Summary
Summary
- Jenna Ortega has had a diverse career, from child star to horror icon, appearing in projects like "The Little Rascals Save The Day" and "Insidious: Chapter 2."
- While some of Ortega's roles may not have been hits, it's easier to rank her best movies and TV shows, such as "Yes Day" and "You."
- Ortega has proven her talent in various genres, from voice acting in shows like "Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous" to leading roles in films like "Wednesday," solidifying her status as a scream queen.
Thanks to a meteoric rise, there are great projects among Jenna Ortega's best movies and TV shows. The talented actress began her career early in life, with her very first role being that of a young girl in the CBS sitcom Rob, season 1, episode 6, "The Baby Bug," at just 10 years old. Since then, Ortega has gone from bit parts in films and TV shows to a leading lady over her 10-year career in the industry, appearing alongside major names like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Courteney Cox, and Luis Guzmán.Most people were introduced to Jenna Ortega when she starred in the Scream VI Confirms Jenna Ortega Is Neve Campbell's True Replacement
20 The Little Rascals Save The Day (2014)
- Stream on Starz
Jenna Ortega was already a rising child star by the time she appeared in 2014’s The Little Rascals Save the Day and she managed to add a bit of charm to the underwhelming project. The Little Rascals are out to help Granny (Doris Roberts) save her bakery by winning the $10,000 grand prize at their local talent show. In some ways, the film is able to overcome its straight-to-video budget, but it ultimately falls flat in execution. Ortega appears as Mary Ann and fits in nicely despite being a new character added to the movie.
19 Yes Day (2021)
- Stream on Netflix
By 2021, Jenna Ortega was on the cusp of breaking out into adult roles thanks to parts in shows like You, but she still fit well into her teen roles. Yes Day sees the Torres parents (Jennifer Garner and Édgar Ramirez) decide to say yes to their three kids’ wildest desires for one day only. Fitting nicely within the cast of Yes Day, Ortega appears as the oldest Torres child, Katie. While she gave a spirited performance as the disinterested teen, she was somewhat underutilized and wasn’t given much to do in the Netflix exclusive.
18 Saving Flora (2018)
- Stream on Fubo TV, Paramount +, Showtime, Vudu, and Freevee
Every young actor has to do an animal movie at some point, and Jenna Ortega’s is the 2018 indie film Saving Flora. Flora is an old circus elephant who is on the verge of being permanently “retired”, but young Dawn (Ortega) is determined to save her. What the film lacked in budget it made up for with ambition and star power with the likes of David Arquette and Rhea Perlman. Ortega was brilliantly cast, and her chemistry with her onscreen elephant co-star was the driving force of the entire film. Though far from perfect, Saving Flora went bigger than most indie films.
17 Stuck In The Middle (2016-2018)
- Stream on Disney +
The role that made her a bona fide Disney Channel star, Jenna Ortega’s turn in the cast of Stuck in the Middle was the first big step in her young career. Harley Diaz is the inventive middle daughter of her family, and she’ll do anything to stand out from her six siblings. Starring in all 57 episodes of the show’s three seasons, Harley allowed Ortega to show a lot of the personality that would land her other roles in the future. While the series was somewhat overshadowed by other big Disney Channel hits at the time, Ortega nevertheless shined.
16 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- Stream on Disney+
It will come as a surprise that Jenna Ortega had a role in the MCU. Of course, that's because Jenna Ortega's Iron Man 3 role came so many years ago that she could one day land a totally new part in the franchise and most people wouldn't be any wiser.She had a small part as the daughter of the Vice President who is one of many people that Tony Stark needs to save. The final movie in the Iron Man trilogy was well-received by critics though some fans didn't like the changes made to the source material. While it's one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows, her role is so small she's hardly noticeable.
15 Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
- Stream on Max
The Insidious franchise is actually one of the most impressive among horror films. Most of the entries were met with solid acclaim, including the sequel to the 2010 debut, Insidious: Chapter 2. The movie brought back most of the original cast, including Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne.The series is boosted by horror master James Wan being in the director's chair. While seen as lesser than the original due to a lack of surprises, this still mostly worked. Jenna Ortega was still very young when this was released, and she had a small role as a girl named Annie. Like Iron Man 3, Insidious 2 is one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows, but her part is so scant despite the fact she'd proven she could act at an early age thanks to Jane the Virgin.
14 Rake (2014)
- Buy on Apple TV and Prime Video
Rake premiered on Fox and was led by the always solid Greg Kinnear as the protagonist, Keegan Deane. He's a self-destructive criminal defense lawyer in the legal drama who ends up in trouble with everyone around him. The show is actually an adaptation of a popular Australian TV series. That version lasted 40 episodes, while this one only made it to 13 before being canceled. Jenna Ortega had a small recurring role as Zoe Leon, the daughter of Ben (Keegan's best friend) and Scarlet (a Los Angeles ADA). It's one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows because she was finally given a bigger part.
13 American Carnage (2022)
- Stream on Hulu
While American Carnage is one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows and she features in a starring role, the film itself has drawn comparisons and is a similar movie to Get Out, but not in a good way. In American Carnage, a governor issues an executive order of the immediate arrest of children of immigrants, including Ortega's Camila. In order to forgo their sentences, the teens must work at a nursing home. However, not everything turns out to be as it seems. The horror comedy tackles an important topic, but it's overshadowed by superior films in the same vein.
12 Studio 666 (2022)
- Rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video
2022 saw Jenna Ortega become a modern-day scream queen, as she had notable roles in three separate horror films with one of them being Studio 666. Unlike her other horror movies, this had a comedic element to it. The horror film stars the Foo Fighters as themselves as they move into a haunted mansion to record a new album. Ortega appears as Skye Willow, a drummer who has an important connection to the house. It's a small role in a film that was mostly met with a mixed reception from critics, but she makes the most of it.
11 You (2018 - Present)
- Stream on Netflix
Most people likely know Jenna Ortega from her role on You. The series began on Lifetime but struggled there only to find new life when it moved to Netflix, becoming one of the streaming juggernaut's most popular shows and getting more seasons. Ortega ed the show in season 2 as Ellie Alves, the neighbor of the dangerous 6 Biggest You Theories After Season 4 They form an interesting bond along with Ellie's sister Delilah. Season 2 was the best-reviewed of the show and helped launch Ortega's star status. It is one of Jenna Ortega's best roles, but her character is largely forgotten after season 2. Ortega discussed returning for season 4 but was busy shooting another show (via Independent).