Zendaya has quickly become one of the top young actresses in Hollywood. She has headed two major franchises, Dune and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man trilogy, and has appeared in a number of other award-winning TV shows and movies. Meanwhile, 2024 will be a big year for her as she starred in Dune: Part Two and will soon appear in Challengers. Before watching her highly-anticipated new movie, this guide will highlight where to stream her 10 best films and TV shows.
Zendaya’s career began with a few modeling, singing, and dancing gigs as a child. However, her big break came with the hit Disney Channel original series Shake It Up. She nabbed the lead role of Rocky Blue and starred opposite Bella Thorne in the fun, dance-themed sitcom. It became one of Disney Channel’s highest-rated series and appealed to adults and kids. After this, Zendaya got a solo Disney series, K. C. Undercover, and a movie, Zapped.
Her acting was above average for Disney sitcoms, which is why she flourished when she was able to show her full range as an adult actor. Zendaya’s first big blockbuster was Spider-Man: Homecoming, in which she portrayed M. J. alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. The film was a massive critical and commercial success, leading Zendaya to reprise her role for two equally successful sequels.
In 2019, Zendaya debuted in what is undeniably her best TV show: Euphoria. She proved once and for all that she was more than a Disney or MCU actor, putting everything into the complex role of Rue Bennett, a young woman recovering from substance abuse. Her role led to her becoming the youngest actress in history to win Best Actress in a Drama twice at the Emmys.
In 2021, she appeared as Chani in Denis Villeneuve's big-budget Dune adaptation. Not only was Dune a visually spectacular and faithful sci-fi epic, but Zendaya held her own among several A-list actors, including Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson. Meanwhile, she returned to the role with Dune: Part Two, adding more depth to Chani in the arguably bigger and better sequel.
Rankings were difficult given the comparable successes of Dune, the Spider-Man movies, and Euphoria. Hence, each project is ranked on film quality, Zendaya’s performance, and how recognizable her role was. Read on to find a ranking of Zendaya's best films and TV shows and where to watch them.
