The stage-trained Campbell's independent film work would offer more opportunities than his previous television work had afforded. On the big screen, Campbell starred in the acclaimed drama "Next Time" (1998), playing a young displaced white man who meets and develops a close friendship with an older black woman, set against the backdrop of a racial unrest in 1992 Los Angeles. The actor gave a memorable performance in the film, bringing an appropriate ingratiating innocence to his role. He worked alongside his younger sister Neve Campbell as co-producers of the odd romantic comedy "Hairshirt", with both also undertaking supporting performances in the film in the low-budget indie that debuted at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. Campbell found his breakthrough role starring along with Tori Spelling and newcomer J P Pitoc in the engaging romantic comedy "trick" (1999), playing a sensitive young composer unlucky in love who meets the go-go boy of his dreams on the subway one night. Together they embark on a fruitless quest to be alone, and find love in their unfortunate situation. The film had a refreshing universality, and Campbell gave a particularly charming performance as Gabriel, a writer who pens grand and emotional songs but who has yet to experience such feelings in his real life.
In addition to film and television work, Campbell has been very active in the theater, from his professional acting debut in Herb Gardner's "A Thousand Clowns" to "Man of La Mancha" on the Toronto stage. Additionally, he took a role in a German production of "A Clockwork Orange" before acquiring the Lexington Theatre in his adopted home of Los Angeles in 1997. He founded The Blue Sphere Alliance, the Lexington's resident company, which has presented "Nagasaki Dust", starring Campbell, and "Reach", an acclaimed one-act starring Matthew Lillard and marking Campbell's directorial debut.