Filming both Dune: Part Two in the summer of 2022, Zendaya's reputation as an international film star has been cemented by her multi-genre filmography. Starting out as a child model to being recently cast as Ronnie Spector in her untitled biopic, Zendaya has made a name for herself from her Disney Channel roots to her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to leading sci-fi blockbusters. Her recent shift to dramas, such as Challengers, has sprouted hope for a 2023 Academy Award nomination for the 25-year-old actress.
Letterboxd s have taken note of her talent and rated her performances in her filmography noting the variety of work she does, such as starring in animated movies, blockbusters, and made-for-television teen comedies. Nonetheless, she brings a striking performance to every project she stars in and it's time that Hollywood recognizes her for the multi-faceted power player that she is.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) - 2/5
Available On HBO Max
One of four movies released in 2021 with Zendaya, live-action/animated Space Jam: A New Legacy directed by Malcolm D. Lee served as the long-awaited sequel to the original Space Jam released in 1996. Not her first voice-over role, Zendaya stars as the voice of Lola Bunny and cited that being raised by the original in her family allowed her to take on this role.
The movie features an all-star cast featuring Lebron James, Don Cheadle, and Michael B. Jordan. The highly anticipated movie was panned by viewers on Letterboxd for its faulty story-telling, rambling humor, and scrambling direction. Despite her role coming as a surprise and many surprised at Lola's redesign, it earned 162.8 million against a budget of 150 million and was one of four major movies released in 2021 with Zendaya in a starring role.
Frenemies (2012) - 2/5
Available On Disney+
Considered her first movie role, Zendaya starred in the Disney Channel Original teen comedy Frenemies alongside her Shake It Up co-star Bella Thorne. Zendaya stars as Halley Brandon who is forced to compete with her best friend for a senior editor position at a publishing company. The movie also stars Nick Robinson from Insidious: Chapter 3.
The movie consists of three short stories that fans felt were arbitrarily put together and underdeveloped. The movie had 4.2 million viewers at its premiere in January 2012. Still, it continued to cement Zendaya as a growing actress and would get her a leading role in another Disney Channel Original Movie Zapped in 2014. Her continued growth in Disney Channel would allow her to eventually produce and star in her own show, K.C. Undercover.
Duck Duck Goose (2018) - 2.2/5
Available On Netflix
Another voice-over role, Duck Duck Goose is a Netflix animated film from the writer of Surf’s Up that was released in 2018 after being pulled from a US theatrical release for undisclosed reasons. Zendaya voices Chi, a duckling that is saved by Peng, voiced by Jeff Gaffigan. The movie was produced in a collaborative effort between the United States and China, where it was released theatrically where it grossed over $5 million.
As Zendaya's popularity grew and her skills became more notable, many on Letterboxd believed Zendaya was underused and felt that the children’s movie lacked substance and relied too much on flatulence humor.
Smallfoot (2018) - 3/5
Available On Spectrum On Demand
Considered Zendaya's most successful animated movie to date, Zendaya starred in Smallfoot, an animated musical comedy following a small community of Yeti who stumble upon a human, or Smallfoot, as they know it, after having believed they were a myth for so long. With an all-star cast consisting of Channing Tatum, Lebron James, and Danny DeVito, Zendaya voices Meechee, the chief’s daughter, and the protagonist’s love interest.
Zendaya recorded two songs for the soundtrack’s album which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top 200. The movie was well-received due to its impactful messaging, catchy songs, and well-rounded plot. The director stated that there is a potential for a sequel after grossing $214M against a budget of $80M.
Malcolm & Marie (2021) - 3.1/5
Available On Netflix
Working alongside Malcolm & Marie alongside John David Washington. The black and white movie focuses on these two characters for its entirety as they return from Malcolm’s movie premiere and deal with devastating truths about one another.
While many praised Zendaya and John David Washington’s acting and chemistry with one another, Malcolm & Marie's reviews were mixed, with some praising the narrative and others questioning Levinson’s intent. Regardless, this is considered one of Zendaya's best works, and she received a Best Actress nomination at the 26th Critics Choice Awards for it.
The Greatest Showman (2017) - 3.3/5
Available On Disney+
One of Zendaya’s biggest box office hits, the musical drama The Greatest Showman co-stars Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, and Zac Efron in a movie that chronicles the rise of P.T. Barnum and his circus. Zendaya plays trapeze artist Anne Wheeler who falls in love with Zac Efron’s character, Phillip Carlysle. She got to perform “Rewrite the Stars” for the movie alongside Zac Efron and ed in on “The Greatest Show” and “Come Alive.”
The movie received mixed reviews for its inaccurate historical portrayal but Zendaya was praised for her touching performance as one of the best characters in The Greatest Showman. The movie went on to become the fifth top-grossing live-action musical movie at the box office of all time.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - 3.5/5
Available On FuboTV
The second in the MCU Spider-Man Trilogy, Spider-Man: Far From Home brings out Zendaya as MJ from a minor character to a ing character. The movie stars Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Samuel L. Jackson and follows Peter and his friends as they travel to Europe for a school trip.
Despite being the lowest-rated Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland, Zendaya was praised for her notable portrayal of MJ and her onscreen chemistry with Tom Holland, making them one of the best relationships in the MCU. It is the first time viewers see Zendaya truly embrace the role of MJ.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - 3.6/5
Available On Starz
The first Spider-Man movie in the second reboot, Spider-Man: Homecoming carried with it a lot of pressure but grew into its own with its own unique world. Part of that world was Zendaya whose nickname, MJ, was omitted until the end but intensified the excitement of fans as they hoped to see Zendaya grow into her character.
The movie marked Zendaya's feature film debut. She would go on to star in the subsequent sequels, bringing her into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie grossed over the second-most successful Spider-Man movie at the time.
Dune (2021) - 4/5
Available On HBOMax
As can be seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming, a small role does not minimize Zendaya's presence. Zendaya plays Chani, Timothee Chalamet's love interest, in the two-part science-fiction blockbuster Dune reboot, directed by Denis Villeneuve. While the second part heavily features Zendaya, the first part saw Zendaya through Chalamet's visions in quick short sequences.
Nonetheless, her performance excited audiences and many are excited to see her reprise her role. She will take a more present role in the sequel. Zendaya's participation in the science-fiction blockbuster attracted the attention of many, including director Pedro Almodovar who hopes to work with her someday.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - 4.1/5
Available To Rent Or Buy On Apple TV & Amazon
Despite having started as a minor character, Zendaya became a scene-stealer in the final movie of the MCU Spider-Man trilogy Spider-Man: No Way Home, her most recent movie release. She reprises her role as MJ and delivers what viewers call her best performance of the trilogy.
Zendaya ended her packed release year of 2021 with a multi-faceted performance that saw the vulnerability of MJ that had not been seen before. The movie was well-received by critics and fans alike and was the top-grossing movie in 2021 and is the sixth highest-grossing movie of all time. While it may not come soon, Zendaya is signed on to appear in the next sequel, alongside Tom Holland.
