Just a year after her first TV appearance, she was spotted and given her first part in a film, playing Nessa Watkins in Mumford. The film was met with a lukewarm reception by critics, and was a commercial failure after it raked in less than $5 million in the US despite the $28 million budget. But despite the lack of the film's all-round success, Deschanel was noticed and this was a springboard for her to star in over 30 films in the 16 years since then.