Zendaya Movies and TV Shows That Showcase Her Incredible Range

Zendaya has become one of the well-known names in Hollywood, having started her career as a child model and backup dancer. Gradually, she appeared in campaigns for Macy’s and Old Navy, emerging as a multi-Emmy-winning and internationally recognized star.  

Zendaya movies and TV shows highlight how versatile the actress has become over the years. She has consistently taken on roles that challenge expectations and demonstrate her ability to balance emotional depth, charisma, and screen presence. Have a look at some of her notable works. 

Zendaya movies and TV shows that stole the spotlight

Euphoria (2019-present)

Zendaya has portrayed a troubled teenager, Rue Bennett, in HBO’s hit series Euphoria since its premiere in 2019. She depicted an emotionally raw teen, which led her to cement her role in the following seasons as well. 

She was fierce in her portrayal of a 17-year-old battling severe drug addiction and grief. Her work earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (in 2020 and 2022). She even contributed behind the camera for creative direction and executive produced the series. 

The OA: Season 2 (2016)

The OA gained impressive ratings due to its fascinating storyline, focusing on a woman who returns home after a seven-year disappearance with her sight miraculously restored. Zendaya played Fola, a supporting role, who is always seen helping the series star Karim (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir). 

She makes a surprise appearance in the first, fifth, and seventh episodes of season 2. She is an enigmatic guide to the central role who helps in puzzle-solving with her wisdom. Her intense performance is known as one of the most fascinating roles and even one of the biggest reveals of the show, which rightfully helped the second season earn a 92% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Dune trilogy (2021-2026)

Zendaya’s performance as Chani is one of the most beloved roles that she has ever played. Thriving on the film trilogy’s respective successes, her fierce and emotionally deep performance resonated with the critics and the audience equally. 

She conveyed one of her finest performances as a ferocious Fremen warrior and Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) romantic companion, minimally through dialogue and heavily through her expressive eyes. She served as a powerful anchor to the film saga and will be appearing in the conclusive installment, Dune: Part 3, hitting the big screen this December. 

Spider-Man films

Zendaya debuted in the Spider-Man franchise with Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and continued to play Michelle Jones-Watson (MJ), Spider-Man’s romantic partner, in the next films as well: Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026). 

No Way Home is the highest-rated Spider-Man film that Zendaya appeared in. Initially, her role was that of a highly intelligent outsider who is known for her one-liners. She prominently set herself as the main female lead due to her romantic involvement with Spider-Man, while No Way Home showed her strong emotional stakes in the story, with a heartbreak in the climax. 

Her chemistry with Tom Holland grew strongly enough to get married in real life as well, as they call each other rich sources of emotional support and best friends. This relationship brought her good luck with a cult following of the character and awards like the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Award for Best Movie, which she accepted alongside Tom Holland.   

Challengers (2024)

Zendaya’s commanding presence in Challengers is known to be an artistic journey, as her representation of Tashi Duncan, an enigmatic and calculating former tennis prodigy-turned-coach, brought dominant star power on screen. She showed her unapologetic and deeply controlling side as she embodied the puppet master to the two men vying for her affection. 

Critics and directors loved her undeniable charm, for which she underwent three months of rigorous tennis training as well. Her physicality and commitment on the court were even validated by the tennis icon Serena Williams, who openly praised her screen movements, as per People. Her Golden Globe nomination is another piece of proof of her commitment to the role. 

The Drama (2026) 

Zendaya’s Emma is a complex character whom she recently played in the black comedy The Drama (2026), alongside Robert Pattinson. The couple is about to get married when Emma reveals something disturbing about herself, leading Pattinson’s Charlie to think twice about his decision to marry her.

Her gritty on-screen range is reminiscent of her work in Euphoria, where her chemistry with the male lead and awkward tension with him were the shining highlights of the plot. The film’s tone was a tightrope walk, making it a driving force for her successful, authentic characterization in the current year.