Have you noticed how everyone talks about Jenna Ortega these days? Seriously, her name is everywhere! Younger folks especially can’t get enough of her work. So, like, which movies truly prove she’s got dramatic chops? That question pops up a lot as her career totally explodes. She brings this really interesting mix to her roles. Critics and viewers? Yep, she’s grabbed everyone’s attention big time. I am excited to walk you through some of her movies. We’ll focus on the ones that truly show off her incredible dramatic talent.
The Early Years: Building the Base
Okay, before we jump into her big hits, let’s rewind a bit. We should look at where she started, right? Jenna began acting when she was just a kid, honestly. People first noticed her playing Young Jane. Remember Jane the Virgin? That show was huge! This early role truly built her foundation. It really helped with her dramatic side. Her ability to show deep feelings? Man, it was so clear even then. She handled tough stuff as that character so well. Critics? They raved about her acting. They saw her becoming a major star. She definitely had that spark, you know?
From my perspective, it’s really fascinating to watch this journey. Think about how those early roles shape someone. Imagine a young actress stepping onto a big set for the first time. She’s just learning everything as she goes. Jenna’s first roles needed charm. But they also needed real heart and depth. They totally got her ready for complex stuff later on.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
One of Jenna Ortega’s memorable films is The Babysitter: Killer Queen. This movie is a horror-comedy sequel. It shows how versatile she is. While it leans hard into comedy, Ortega’s dramatic moments truly stick out. Critics have pointed out something important. Her character, Phoebe, carries the film’s whole emotional weight, honestly.
In Killer Queen, Phoebe struggles so much. She deals with betrayal and survival. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 46% approval rating. Some critics, to be honest, really praised Ortega’s performance. They saw it as a definite highlight. They mentioned her ability to balance humor with fear. This really showed her potential in serious dramatic roles early on.
Yes Day (2021)
Yes Day is another movie where Jenna truly gets to shine. In this family comedy, she plays Katie Torres. Katie is a teenager who just wants more independence. The film is about parents saying yes to everything for a day. It’s a pretty light-hearted idea, right? But Ortega fills her character with such genuine emotion and feeling.
I believe her portrayal of a teenager really connects with many viewers. She’s navigating family relationships and her own feelings. The film got a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics recognized Ortega’s performance as a standout, too. She brings a real sense of vulnerability to the role. This makes viewers truly empathize with her character’s struggles easily.
The Fallout (2021)
But here’s the thing we absolutely HAVE to talk about. If you want to see Jenna’s dramatic talent? You simply must check out The Fallout. This movie is a coming-of-age drama. It tackles a really, really tough topic head-on. It explores what happens after a school tragedy. Jenna plays Vada in it. She’s a teenager dealing with deep grief. And so much trauma afterward. The film got tons of praise from critics. It has a super high 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics really loved Ortega’s acting. They called it raw. And completely authentic.
The movie looks at mental health, too. It shows the lasting effects of school violence, you know? Honestly, this stuff hits really close to home for many of us. Ortega’s way of showing heartbreak? And confusion? It just blows me away every time I watch it. It’s genuinely troubling to see how relevant these kinds of themes are even today. Jenna makes the whole story feel powerful. She truly disappears into the role, making Vada’s journey feel incredibly real for anyone watching. I am happy to see a young actress take on something this hard. And she handles it with such amazing sensitivity and grace. Seriously, that’s something special you don’t see often.
Scream (2022)
Imagine stepping into a huge horror movie history, like the Scream franchise. That’s basically what landing a role in Scream means. Jenna Ortega got major attention for her part. This was in the 2022 reboot of that famous horror series. She plays a character named Tara Carpenter. Tara is stuck in a terrifying mess, honestly. Critics and fans waited to see what she’d do with it. And let me tell you, she totally nailed it. The movie itself got good reviews. It hit a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics cheered for her performance, too. They said she was fierce. And also really vulnerable.
Jenna handles all the scary stuff. She deals with the whole survival thing, too. It really shows her dramatic skill under pressure. This franchise is famous for its twists. But she totally stands out in it as a fresh face. She feels like such a cool, fresh face, doesn’t she? This role definitely opened up a ton more opportunities for Jenna, letting her explore even more intense characters moving forward. It’s no secret that the horror genre often demands incredibly strong and believable performances. And she delivers every single time, without fail. Quite the sight, isn’t it?
Wednesday (2022)
Let’s not forget Wednesday. This Netflix series really pushed Jenna Ortega into the absolute big spotlight. It’s a dark coming-of-age series, right? She plays the classic character Wednesday Addams. The show has been a huge success worldwide. It has a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ortega’s Wednesday is both quirky and, honestly, a bit haunting sometimes.
Her performance has received amazing reviews everywhere. Many people praise her ability to capture the character’s essence perfectly. Critics have pointed out her dramatic talent, too. Especially in those quiet, emotional scenes. Wednesday is more than just a horror-comedy, you know? It dives into themes of identity and belonging. Ortega handles these tricky complexities with impressive ease. She truly shows her growth as an actress in this role.
A Look at the Numbers
Jenna’s influence on the film industry is clear. We can look at different ways to measure it, for example. The Fallout has been viewed by millions, actually. It streamed on platforms showing its huge popularity. Plus, Scream brought in over $140 million around the world. That definitely indicates a really strong box office performance.
To be honest, these numbers show more than just money success. They signal Jenna Ortega’s rapidly rising star power, don’t they? The fact that she’s leading films that deal with such big issues is really cool. It shows a real commitment to meaningful storytelling beyond just making movies.
Critic and Viewer Reception
Looking at critic reviews and audience ratings gives us even more insight. It shows how Ortega truly impacts people through her work. Many fans connect deeply with her performances, especially her younger audience. They often point to her authenticity. The emotional depth she brings to her characters is pretty special. It often starts talks about representation. And about the kinds of stories we see in young adult films today.
Rotten Tomatoes gathers scores from many critic reviews globally. This shows how films connect with audiences generally. Jenna’s films usually have a higher approval rating among viewers. That shows her strong bond with her audience. It’s a good thing, wouldn’t you agree?
The Future: What’s Next?
As we consider Jenna Ortega’s journey so far, the future looks incredibly bright for her. She’s scheduled to star in several new projects coming up. This includes a big role in Beetlejuice 2. Her continued work in diverse genres is a really good sign. It shows she wants to explore complex stories even more.
I am eager to see how she changes as an actress in the next few years. The film industry really needs more young talents like her. We need people willing to take risks with their roles. We need people who want to tell impactful stories that matter.
Conclusion: A Genuine Star
So, in conclusion, what films really show off Jenna Ortega’s dramatic talent? From The Fallout to Wednesday, she has truly proven herself again and again. She can tackle so many diverse roles with depth. Each new project builds on her already impressive career. It highlights her emotional depth and her amazing versatility as a performer.
Jenna Ortega is much more than just an actress right now. She really represents a new wave of storytellers we need to watch. Her performances connect with so many audiences on a real level. She inspires young people everywhere she goes. I believe that her journey is just beginning, honestly. And I am excited to witness her continued growth in this industry. It’s going to be quite the ride to watch!
