The 10 Most Underrated Jenna Ortega Movies, Ranked (from Least to Most Underrated)

Jenna Ortega’s film work stretches from indie dramas to franchise horror and studio comedies, with roles that span leads, key supporting turns, and memorable cameos. Across these projects she has worked with a wide range of directors and casts, moved between theatrical and streaming releases, and appeared in productions backed by major studios as well as small companies and festival-first debuts. This list looks specifically at her movies and presents a clean countdown based on publicly available ratings, without focusing on her TV work.

Below are ten titles that often fly under the radar compared with her highest-profile hits. Each entry includes core details on the film’s premise, Ortega’s role, key collaborators, and where or how the movie released so you can track down what you’ve missed.

‘American Carnage’ (2022)

This satirical thriller follows a group of detained teenagers who accept a deal to participate in an elder-care program, only to uncover a larger, dangerous scheme. The film features a cast that includes Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Eric Dane, and Brett Cullen, with direction by Diego Hallivis and a screenplay by Diego and Julio Hallivis.

Jenna Ortega appears alongside the ensemble in a supporting role connected to the detention-center storyline. The movie was produced by Mucho Mas Media and released in the United States through a limited theatrical and on-demand rollout, with subsequent availability on streaming and digital rental platforms.

‘Finestkind’ (2023)

Set in the New England commercial fishing world, this crime drama centers on two brothers who become entangled with a Boston crime syndicate. Brian Helgeland wrote and directed, with a principal cast that includes Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Tommy Lee Jones, and Jenna Ortega.

Ortega plays Mabel, whose connection to the brothers intersects with the film’s criminal dealings and family conflicts. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before releasing as a Paramount-distributed streaming title, bringing together a mix of veteran performers and younger leads.

‘Miller’s Girl’ (2024)

This character-driven drama examines the consequences that unfold after a creative-writing assignment blurs professional and personal boundaries between a student and her teacher. Jade Halley Bartlett wrote and directed, with Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega in the central roles.

Ortega portrays the student whose short fiction and mentorship dynamic drive the plot’s escalation. The film was produced by Point Grey and distributed in theaters with a follow-on digital release window, emphasizing intimate settings, dialogue-forward scenes, and the two-hander structure.

‘Yes Day’ (2021)

This family comedy follows parents who agree to a 24-hour period where their kids make the rules, triggering a series of set-piece challenges around Los Angeles. Miguel Arteta directed, with Jennifer Garner, Édgar Ramírez, and Jenna Ortega leading the ensemble.

Ortega plays Katie Torres, the teenage daughter whose perspective anchors several of the day’s events and decisions. The film was produced by Entertainment 360 and Grey Matter Productions and released globally as a streaming original, featuring multiple location-based sequences and large-scale extras work.

‘Saving Flora’ (2018)

This adventure drama centers on a circus elephant scheduled for euthanasia and the determined teen who leads a cross-country rescue effort. The cast includes Jenna Ortega, David Arquette, Tom Arnold, and Leonardo Nam, with a screenplay by David Moss and direction by Mark Taylor.

Ortega stars as Dawn, the protagonist who plans and executes the overnight journey with the elephant while evading authorities and dealing with terrain obstacles. The independent production utilized practical animal-handling coordination and regional U.S. locations, with distribution through limited theatrical engagements and digital platforms.

‘Studio 666’ (2022)

This horror-comedy follows the Foo Fighters as they attempt to record an album in a haunted Encino mansion, leading to supernatural incidents tied to the location’s backstory. BJ McDonnell directed from a story by the band, with cameos and supporting appearances from genre performers and comedians.

Jenna Ortega appears in an early sequence connected to the house’s prior events, contributing to the setup that explains the property’s violent history. The film was released theatrically through Open Road Films, with practical gore effects, rock-music cues, and production design that leans on the mansion’s layered interiors.

‘The Babysitter: Killer Queen’ (2020)

This sequel continues the horror-comedy premise of a teen confronting a satanic cult, set two years after the original events at a lake-house getaway. McG directed, with Judah Lewis, Emily Alyn Lind, and Jenna Ortega among the principal cast.

Ortega plays Phoebe, a new classmate whose backstory threads into the returning cult plotline and the film’s finale. The production employed stunt-driven chases and stylized kill gags, and it launched as a streaming original, bringing back aesthetic motifs and needle-drops established in the first film.

‘Wyrm’ (2019)

This coming-of-age indie is set in an alternate reality where middle-school students must complete a milestone before graduating from a mandated emotional-education program. Christopher Winterbauer wrote and directed, expanding from his earlier short.

Jenna Ortega appears in a supporting role within the school social circle that frames the protagonist’s awkward steps toward the requirement. The feature premiered at festivals, later reaching audiences through a limited release and video-on-demand, with production elements that include deliberately lo-fi props and mock-educational interludes.

‘After Words’ (2015)

Set in Costa Rica, this drama follows a librarian who travels after job loss and meets a charismatic tour guide, prompting a reexamination of her life. The film stars Marcia Gay Harden and Óscar Jaenada, with Jenna Ortega in a supporting part connected to the guide’s family.

Ortega plays Anna Chapa, appearing in scenes that establish the guide’s personal circumstances and local ties. The production shot on location, emphasizing natural settings, and was distributed via limited theatrical play and digital platforms, with an emphasis on dialogue and character interactions.

‘The Fallout’ (2021)

This drama explores the aftermath of a school tragedy through the perspective of a teenager processing grief, friendships, and family dynamics. Megan Park wrote and directed, with Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler in leading roles and Niles Fitch, Shailene Woodley, and Julie Bowen in supporting parts.

Ortega stars as Vada Cavell, whose arc spans therapy sessions, shifting relationships, and periods of withdrawal and reconnection. The film premiered at South by Southwest, received festival awards, and released as a streaming exclusive, with a score by Finneas O’Connell and a production approach centered on intimate coverage and performance-driven scenes.

Share your own picks for overlooked Jenna Ortega films in the comments!