Top 5 Best Zendaya Movies – Ranked and Reviewed for Every Fan
Zendaya has solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s most captivating and versatile actresses. Her journey began at age 14 with the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up, where her natural charisma and impressive dance skills quickly won over audiences. Since then, she has transitioned seamlessly from a teen star to a critically acclaimed actress, delivering a number of incredible performances. This list highlights the Best Zendaya Movies that showcase her remarkable talent.
5. Frenemies
- Release Date: January 13, 2012
- Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer
- Starring: Bella Thorne, Zendaya, Mary Mouser, Nick Robinson
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 5.0/45%
Reuniting with her Shake It Up co-star Bella Thorne, Zendaya starred in this 2012 Disney Channel Original Movie. Frenemies is an anthology-style film centered on three different pairs of “frenemies.” Zendaya and Thorne play Halley Brandon and Avalon Greene, two best friends who, after landing an internship at a major publishing house, must navigate the complexities of jealousy and professional competition.
While a simple TV movie, Frenemies was a pivotal step for Zendaya, allowing her to reach a wider audience and hint at the potential for a career beyond her Disney roots.
4. Malcolm & Marie
- Release Date: February 5, 2021
- Director: Sam Levinson
- Starring: Zendaya, John David Washington
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.6/57%
A raw, black-and-white drama, Malcolm & Marie is a masterclass in acting, featuring perhaps Zendaya’s most mature and compelling performance to date. The film takes place over a single, confrontational night as filmmaker Malcolm (John David Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) return home from his movie premiere. What should have been a night of celebration devolves into a series of arguments, forcing them to confront painful truths about their relationship and the love they share.
This film is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see Zendaya’s incredible range. Her portrayal of Marie is both vulnerable and fiercely powerful, proving her ability to carry a complex, dialogue-driven drama.
3. The Spider-Man Trilogy
- Release Dates: Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019), No Way Home (2021)
- Director: Jon Watts
- Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.0/92% (Average)
Zendaya’s role as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man trilogy marked her breakout performance on a global scale. In Homecoming, her character was a witty and mysterious presence with limited screen time, captivating fans with her sharp one-liners. Her role expanded significantly in Far From Home and No Way Home, where she became a central part of the story. The undeniable chemistry between her and co-star Tom Holland was a fan-favorite element and a key contributor to the films’ massive success.
The trilogy gave Zendaya a platform to become a global phenomenon, introducing her to a whole new generation of moviegoers and cementing her status as a mainstream star.
2. Challengers
- Release Date: April 26, 2024
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Starring: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.0/88%
In Luca Guadagnino’s intense and emotionally charged film, Zendaya delivers a career-defining performance as Tashi Duncan. She plays a former tennis prodigy turned coach who finds herself at the center of a tense love triangle with her husband, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), and his former best friend, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor). As Tashi, Zendaya is the emotional core of the narrative, a complex and magnetic force that drives the story forward.
Challengers was a significant milestone, providing Zendaya with her first major leading role in a high-profile, adult drama and showcasing her ability to command the screen with a nuanced and powerful performance.
1. Dune (Part 1 & 2)
- Release Dates: Dune: Part One (2021), Dune: Part Two (2024)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8.25/88% (Average)
Denis Villeneuve’s epic adaptations of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels are widely considered masterpieces of the science-fiction genre. Zendaya’s role as Chani, a mysterious Fremen warrior, was crucial to the narrative and her pairing with Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides was instantly compelling. While her screen time in Part One was limited, her mysterious presence and impact on Paul’s journey were undeniable.
These films are not just visually stunning—with their breathtaking CGI and Hans Zimmer’s iconic score—but also some of the most impressive and important projects of her career. The Best Zendaya Movies list would be incomplete without them.