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 cast of the Netflix drama You season 2, but she’s been on the screen long before then. As of late, Ortega has taken to the horror genre, making her a modern-day scream queen. In her horror projects, Ortega has been both the red herring and the final girl, and she’s slowly making her way into becoming a horror icon thanks to the rebooted Scream franchise. That being said, not everything Ortega has starred in has been a hit, but that at least makes it easier to rank the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows.
20 The Little Rascals Save The Day (2014)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 joined the show in season 2 as Ellie Alves, the neighbor of the dangerous serial killer protagonist Joe. 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).
10 Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)
Considering that one of the best Jenna Ortega TV shows, Jane the Virgin, spanned 100 episodes, it would seem like someone who only appeared in fewer than 30 installments didn’t play a major part. However, Jenna Ortega’s run in the popular telenovela is actually pivotal to the story. Throughout the show, Ortega would appear as young Jane. She did so more than any other actor who took on the role over time in key flashback sequences. Jane the Virgin and its best episodes won a slew of awards during its run and was consistently popular.
9 Scream (2022)
Another popular title in Jenna Ortega’s filmography is Scream, the fifth entry into the hit slasher franchise. Scream reunites the original film’s main trio as a new copycat Ghostface killer arrives to go after people with familial connections to those in the franchise’s past.Ortega plays Tara, who bucks the series trend of being the first victim in the opening scene by surviving and playing a part going forward given that her sister is the main final girl. She reprised the role in the Scream 6 cast. While Scream is one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows, Sam was fatally injured in the first scene of the movie, and Ortega’s character spent the majority of time in the hospital, not really giving her enough time to shine.
8 Big City Greens (2019 – Present)
When it comes to voice acting, Jenna Ortega thrives. One of her best but underrated voice-acting roles is in Big City Greens, another animated series on the Disney Channel. The show focuses on a family that loses their own farm and has to move to a smaller one in the middle of a city. Ortega lends her voice to a character named Gabriella, who is the rambunctious girlfriend of the central family’s son, Crickett. The best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows often find her shining as a voice actress.
7 The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
Jenna Ortega broke out with her horror movies, and she really impressed viewers with her turn in The Babysitter: Killer Queen. The sequel to the 2017 film directed by McG, this only added to the absurd slasher aspects of the original. While protagonist Cole was mostly on his own in the first film, this time around, he had help from Ortega’s Phoebe Atwell, a new student at his school. Again this was a case where reviews weren’t sparkling, but Ortega was a highlight, making it one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows.
6 The Fallout (2021)
If there’s any film that truly showcases Jenna Ortega’s talent as an actor, it’s The Fallout. It initially premiered at South by Southwest in 2021 before debuting on HBO Max in early 2022 and earned rave reviews for the performances and the debuting writer-director Megan Park.The film focuses on two teen girls who form a tragic bond after they hide in the bathroom together during a school shooting. Ortega and Maddie Ziegler both deliver heartbreaking performances as Vada and Mia respectively, and the film is fantastic but hard to watch multiple times due to the sad nature of it all. The Fallout was met with widespread acclaim and showcases Ortega’s range as a performer.
5 X (2022)
2022 saw Jenna Ortega star in a trio of horror movies, with X being the standout. From horror movie director Ti West, this is an original film that pays homage to slashers of the past, specifically The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. X is one of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows, and while it came out after Killer Queen, it can be considered her introduction as a legitimate scream queen.The plot follows a group who rents a home in rural Texas to make an adult movie only to be attacked by the owner of the property. Jenna Ortega shines as Lorraine Day, a shy girl helping her boyfriend direct the movie who then chooses to star in it. Ortega delivers a masterful frightened performance and a horror movie scream for the ages.
4 Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022)
Jenna Ortega delivered another great voice-acting performance in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The show is an animated continuation of the iconic Jurassic Park franchise aimed at children and focuses on a group of teenagers who get trapped on an island after dinosaurs escape. It was critically acclaimed throughout its run. The adult characters on the show are voiced by talents like Stephanie Beatriz and Jameela Jamil, while Ortega plays Brooklynn, one of the teens. Although the series only premiered in 2020, there have already been four seasons and it has won both an Annie and Emmy Award.
3 Elena Of Avalor (2016-2020)
Animated TV series featuring a heroic female lead are always a treat. That’s the case with Elena of Avalor, a Disney Channel show focused on the titular Elena, a princess who must save her kingdom from an evil sorceress. Aimee Carrero voiced the titular princess, but Jenna Ortega was Princess Isabel, Elena’s younger sister who was also a brilliant inventor. The series was well-received, featured guest voice actors like Mark Hamill, and won multiple Emmy Awards.
2 Scream VI (2023)
One of the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows is none other than Scream VI. While it’s the only Scream movie not to include Neve Campbell, it changes the infamous setting to New York City as Ortega’s Tara Carpenter and the rest of the survivors from Scream attend Blackmore University. Sam spent most of Scream in the hospital but is given more to do this time around in another critical darling of the series. If X didn’t do it, the Scream franchise has solidified Ortega’s status as a reigning scream queen.
1 Wednesday (2022)
After stealing the show as a supporting character in several movies and TV shows, Jenna Ortega got a major leading role with Wednesday and knocked it out of the park. Playing the titular character, Ortega has received rave reviews and an Emmy nomination for her performance. On top of that, the Tim Burton take on The Addams Family character has also been well-received. It blends the spooky with the comedy well, all anchored by Ortega, who nails every mannerism perfectly and plays well off of her co-stars, making Wednesday the best of Jenna Ortega’s movies and TV shows.