Every Zendaya Movie, Ranked

In this legacy sequel to the Michael Jordan-starring original that was infamously released in theatres and HBO Max simultaneously as a part of the pandemic-era "Project Popcorn," basketball superstar LeBron James teams up with the Looney Tunes squad inside a digital Warner Bros. "Serververse" to win a high-stakes game against a rogue AI and rescue his son.

Critics panned the film, describing it as an exhausting, two-hour corporate advertisement bloated with studio intellectual property and frantic visual noise. While the vibrant animation aimed to capture the family set, reviewers felt the movie lacked the heart and simplistic charm of the 1996 original. Zendaya voices a modernized Lola Bunny, but critics felt her grounded vocal performance was ultimately wasted in an overstuffed, uninspired, CGI-heavy commercial for a desperate studio in decline. 

"It wants to comment on the algorithms that rule our lives, spewing constantly recycled content at us seemingly at random, but it is exactly the thing that it points to: an upcycled Frankenstein's monster of intellectual property spraying a stew of Easter eggs and Halloween costumes at the viewer, praying that something sticks." —Katie Walsh, The Seattle Times

This music-driven spectacle follows P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) as he rises from poverty to create a world-famous traveling circus celebrating unique, marginalized performers. Critics were heavily divided, often expressing frustration over the movie's glossy, heavily romanticized distortion of Barnum's real-world historical controversies. However, the film became a massive box-office phenomenon because reviewers and audiences alike were swept up by the infectious pop soundtrack, energetic choreography, and visual spectacle.

Zendaya's role as the pink-haired trapeze artist Anne Wheeler was widely hailed as a highlight, particularly for her gravity-defying, emotionally charged aerial duet with fellow Disney child star Zac Efron, "Rewrite the Stars."

"Like Barnum himself, it's an elegant fraud, nice enough to look at as long as you don't look too close." —Sam Adams, Slate

Filmed entirely in black-and-white during the pandemic with a skeleton crew, this minimalist drama follows a rising director (John David Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) during an intense, nightlong emotional reckoning as they await initial reviews for his directorial debut.

Critics split right down the middle; some dismissed Euphoria -creator Sam Levinson's script as a self-indulgent, pretentious exercise that felt like a filmmaker venting at real critics. Conversely, others found it to be a gripping domestic portrait. But even the most ardent detractors were universal in praising the two actors' performances. Zendaya earned spectacular marks for imbuing the project with raw, volcanic vulnerability, proving her formidable dramatic weight as a powerhouse lead.

"Graciously accompanied by Washington (who can even make eating mac-and-cheese compelling), Zendaya emerges as the star of this show, delivering a performance that calls on sudden, turn-on-a-dime reversals — emotional figure-esights that she executes with impressive, unstudied finesse." —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

In this dark romantic drama with a pitch-black comedic streak, an engaged literary editor (Zendaya) and a museum director (Robert Pattinson) find their future spiraling out of control when a shocking revelation about the past slips out during a night of oversharing with friends. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario), the film walked a tense tonal tightrope that split critics. Some found its sudden swerves into psychological horror and social paranoia deliberately alienating and contrived, while others thoroughly enjoyed its provocative exploration of performative judgment and cancel culture. Reviewers universally agreed that the escalating tension was held together by excellent lead chemistry, with Zendaya earning praise for a surprisingly dark and complex performance.

"Zendaya delivers one of her best performances, externalizing the film's racial politics by being a perfectly normal, loving partner marginalized by the narrative constructed around her." —Jourdain Searles, The Film Stage

Zendaya IS Meechee! This animated twist on the Bigfoot mythos follows a bright young Yeti named Migo who discovers a mythical, short-limbed creature he didn't think existed: a human. To prove his discovery to his highly skeptical mountain village, he must venture down below the clouds. Critics gave the film warm, positive reviews, praising it as a colorful, breezy, and entertaining family distraction filled with catchy music and impressive, snowy animation. Reviewers were also pleasantly surprised by the story's deeper underlying themes, which encouraged younger audiences to question absolute authority, embrace intellectual curiosity, and practice open-minded cultural tolerance. Zendaya voiced Meechee, the chief's optimistic daughter, lending a charming energy while also contributing the song "Wonderful Life" to the soundtrack. 

"This is a quality movie, carefully disguised as a mediocre one. It's a chore to get through the beginning, but builds a strong story, and leaves legitimate good feelings on the way out of the theater. Smallfoot is not a 'The Lego Movie'-style surprise classic, but it's better than most." —Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

After losing everyone close to him at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) must pick up the pieces in a world that has forgotten that he exists. Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) takes the reins of this new Spider-Man cinematic chapter that finds a more grounded Peter without Stark Tech suits, keeping tabs on his former bestie Ned (Jacob Batalon) and girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) while palling around with Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Frank Castle aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal).

We don't want to spoil Sadie Sink's new character, but it appears that Peter is developing a mutation of sorts, with hormones turning him into a man spider. Zendaya's MJ promised that she would uncover Spider-Man's identity again after the world's memory was erased. We'll soon find out if she was correct. Either way, it's a well-filmed and watchable outing in the Spider-Man canon

"The dynamic of these three together — and of Holland, Zendaya and Batalon in the roles — has been lovingly nurtured over four films and pays off here with genuinely affecting moments that will have some fans getting misty-eyed." —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The middle chapter of the most recent Spidey trilogy elevates Zendaya's MJ's relatively minor Spider-Man: Homecoming role into a more essential part of the narrative. While taking a summer vacation to Europe with his classmates, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is recruited by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to help a mysterious new hero named Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) battle destructive elemental creatures tearing across the continent.

Critics embraced this second installment of the Marvel Studios/Sony trilogy, praising its unpredictable blend of high-stakes superhero action and sweet teen comedy. The movie successfully managed the emotional aftermath of Avengers: Endgame while keeping its focus on relatable adolescent charm. The romantic subplot became the beating heart of the film, with critics highly praising Zendaya for infusing MJ's signature dry sarcasm with genuine, endearing awkwardness as her chemistry with Peter fully blossoms. 

"Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon (as Peter's best friend, Ned) convincingly convey adolescent awkwardness, despite the fact that they're all in their 20s." —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

When Spider-Man's secret identity is exposed to the world, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a memory-erasing spell. The magic backfires terribly, fracturing the multiverse and pulling powerful villains from alternate realities (and movies) directly into Peter's world. This blockbuster event (a rare Multiverse Saga smash) was a critical and commercial juggernaut, praised for expanding the boundaries of the superhero genre without losing its core emotional heart.

Reviewers noted that despite a dizzying amount of fan service and cross-generational character cameos, the script maintained a grounded focus on personal sacrifice. Zendaya's MJ handled much of the emotional heavy lifting, earning praise for adding the mature, bittersweet dramatic weight necessary to anchor the heartbreaking third act.

"There's nothing new or particularly memorable about the serviceable CGI and practical effects, but we remain invested in the outcome in large part because Holland remains the best of the cinematic Spider-Men, while Zendaya lends heart and smarts and warmth to every moment she's onscreen." —Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

Kicking off an MCU certified Spider-Man trilogy after an unforgettable introduction in Captain America: Civil War, Homecoming finds a young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) trying to balance his ordinary high school routine with his new identity as a web-slinging superhero, stumbling into a dangerous arms-smuggling ring run by the Vulture (Michael Keaton).

Critics warmly welcomed this vibrant franchise reboot, cheering the decision to skip the traditional, tragic origin story in favor of a fast-paced high school adventure. The movie drew favorable comparisons to classic John Hughes teen comedies for capturing the authentic messiness of growing up. Zendaya made her live-action blockbuster debut here in a minor supporting capacity as Michelle, a cynical, observant loner. Despite very limited screen time, she completely stole every scene she appeared in with her fresh, deadpan humor.

"The magic of Homecoming is that it belongs more to the John Hughes cinematic universe than the Avengers'." —Brian Truitt, USA Today

Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young nobleman born into a monumental destiny, must travel to the universe's most dangerous desert planet, Arrakis, to protect his family's future as hostile forces clash over a priceless spice. Denis Villeneuve's ambitious sci-fi adaptation was hailed by critics as a visual and technical triumph, with reviewers marveling at its overwhelming scale, immersive sound design, and faithful dedication to the source novel. While some critics noted the narrative felt incomplete—acting purely as an exposition-heavy setup for a second chapter—most found the cinematic spectacle completely enthralling.

Zendaya's character, the indigenous Chani, appeared primarily through cryptic, haunting vision sequences, establishing a poetic presence crucial to the film's mythic atmosphere. Chani will return in Dune: Part Two. 

"The designs and textures of the movie's various worlds and their inhabitants are arresting, filigreed and meaningful, with characters and their environments in sync." —Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the native Fremen people while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his noble family, facing a devastating choice between the love of his life and preventing a catastrophic galactic holy war. This sweeping sequel achieved immense critical acclaim, with reviewers calling it a masterful, visually breathtaking cinematic epic that easily surpassed the first film. The movie balanced mind-boggling action with a sophisticated deconstruction of a messianic hero.

Zendaya stepped directly into the spotlight as the film's emotional conscience. Critics lauded her fierce, multi-layered portrayal of Chani, noting that her independence and skepticism counterbalanced Paul's frightening rise to power and increasing hubris, grounding the massive conflict in an intimate human tragedy.

"Zendaya gives an incredibly rich performance as Chani . . . Her mostly silent performance in the movie's final scenes is really remarkable — all the more so because it grounds this epic story in the emotions of this one person. Watching Paul through her eyes shifts Dune from a hero's journey to a cautionary tale." —Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a fierce former tennis prodigy turned coach, enters her struggling grand slam champion husband (Mike Faist) into a low-tier challenger tournament, where tension explodes as he faces off across the net against his washed-up former best friend (Josh O'Connor), who also happens to be Tashi's ex-boyfriend. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes, this sweat-soaked sports drama earned rave reviews as a kinetic, sexy, and original cinematic romp.

Critics praised the non-linear structure, the pulsing techno score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and the tactical mind games common to competiive sports and romantic manipulation. Standing at the epicenter of the film, Zendaya earned the best reviews of her movie career, with critics mesmerized by her complex portrayal and her commanding presence.

"A film that volleys back and forth in time, Luca Guadagnino's Challengers builds the relationships between its leading tennis trio in exciting and exacting ways. Enhanced by layered physical performances from Mike Faist, Zendaya, and Josh O'Connor, the result is one of the sexiest and most electric dramas of 2024." —Siddhant Adlakha, IGN

Christopher Nolan's take on The Odyssey marks the first time a film has been captured entirely in 70 mm IMAX film, a medium which provides appropriately epic scope to Homer's chronicle of war hero Odysseus's (Matt Damon) peril-filled journey home after the fall of Troy. Perhaps only Zendaya could be cast in a supporting role as a literal goddess. As Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, she respects Odysseus' resourcefulness and often intervenes for him despite his massive ego,

Receiving rave reviews ahead of its highly anticipated debut, The Odyssey also features Zendaya's husband Tom Holland as Odysseus's son, Telemachus, and with their next film Spider-Man: Brand New Day opening in a couple of weeks, the two are poised to be queen and king of the July box office. Here's hoping that the Trojan horse isn't just full of sweaty men, but substantive material for the incredible women (Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton) featured in this film. 

"A grounded, spiritual, uncanny rendering of Greek myth, The Odyssey is a dazzling epic and a major film-of-the-year contender." —Jordan Farley, Total Film