landed a breakout leading role. This time, he played Jesse Aarons, a young boy who befriended a girl his age named Jesse Aarons, as portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb. Together, they create Terabithia, their fantasy world which they use to escape from their daily lives.
Bridge to Terabithia was based on Katherine Paterson’s novel of the same name, and it retains that story’s bleak turn of events. But that may have ultimately helped the movie become one of the first true hits of Hutcherson’s career. And the film does ultimately end on a hopeful note, even if it wasn’t an entirely happy story.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
It’s easy to forget that The Hunger Games wasn’t Hutcherson’s first successful franchise. Instead, it was the remake of Journey to the Center of the Earth that featured Brendan Fraser as the adventurous Trevor Anderson, the uncle of Hutcherson’s Sean Anderson.
This was a very special effects-driven movie, and honestly, Fraser’s persona dominated the film. Journey to the Center of the Earth was about as a modest hit as a $100 million dollar grossing film can possibly be. But it did even better overseas and on DVD, which led to the inevitable sequel.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (2009)
Hutcherson’s first taste of the YA world was a bit a of a departure for him. He played Steve Leonard, the best friend of Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia), the titular Vampire’s Assistant. Steve badly wanted to become a vampire himself, and his desire turned to jealousy and he transitioned into outright villainy before the end of the movie.
If Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant had attracted a sizable audience, the conflict between Darren and Steve would have played out through several stories. However, Cirque du Freak barely matched its budget at the box office, and the would-be franchise never materialized.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
Four years after Journey to the Center of the Earth, Hutcherson reprised his role as Sean Anderson. But this time, Hutcherson was playing second lead to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Hank Parsons. And yes, The Rock was a significant upgrade to Brendan Fraser, who had to bow out of the sequel over scheduling conflicts. Journey 2 was a much bigger hit than the original, thanks in large part to Johnson.
There is still talk that Journey 3 could happen, but whether Hutcherson, Johnson, or Fraser return remains to be seen.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: The Forger (2011)
In The Forger, Hutcherson portrayed an abandoned teenager named Joshua Mason whose art skills and his desperation lead him into the world of art forgery. Along the way, Mason romances Amber, as played by former “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere.
The Forger was one of Hutcherson’s last pre-Hunger Games roles, and the film’s release on home video was significantly delayed specifically to take advantage of Hutcherson’s newfound notoriety. That seems to run as a strange parallel with the themes of The Forger, in which Mason feels unwanted and taken advantage of by the people who discover his art talent.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: The Hunger Games (2012)
Even before The Hunger Games was released in theaters, it was a best-selling series of YA novels. That’s why it was so impressive that Hutcherson landed the leading role of Peeta Mellark opposite Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.
While The Hunger Games was more action oriented than most YA stories, the burgeoning relationship between Peeta and Katniss helped carry the movie. Peeta admitted to having a crush on Katniss even before the events of the story as they faked an epic romance to get them out of the Hunger Games with their lives. For Peeta, their love was all too real, which made it even worse when Katniss essentially told him to pretend that their time together didn’t happen.
Hutcherson returned for the first sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and he had only a small role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. However, Hutcherson will once again be on the forefront of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
Josh Hutcherson Movies Spotlight: Escobar: Paradise Lost (2015)
One of Hutcherson’s most recent roles cast him as Nick Brady, a Canadian surfer who finds himself under the thumb of the infamous drug lord, Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro). And in the opening minutes of Escobar: Paradise Lost, Escobar orders Nick to commit a murder in his name.
It’s difficult to use Escobar: Paradise Lost as a gauge for Hutcherson’s post-Hunger Games career, primarily because it only received a limited release, but given Hutcherson’s screen history, he probably won’t be lacking for work anytime soon.
