Though James Corden is perhaps known best as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS, the TV personality has also had a successful film career taking on both small cameos and starring roles. Though his most recent movie, Cats, might not be getting much applause from critics, we thought we’d give a little love to his more highly rated projects. To do this, we’ll be stacking up his best films based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores.
The review aggregation website has assigned a Tomatometer score to every one of Corden’s feature films. This number is based on the negative and positive reviews of critics. Before we get started, it’s worth noting that we won’t be including documentaries in the lineup. With the logistics out of the way, it’s time to blast through movie past; Here are James Corden’s best films to date, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
The History Boys (66%)
Far before Corden was hosting a late-night show, he was appearing in the 2006 comedy-drama known as The History Boys.
Set in the ‘80s, this film tells of a group of students who hope to go to school at the United Kingdom’s Oxbridge. In order to successfully gain entry into the institution, the boys receive help from a determined teacher. However, they soon start to wonder if there are things more important than being at the top of their class. Corden played one of the students at the school named Tony.
Into The Woods (71%)
This musical fantasy, adapted from the 1986 Broadway show of the same name, tells of a group of fairytale characters who are forced to face the dark sides of their “happy endings.”
The film centers on the Baker and his wife, who hope to bear a child but are unable to due to a curse put on them by a witch. In order to reverse this, they are asked to make a potion using a white cow, a red cape, a strand of yellow hair, and a golden slipper. The couple sets out to find these items, encountering Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack along the way. Corden stars as the Baker while Emily Blunt plays his wife.
Trolls (76%)
This computer-animated musical comedy tells of the cheerful trolls who are forced to escape the ugly, mean Bergens who hope to eat them. Though the trolls successfully escape once, they are forced to do so again twenty years later after Poppy throws a party to celebrate their earlier escape. The hoopla attracts the attention of the Bergens all over again.
Anna Kendrick stars as Poppy and Justin Timberlake backs her up as Branch, meanwhile, James Corden voices a large troll named Biggie.
Smallfoot (76%)
Smallfoot stomped its way into theaters in 2018. This computer-animated comedy tells of a sweet Yeti named Migo who learns that the mythical creatures known as humans are actually real. Though the rest of his village believes he is bluffing, Migo decides to prove them wrong by bringing back one of the people he has found.
Channing Tatum voices Migo while James Corden acts as Percy Patterson, a British wildlife filmmaker who ends up befriending Migo.
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (79%)
This film tells of the famous British executioner Albert Pierrepoint. Though the story begins in 1932 when Pierrepoint first accepts the job as the country’s official hangman, it ends in 1956 when he chooses to resign.
Though Timothy Spall stars in the leading role, Corden plays a minor character named Kirky, who assists Pierrepoint.
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (81%)
This 2008 movie, adapted from the play of the same name, explores the life of English record producer Joe Meek. While Meek appears successful on the outside, having released many ’60s hits, he battles depression and debt in private. Additionally, with homosexuality deemed illegal in the U.K. at the time, Meek is forced to keep his romantic life private.
Corden appears in the film as Clem Cattini, a drummer for the rock and roll band the Tornados.
Begin Again (82%)
Begin Again relays the story of a struggling musician named Gretta who ends up in New York after her boyfriend lands a record deal. When he trades in their relationship for success, however, she is forced to start over. Gretta ends up meeting Dan, a once-great record exec, who decides to help her out on an album. As their professional relationship starts to fade into a romantic one, however, the two wonder how much their careers are worth.
Keira Knightley stars as Gretta while Mark Ruffalo portrays Dan. James Corden backs the pair up as Steve, a close friend of Gretta’s.
All Or Nothing (82%)
This 2002 British drama follows three working-class families in London who deal with the ups and downs of everyday life.
One family of four has the mother working as a supermarket cashier, the father as a driver, the daughter as a nursing home employee, and the son as a lazy eighteen-year-old who struggles to make himself a future. The last of these, Rory, is played by a youthful Corden.
The Lady In The Van (89%)
This 2015 comedy-drama, based on the memoir by Alan Bennet, tells of the elderly woman who temporarily parks in his driveway only to leave her van there for 15 years.
Though the story is led by Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings, Corden, alongside the rest of the main History Boys cast, appears in minor roles. Corden’s character is a street trader in London.
Starter For 10 (90%)
Topping off the list as Corden’s highest-scoring film to date is Starter for 10. This British comedy-drama tells of a college student who scores himself a spot on a quiz team that is to appear on the University Challenge television program in the ’80s. James McAvoy takes on the leading role while Corden supports as his not-quite-as-ambitious friend, Tone. The coming-of-age-tale was praised for its spirit and charm.
