Mckenna Grace is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising young stars. Within the next year alone, she will enter the Scream, Hunger Games, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Paw Patrol franchises while also leading the highly anticipated Colleen Hoover adaptation, Regretting You.
It’s not surprising that Grace is in high demand in Hollywood, considering her impressive filmography. From portraying young Margot Robbie and young Brie Larson to carrying on the Ghostbusters legacy, here are the best McKenna Grace movies and TV shows, listed in order of release date, on platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and more.
Fuller House (2016-2020)
Fuller House serves as the continuation of the hit sitcom, Full House. Grace appears in the series in the recurring role of Rose Harbenberger, the love interest of Max Fuller (Elias Harger).
Grace’s role and her chemistry with Max are bound to bring a smile to your face as they capture the innocence and earnestness of young love. Their story is in line with the overall vibe of Fuller House as it emphasizes a wholesome, humorous depiction of a lovable family. Fuller House is bound to raise nostalgia for wholesome late ‘80s sitcoms like Full House and The Wonder Years. So, if you like those, you’ll most definitely like this.
Gifted (2017)
Gifted marked Grace’s breakthrough role and proved her abilities as a leading actress. She stars in the film as a child prodigy whose immense talent threatens to separate her from her uncle and guardian Frank (Chris Evans).
Grace, rightfully, earned a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Actress. Her character perfectly captures the unique challenges of gifted children while still driving home the point that they are just like any child when it comes to the need for connection and love. Gifted is for anyone who likes emotional and inspiring films reminiscent of A Brilliant Young Mind.
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-2025)
Grace boasts a recurring role in The Handmaid’s Tale Seasons 4 and 5 as Esther Keyes. Keyes is one of Grace’s heaviest roles, as she’s a victim of child marriage. By her teens, she’s vengeful and fueled by rage, making her a formidable Mayday asset.
In many ways, her character’s story pinpoints why The Handmaid’s Tale is so compelling. It doesn’t shy away from the dark realities of the treatment of women and children, showcasing a fictional dystopian world that sometimes eerily parallels reality. The Handmaid’s Tale is difficult to watch but rewarding for those up for the challenge and willing to learn from it.
Young Sheldon (2017-2024)
Grace has a knack for portraying gifted children, which is why she was perfect for the role of Paige Swanson in Young Sheldon, a child prodigy who rivals Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage). She’s the ideal foil for Sheldon, paralleling his intelligence but also boasting high social skills and a rebellious nature.
Young Sheldon is an excellent prequel to The Big Bang Theory, tackling the childhood of its most iconic character with a little more drama, warmth, and family-friendly humor. Fans of The Big Bang Theory and contemporary family sitcoms like Modern Family will love Young Sheldon.
I, Tonya (2017)
I, Tonya tells the story of ice skater Tonya Harding, a role shared between Margot Robbie, who plays the adult Harding, and Grace, who portrays young Harding. Grace performs the role of young Harding incredibly well, capturing her spunk and talent, but also the sadness of her childhood.
The film is excellent for fans of biopics, especially those of divisive figures, such as Oppenheimer or The Wolf of Wall Street. It’s not a tale of a larger-than-life figure, but of a talented and misunderstood woman, as I, Tonya, seeks to offer audiences a different perspective of her than the media.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
In The Haunting of Hill House, Grace shares the role of the psychic Theodora Crain with scream queen Kate Siegel. The pair make up one of the five Crain siblings, who, as adults, struggle to confront their past growing up in a haunted house. Grace shines as Theodora, depicting a wisdom beyond her years as she reflects the child burdened with an unusual gift.
The Haunting of Hill House is a must-see for fans of the haunted house subgenre. It beautifully blends drama, family tragedy, and horror to create a complex and compelling narrative. The suspense and premise are perfect for viewers who enjoy horror as a medium to tackle stories of grief and trauma.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Grace has a small role in Captain Marvel as young Carol Danvers, while Brie Larson portrays the adult Captain Marvel. Although her role is small, it’s impactful, as the movie uses a montage of moments from young Danvers’ life to highlight her grit and determination to get back up every time she’s knocked down.
Captain Marvel has elements of a standard MCU movie with its origin story formula and action-packed premise, but it also feels refreshing in that it’s the very first female-led film in the franchise. The film also goes deep into ‘90s nostalgia and thrives off the comedic banter between Danvers and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), making it a top-notch movie for superhero fans.
Malignant (2021)
Grace boasts a small role in the horror film Malignant as the young version of Madison Mitchell, who is portrayed as an adult by Annabelle Wallis. While her role is small, it also constitutes the biggest twist of the movie and allows Grace to show off her scream queen potential.
Viewers who loved James Wan’s Insidious movies will love his directing in Malignant. Like most of his horror movies, it boasts a distinctive Wan twist and sometimes bonkers premise that still manages to evoke fear and dread. It’s an excellent pick for fans of somewhat campy but entertaining horror movies.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife marks the long-awaited sequel to Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II and succeeds in being a worthy continuation of the story. Grace boasts the lead role of Phoebe, the granddaughter of Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), who is most passionate about continuing his ghostbusting legacy. Phoebe is spunky, fierce, intelligent, and definitely has a good dose of Spengler in her.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is both a fun continuation of the franchise that introduces the next Ghostbusters generation, as well as a heartfelt tribute to Ramis that will satisfy Ghostbuster fans and leave them excited for the franchise’s future.
A Friend of the Family (2022)
A Friend of the Family marks another one of Grace’s heavier roles as the series tells the true story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped multiple times by a family “friend.” Grace stars as the teenage Broberg and offers a mesmerizing performance as a vulnerable child navigating the trauma of abuse and psychological manipulation.
Similar to The Handmaid’s Tale, A Friend of the Family is a complex but necessary watch, raising awareness for the manipulation and tactics of predators and serving as an effective medium for Broberg to continue telling her story. If you like true crime dramatizations, A Friend of the Family will delight and shock you.
