10 Underrated Josh Hutcherson Movies That Deserve More Credit
Josh Hutcherson has been gracing our screens since he was a kid, but let's be real—there's more to him than just Peeta from The Hunger Games.
1. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
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Remember being a kid and escaping to your own imaginary world? Well, Jesse and Leslie take it to another level. They create the kingdom of Terabithia, accessed through a rope swing across a creek. This place is filled with magical beings—some friendly, some scary as hell. But real life catches up. Leslie dies in a tragic accident, and Jesse has to navigate grief while keeping Terabithia alive. It's fantasy and tragedy rolled into one.
2. RV (2006)
Family road trips, love 'em or hate 'em, right? Bob Munro, played by Robin Williams, rents an RV for a family excursion, with Josh playing his son Carl. A series of misadventures unfold—they deal with sewage problems, nearly drive off a cliff, and Carl even has a fling with a girl from another RV family.
3. Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Ever read Jules Verne and wanted to just dive into the book? Sean, played by Hutcherson, gets to live this out. He teams up with his uncle and a guide to follow his missing father's footsteps. They find a whole freakin' world underground with dinosaurs and weird landscapes. They're nearly cooked alive, drowned, and eaten, but eventually find their way back. Kind of like a scientific Indiana Jones adventure, but underground.
4. Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Board games can be fun, but what if they were literally out of this world? Two brothers discover an old game that catapults their house into outer space. We've got meteor showers, killer robots, and lizard-like Zorgons trying to roast them alive. Josh's character Walter learns to overcome his jealousy towards his brother and even reverses a wish that erased him from existence. Trust me, it makes Jumanji look like child's play.
5. Firehouse Dog (2007)
Who doesn't love a good ol' dog movie? Hutcherson plays Shane, the son of a firefighter, who adopts a stray dog, Rexxx, an animal movie star presumed dead. This dog doesn't just roll over; he helps solve an arson case and rescues people from a burning building. In between all the fire-fighting action, Shane learns some valuable life lessons and bonds with his dad.
6. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
High school sucks, so why not join a freak show, right? Darren, played by Chris Massoglia, gets turned into a half-vampire and drags his best friend, Steve (Hutcherson), into the mix. Steve ends up as a servant to a full-fledged vampire. The freak show hides an ongoing war between two vampire factions, and Steve is manipulated into joining the evil side. A blend of comedy and dark fantasy that sadly never got a sequel.
7. The Forger (2011)
Hutcherson's character, Joshua, is a troubled teenager with incredible artistic talent who becomes involved in a fraudulent scheme to forge paintings. With an all-star cast including Lauren Bacall, Alfred Molina and Billy Boyd, and a dramatic plot, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
8. Detention (2011)
What if John Hughes made a slasher flick? Hutcherson plays Clapton Davis, a high school slacker caught in a bizarre scenario—there's a serial killer AND a time-traveling bear from the future. Yeah, you heard that right. In the end, Clapton has to go back in time to stop the killer, who turns out to be one of his classmates, and prevent the apocalyptic future. It's a wild mashup of comedy, horror, and sci-fi elements.
9. Red Dawn (2012)
What would you do if your hometown was invaded? That's the grim scenario in this remake. Hutcherson's Robert joins a group of teenagers who become guerrilla fighters when North Korean soldiers invade their Washington town. They launch attacks, they get captured, and they break free. It's about courage in the face of insane odds and a sobering look at what it means to be a makeshift soldier.
10. Escobar: Paradise Lost (2014)
Say hello to a thriller with historical roots. Hutcherson plays Nick, a Canadian surfer who falls for the niece of Pablo Escobar. When he learns about her uncle's true nature, he's given a terrifying task—to kill a rival drug lord. The plan goes sideways, and Nick has to go on the run, leading to a nerve-wracking chase. What's scarier than facing drug cartels? Facing them while being related by marriage.