Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1973 | Greg | TV film |
| 1999 | To Serve and Protect | Kristin Carter | TV film |
| Never Been Kissed | Jason Way | ||
| 2000 | At Any Cost | Mike Roberts | |
| If Tomorrow Comes | Devin | ||
| Whatever It Takes | Chris Campbell | ||
| 2001 | Mean People Suck | Casey Mitchell | |
| Some Body | Apartment Guy No. 3 | Uncredited | |
| James Dean | James Dean | TV film Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in Television Film Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
|
| 2002 | Blind Spot | Danny Wheeler | |
| Mother Ghost | Skateboarder guy | ||
| Sonny | Sonny Phillips | limited release | |
| City by the Sea | Joey LaMarca | Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Spider-Man | Harry Osborn | ||
| Deuces Wild | Tino Verona | ||
| 2003 | Company, TheThe Company | Josh Williams | |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Harry Osborn | |
| 2005 | Ape, TheThe Ape | Harry Walker | Direct-to-video |
| Great Raid, TheThe Great Raid | Robert Prince (captain) | ||
| Fool's Gold | Brent | Also writer and director | |
| 2006 | Grasshopper | Travis Milton | Short film, later released as a part of the 2010 direct-to-video romance film Love & Distrust |
| Tristan & Isolde | Prince Tristan | ||
| Annapolis | Jake Huard | ||
| Wicker Man, TheThe Wicker Man | Bar Guy No.1 | ||
| Flyboys | Blaine Rawlings | ||
| Dead Girl, TheThe Dead Girl | Derek Shepard | ||
| Holiday, TheThe Holiday | Himself | Uncredited | |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Harry Osborn / New Goblin | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Fight |
| Knocked Up | Himself | Uncredited | |
| In the Valley of Elah | Sergeant Dan Carnelli | ||
| Finishing the Game | Dean Silo/"Rob Force" | ||
| American Crime, AnAn American Crime | Andy Gordon | ||
| Interview | Boyfriend on Phone | ||
| Camille | Silas Parker | ||
| Good Time Max | Max Verbinski | Also writer and director | |
| 2008 | Pineapple Express | Saul Silver | Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Fight |
| Nights in Rodanthe | Dr. Mark Flanner | Uncredited | |
| Milk | Scott Smith | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
|
| 2010 | Shadows & Lies | William Vincent | |
| Date Night | Thomas (Tripplehorn) Felton/ Taste | ||
| Eat Pray Love | David | ||
| Howl | Allen Ginsberg | ||
| 127 Hours | Aron Ralston | Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actor Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor New York Film Critics Online Award for Best Actor Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award for Outstanding Performance Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best WTF Moment Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor |
|
| 2011 | The Green Hornet | Danny "Crystal" Clear | Cameo uncredited |
| Your Highness | Fabious | Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor | |
| The Broken Tower | Hart Crane | Also director, writer, editor and producer | |
| Sal | Milton Katselas | James also wrote and directed this film. | |
| Rise of the Planet of the Apes | Will Rodman | ||
| 2012 | About Cherry | Frances | |
| The Letter | Tyrone | ||
| The Iceman | Marty | Cameo Completed, released at the 69th Venice International Film Festival |
|
| Spring Breakers | Alien | Completed, released at the 69th Venice International Film Festival | |
| Lovelace | Hugh Hefner | Cameo Completed |
|
| Black Dog, Red Dog | Leo | post-production | |
| Tar | C.K. Williams | Completed | |
| Maladies | James | Completed | |
| 2013 | Child of God | Jerry | post-production Also director and writer |
| Oz: The Great and Powerful | Oz | post-production | |
| End of the World | Himself | filming | |
| 2013 | Homefront | Gator | filming |
| 2013 | The Third Person | TBA | filming |
| 2014 | The Grace That Keeps This World | TBA | pre-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Pacific Blue | Brian | |
| 1999 | Profiler | Stevie | Episode: "Three Carat Crisis" |
| 1999–2000 | Freaks and Geeks | Daniel Desario | Lead Role |
| 2001 | The X-Files | Officer No.2 | |
| 2009–2012 | General Hospital | Franco | 54 episodes |
| 2010 | 30 Rock | Himself | 1 episode ("Klaus and Greta") |
| 2012 | FCU: Fact Checkers Unit | James | 1 episode (James Franco Is Preggers) |
| Hollywood Heights | Osborne "Oz" Silver | 4 episodes |
Read more about this topic: James Franco