Jenna Ortega has navigated a remarkable arc in Hollywood: from charming child actor to horror-genre mainstay and pop-culture icon. With a mix of TV and film roles that range from family-friendly fare to edgy slashers, Ortega has built an increasingly fearless catalogue. Whether you discovered her through her breakout TV appearance or her recent commanding turn in horror and supernatural material, her performances are well worth revisiting.
This article highlights seven of her most notable roles and shows how each contributed to her steady ascent.
Why Jenna Ortega Is So Cool — And You Should Definitely Know Her
Jenna Ortega’s coolness is an outcome of sharp artistic instinct and self-awareness rare for her generation. She’s built a career through strategic authorship, carefully choosing roles that mirror the contradictions of being young, Latina, and hyper-visible in a digital age. In a landscape where many child actors fade into typecasting, Ortega has engineered her evolution with precision. Her mix of grounded realism and dark, deadpan humor makes her instantly magnetic on screen. She can steal a scene even when she’s not the lead, which is exactly what makes her so fun to watch.
Here’s why she’s so cool:
- She makes weird cool again
- There’s a directorial intelligence behind her choices
- She’s the new-age scream queen
- She’s Gen Z with a POV
- She’s impossible to forget
Top 7 Must-See Movies & Shows Starring Jenna Ortega
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Wednesday (2022 –)
Jenna’s Role: Wednesday Addams
Director: Tim Burton team
Plot Context / Synopsis: Ortega takes on the iconic character Wednesday Addams in this darker, off-kilter re-imagining of the Addams Family saga, sent to the eerie Nevermore Academy and finding her place among the strange and supernatural.
Critical Acclaim: Widely regarded as Ortega’s breakout moment into top-tier stardom; critics applauded her deadpan delivery and charismatic ownership of the role.
Where to Stream (U.S.): Netflix
Watch If You Loved: Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Stranger Things-style ensemble supernatural thrillers
2. The Fallout (2021)
Jenna’s Role: Vada Cavell
Director: Megan Park
Plot Context / Synopsis: After surviving a school shooting, high-schooler Vada grapples with the emotional and relational fallout. She faces trauma, survivor’s guilt, and unexpected connections shape her new reality.
Critical Acclaim: Marked as a turning point for Ortega’s dramatic credibility, she moves beyond child roles into emotionally complex territory.
Where to Stream (U.S.): HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel
Watch If You Loved: Short Term 12, Eighth Grade, raw coming-of-age dramas
3. X (2022)
Jenna’s Role: Lorraine
Director: Ti West
Plot Context / Synopsis: Set in the 1970s, a group of filmmakers heads to a remote farmhouse to shoot an adult film, but only the elderly owners have a very different agenda. Ortega plays Lorraine, a lounge singer turned horror participant, showcasing a fearless shift into genre work.
Critical Acclaim: Frequently cited as one of Ortega’s strongest horror performances; her scream-queen credentials are reinforced.
Where to Stream (U.S.): HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel
Watch If You Loved: The Witch, Hereditary, classics of slow-burn horror with a twist
4. Scream VI (2023)
Jenna’s Role: Tara Carpenter
Director: Matt Bettinelli‑Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Plot Context / Synopsis: Continuing the “Scream” saga, Tara (Ortega) and her sister are thrust into another Ghostface nightmare, but this time in New York City. Ortega’s presence helps reboot the franchise for a new generation.
Critical Acclaim: Recognised as one of her strongest mainstream horror outings; solid franchise performance.
Where to Stream (U.S.): Paramount+ Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
Watch If You Loved: Scream (1996), Final Destination series, modern meta-horror
5. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Jenna’s Role: Astrid Deetz
Director: Tim Burton
Plot Context / Synopsis: In the sequel to the cult classic Beetlejuice, Ortega plays the daughter of Lydia Deetz, drawn into the weird and ghostly world of Beetlejuice again.
Critical Acclaim: Cemented Ortega’s status beyond horror: entrée into major studio legacy sequel territory.
Where to Stream (U.S.): Netflix, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads
Watch If You Loved: Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters (1984), gothic comedy-fantasy
6. Yes Day (2021)
Jenna’s Role: Katie Diaz
Director: Miguel Arteta
Plot Context / Synopsis: A fun-filled family comedy where parents (Jennifer Garner & Edgar Ramírez) agree to say “yes” to their kids’ wishes for one day, and Jenna Ortega plays their teenage daughter.
Critical Acclaim: Mixed reviews overall, but Ortega’s performance was noted for charm and likability.
Where to Stream (U.S.): Netflix
Watch If You Loved: Cheaper by the Dozen, family-friendly comedies with heart
7. Jane the Virgin (2014-2019)
Jenna’s Role: Young Jane Villanueva
Creator: Jennie Snyder Urman
Plot Context / Synopsis: Ortega plays the younger version of Jane in flashback sequences for this satirical, heartfelt telenovela-inspired dramedy.
Critical Acclaim: Early sign of talent — she showed maturity and nuance even as a child actor.
Where to Buy (U.S.): Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home as a download
Watch If You Loved: Ugly Betty, Devious Maids, witty and emotional TV-drama hybrids.
Honourable Mentions: Underrated Jenna Ortega Performances
- The Babysitter: Killer Queen – fun horror-comedy that marked Ortega’s transition into genre work.
- American Carnage – an edgy thriller that shows her willingness to diversify beyond horror and comedy.
- Miller’s Girl – smaller scale, more adult themed; less acclaimed, but interesting for showing her range.
Where to Watch Jenna Ortega Movies in 2025 (U.S. Streaming Guide)
| Title |
Where to Stream / Rent (U.S.) |
| Wednesday (2022–) | Netflix |
| The Fallout (2021) | HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel |
| X (2022) | HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel |
| Scream VI (2023) | Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel |
| Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) | Netflix, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads |
| Yes Day (2021) | Netflix |
| Jane the Virgin (2014–2019) | Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home (for purchase/download) |
Note: Availability may vary over time — always check Just Watch for the current streaming status.
What’s Next for Jenna Ortega
Following her breakout roles in Wednesday and Scream VI, Jenna Ortega is firmly stepping into the next chapter of her career — one defined by bold tonal shifts and elevated creative control. For starters, she stars in Death of a Unicorn (2025) opposite Paul Rudd, marking her move into dark-fantasy comedy territory. She’s also attached to The Gallerist (scheduled for 2026), a thriller directed by Cathy Yan with a high-profile cast including Natalie Portman and Sterling K. Brown.
Beyond just acting, Ortega is expanding her creative footprint: she’s publicly revealed plans to direct a film she’s been developing for years. In short: She’s choosing projects with smart genre pedigree, gearing up to produce (and eventually direct), and aligning herself with teams who care about the “why” behind the work. The next era seems less about “breakout star” and more about “creative force in motion.”
Jenna Ortega is more than just a rising star — she’s a versatile and ambitious actor who clearly chooses roles that challenge both her and us as viewers. From early TV appearances to horror-heavy stardom and franchise entries, each performance builds toward something bigger. The seven roles above offer a full picture of her growth, appeal, and range. Whether you’re in the mood for chilling horror, heartfelt drama, or light family fun, there’s an Ortega entry for you, and you’ll likely leave thinking: “I want to see what she does next.”
