Spotlight On: Channing Tatum

He may have started as a shirtless Abercrombie & Fitch model, but today Channing Tatum is one of Hollywood’s hottest leading actors. From comedy to action to Nicholas Sparks, there seemingly isn’t anything Tatum can’t do. With his action-comedy 'Logan Lucky' hitting theaters, here's a look back at the actor's impressive body of work.

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)

In this drama based on Dito Montiel’s memoir of the same name, Tatum’s character kills a gang member and winds up in jail.  And Tatum the actor winds up with a juicy role that shows his range and natural acting ability, putting him on Hollywood’s radar. 

Step Up 

Tatum, a former professional dancer, shows off his mad skills in this breakout role. The film was such a success, it was soon followed by four sequels -- though Tatum’s dance card was quite full after the second movie.

Stop-Loss (2008)

Perhaps his real-life experience attending military school helped prepare Tatum for the role of Sgt. Steve Shriver in this drama directed by Kimberly Peirce. The little-seen film finds Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing a solider refusing to go back to Iraq despite the government mandate requiring him to do so. Tatum’s shell-shocked performance further proves that he is more than pretty face. 

Public Enemies (2009)

While Johnny Depp and Christian Bale get their names above the title in this Michael Mann film about notorious bank robber John Dillinger (Depp), Tatum more than holds his own opposite the big stars with his portrayal of Pretty Boy Floyd.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

In his second film released in the summer of 2009, Tatum brings Duke, the leader of the Hasbro toyline, to life in this big-budget take on the Real American Heroes. His character (spoiler!) is killed in the action-packed sequel, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation.’

Dear John (2010)

Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, Tatum plays a handsome soldier who carries on a long-distance letter-writing romance with a beautiful woman. Clearly, this was before texting had taken off – and you know that email has no place in movies adapted from Sparks’ books.  

The Vow (2012)

A woman (Rachel McAdams) wakes up from a coma and doesn’t remember her husband.  When she realizes she’s married to Channing Tatum, she quickly starts to remember how lucky she is. (Or you’d think she would, anyway.)

21 Jump Street (2012)

Tatum and Jonah Hill star in this big screen re-imagining of the cult TV series. Not only was the film a big hit, it surprised both audiences and Hollywood by showing off Tatum’s surprisingly strong comedic timing. 

Magic Mike (2012)

Like 2009 before it, 2012 was also a very good year for the rising star. Before making it as an actor, Tatum worked as a stripper, a skill that prepared him for taking the stage on the big screen as Magic Mike. The low-budget film was a bigger success than anyone could have predicted, solidifying Tatum as bankable leading man. Fans can’t wait to see the upcoming sequel. 

Side Effects (2013)

Spoiler alert: A troubled wife (Rooney Mara) stabs her husband (Channing Tatum) to death as the result of taking an experimental anti-depressant in this thriller, from ‘Magic Mike’ director Steven Soderbergh. But not all is what it seems as Mara’s shrink, played by Jude Law, slowly uncovers the truth behind the murder and the drugs. 

22 Jump Street (2014)

This sequel was an even bigger hit than the first installment. Despite the film's inspired end credits, poking fun at the franchise's sequel potential, a third film is currently in development -- but recent interviews suggest that Tatum may not return to Jump Street. 

Foxcatcher (2014)

‘Foxcatcher’ is based on the true story of Olympic gold medal wrestlers and brothers who enter into a twisted relationship with their benefactor, John du Pont (Steve Carell) who happens to be a paranoid schizophrenic. Tatum plays one of the siblings, and his performance has garnered some of the best reviews of his career. 

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Tatum adds intergalactic hero to his resume with his starring role in the latest original sci-fi actioner from The Wachowskis. As Caine -- a gentically-engineered, pointy-eared hunk -- he must travel to Earth to help and protect the one woman who may change the course of the universe: Mila Kunis. Lots of cool spaceship battles ensue.