Zendaya made her acting debut on Disney when she was just 14 years old. Now, at 26 years old, she’s arguably one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood–and her fame only continues to grow as she lands more and more large movie roles. From Euphoria’s loyal following to fans of the Marvel Universe, she’s been winning our hearts left and right ever since her role in Shake It Up.
Whether you’re a Zendaya super-fan wondering if you’ve missed something, or you’ve just discovered the actress and want to make your way through all of her roles, we’ve put together a list of 10 of her best movies and shows to help you out. Find it below!
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10 Best Zendaya Movies/Shows
Zendaya is certainly a versatile actress; here are 10 of her most popular roles.
1. Euphoria (2019-)
If you want to see Zendaya truly give the performance of a lifetime, look no further than this HBO Original. She plays the lead in the series: a 17-year-old named Rue who is navigating all the usual trials and tribulations of high school while also struggling under the weight of drug addiction. Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian describes Zendaya’s performance as “truly astonishing” and “mesmerizing, upending every expectation of what she could do.” Her costars Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and more are also incredible.
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2. Dune (2021)
Dune is the best Zendaya movie for all the sci-fi lovers–or Timothee Chalamet lovers. Chalamet depicts Paul Atreides, a man who must fulfill his destiny and save the world (no biggie). Meanwhile, Zendaya plays his love interest Chani. Granted, she’s only on screen for seven minutes in this first film, but our girl is sure to get more screentime later in the series. So stream the first one now! Christina Newland, a film critic from inews.co.uk, says it’s “engrossing enough to maintain an audience with an intermission and a running time twice its length.”
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3. Space Jam: New Legacy: 2021
A reboot of the 1996 fan-favorite, Space Jam: New Legacy brings a live-action twist to an animated classic. Zendaya voices the iconic Lola Bunny, opposite Lebron James as himself. It’s a fun-filled film; the basketball player and the whole Looney Tunes gang join together to save his kidnapped son (despite the fact that this sounds like a slightly dark plot, it’s generally a feel-good film).
4. Shake it Up (2010-2013)
Before Zendaya was a movie star, she was a Disney Channel darling. And it all started with her breakout role on Shake It Up, where she plays young dancer Rocky Blue. Zenday’s co-star, Bella Thorne, plays alongside her as fellow dancer and best friend Cece Jones. Together, they dance through life and land spots on a televised dance show called Shake It Up, Chicago! (kind of meta). While it may not be the most critically acclaimed show around, it sure is fun–and we love seeing young Zendaya make her mark.
5. K.C. Undercover (2015-2018)
Zendaya landed another Disney Channel role after Shake It Up: the leading role in K.C. Undercover. Her character, K.C. Cooper, is an undercover spy along with her parents in Washington, D.C. K.C. serves as an incredible role model for young girls; not only does she have a totally cool career as a spy, but she’s also a genius at math and a black belt in karate. It’s only fitting she’s played by someone as cool as Zendaya.
6. Zapped (2014)
Zendaya has also starred in her fair share of Disney Channel Movies, starting with Zapped. In this unique teen movie, her character Zoey uses an app to control the boys around her, from her step-brothers and step-dad to her dreamy crush. While Zapped didn’t receive the best reviews around, Zendaya did get nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role. Plus, it’s a fun movie!
7. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Who could forget about Zendaya’s role as Michelle “MJ” Jones in the Spider-Man films? MJ is the love interest of Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland–which is especially adorable now that the pair is dating in real life. The first installment in the franchise got great reviews and is a good movie night selection for anyone who loves superheroes or high school movies. Stephen Romei, writer for The Australian, calls it a “charming, funny, coming-of-age story.”
8. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
The second film Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, Far From Home, chronicles the adventures of Peter Parker, MJ, and friend Ned as they take a school field trip to Europe with their classmates. Our personal favorite part of this film is the fact that we really get to watch the romance blossom between MJ and Peter. But action and superhero lovers will also find their fair share of entertainment here, too, of course.
9. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
In the third and possibly final Spider-Man film, Peter Parker’s identity as Spider-Man is revealed by Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhall), and the young hero seeks help from Doctor Strange in order to try to protect his identity and the people he loves. Of course, his romance with Zendaya’s MJ remains. "’Spider-Man: No Way Home’ earns its joy and sorrow with thematic substance, the breathless action often contrasted with quiet reflection and grief,” writes John Wenzel of the Denver Post.
10. Malcolm and Marie (2021)
“Malcolm and Marie” is one of Zendaya’s most critically acclaimed films to date. She plays the titular Marie, alongside John David Washington as a filmmaker named Malcolm. The two portray a couple who find themselves in the middle of a fight after returning home from Malcolm’s movie premiere. Emotions are high and Zendays gives a stellar performance. “With its terrific performances, resonating dialogue, and elegant single-setting production, the film compels us to see beyond a couple clamoring across the house and acknowledge that a perpetually underestimated woman has found her voice,” Candice Frederick writes in her review of the film for Elle.
Conclusion
It's safe to say that at just 26 years old, Zendaya has a good amount of acting experience under her belt. From the lovable Rocky Blue on Shake It Up to the troubled teenager Rue in Euphoria, we love all of her performances, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
