Few child stars like Josh Hutcherson have been able to surmount the pressures of fame at a young age to have a successful career as an adult. The actor has spent more than half of his life in the spotlight. Using Jake Gyllenhaal, a fellow successful child actor, as inspiration, Hutcherson has stayed grateful for the fame and wealth he’s gotten from acting.
His passion for acting began when he was four years old. He talked his parents into letting him pursue an acting career. In 2002, he moved to Hollywood from Kentucky with his mother at age nine to kickstart his career. In the last two decades since then, these have been Josh Hutcherson’s most prominent roles as a child actor and leading man.
ER
Following the advice of acting coach Bob Luke to audition for TV pilots, Josh Hutcherson’s screen debut was in the TV pilots-turned-movies House Blend and Becoming Glen. However, one of his earliest credits was his guest appearance on ER at age 10. Hutcherson appeared as Matt in season 9, episode 8 (“First Snowfall”), originally aired on November 21, 2002.
Cast as Matt in the emotional episode, Hutcherson’s character, alongside the mother and brother, is rushed to County General ER after being hit by a drunk driver while building a snowman. Unlike his mother, who’s dead, and brother, who’s brain dead, Matt suffered from multiple broken ribs, with one puncturing his heart. The episode ends with a successful transplant of Matt’s brother’s heart and lungs to his.
Little Manhattan
The then-12-year-old Josh Hutcherson played the main protagonist in the 2005 Little Manhattan. Cast as 10-year-old Gabriel “Gabe” Burton, Little Manhattan is a heartwarming romantic comedy that follows the innocent love story of Gabe and his 11-year-old classmate, Rosemary.
The movie beautifully captures the awkward yet endearing experiences of first love. It revolves around Gabe as he navigates the complexities of his feelings for Rosemary while also dealing with his parent’s impending divorce. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the film showcases the charm and excitement of the city as the young couple embarks on adventures and explores the notion of love.
Bridge to Terabithia
In Bridge to Terabithia (2007), Josh Hutcherson plays the character of Jesse Aarons. The character is a talented young artist who befriends a new girl in his class, Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb). Together, they create Terabithia, an imaginary kingdom in the woods where they can escape the challenges of their everyday lives. Josh Hutcherson portrays Jesse as a complex character dealing with friendship, loss, and self-discovery. Josh Hutcherson was 14 years old when the movie was released.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Josh Hutcherson was cast in a supporting role as Sean Anderson in Eric Brevig’s science fantasy action-adventure film Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hutcherson portrayed a curious and adventurous teenager who embarks on a thrilling journey with his volcanologist uncle, Professor Trevor “Trev” Anderson (Brendan Fraser), to find his missing father and explore the depths of the Earth. Although Journey to the Center of the Earth was received with mixed critical reactions, it was a Box Office success. It grossed $244.2 million from a $60 million production budget.
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
A 17-year-old Josh Hutcherson joined the star-studded cast of the 2010 comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right. Hutcherson plays Dr. Nicole “Nic” Allgood (Annette Bening) and Jules Allgood’s (Julianne Moore) 16-year-old son, Laser. With his parents as a same-sex couple, Laser is a typical adolescent dealing with the complexities of family dynamics and personal identity. Hutcherson’s performance captures the struggles and emotional conflicts that Laser experiences as he navigates his relationships with both of his mothers and his desire to find his biological father. The Kids Are All Right received four Oscar nominations (including Best Picture) at the 83rd Academy Awards.
The Hunger Games (2012-2015)
The Hunger Games has been Josh Hutcherson’s most popular and successful project of his career. As his biggest lead role, Hutcherson portrays Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from District 12, who becomes a pivotal player and love interest of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen character. As one of the lead characters, Josh Hutcherson appeared in all of The Hunger Games movies set in the Katniss Everdeen timeline
Future Man
Josh Hutcherson leads the cast as Josh Futturman, as well as the series’ co-producer in Future Man. His character is a janitor by day and a world-ranked gamer by night. Josh is recruited by mysterious visitors from the future after he becomes the first person to beat a seemingly unbeatable video game, Biotic Wars. Throughout the series, Hutcherson’s character finds himself time-traveling and facing various comedic and action-packed adventures as he attempts to prevent an apocalyptic future. The Hulu comedy series ran for 3 seasons and aired originally from November 14, 2017, to April 3, 2020.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
Josh Hutcherson is cast in the lead role as Mike Schmidt in the supernatural horror movie Five Nights at Freddy’s. Hutcherson’s character is a security guard at an abandoned pizzeria dealing with the creepy animatronic characters that come to life at night. He co-starred alongside Elizabeth Lail, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard. Although critical reviews were generally negative, Five Nights at Freddy’s was a massive success at the Box Office. It raked in $297.2 million from a $20 million production budget.
The Beekeeper (2024)
David Ayer’s action thriller The Beekeeper is Josh Hutcherson’s latest released project on the big screen. Unlike his usual role as the hero, Hutcherson is cast as the movie’s antagonist, Derek Danforth. He plays the spoiled child of the United States President. He’s also a tech executive who controls a nationwide phishing scam. He gets in the crosshairs of retired secret agent Adam Clay after one of Derek’s phishing scams causes his beloved landlady to commit suicide. If you enjoyed reading about Josh Hutcherson’s career evolution from child actor to leading man, also check out America Ferrera’s top 9 movies and TV shows.
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