Jenna Ortega’s two most recent films have failed to impress critics, but Beetlejuice 2 will likely turn things around. The actor has become America’s most recent sweetheart, with projects like Wednesday (2022) elevating her directly into the spotlight. However, since Scream VI‘s success in 2023, critic opinion of her more recent movies have been on a downward trend. This could be a cause for concern for the young actor’s career, and too many more movies with reviews like Miller’s Girl could leave a significant stain on Ortega’s resume. However, things are likely to start looking up.
It’s only been a few years since Ortega gained widespread recognition as an actor, and she has already seen some ups and downs from critics. Her 2022 film, X, got an impressive 94% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, but her next movie, Studio 666 (2022), only managed 56%. This pattern of alternating hot and cold reception from critics continued through the next few projects in Ortega’s filmography. However, Finestkind (2023) and Miller’s Girl’s (2024) RT scores interrupted this balance with a far more decisive and disappointing downward trend.
The 20 Best Jenna Ortega Movies And TV Shows
The Wednesday star is well known for playing the popular Addams Family character, but the best Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows cover many genres.
Beetlejuice 2 Can Make Up For The Low RT Scores Of Jenna Ortega’s Past Two Movies
Based on Ortega’s Rotten Tomatoes trend, Miller’s Girl should have been a success to balance out the disappointment of Finestkind‘s 28% RT critic score. Unfortunately, the movie, which stars Martin Freeman alongside Ortega, seems to have let critics down nearly as much since it has only been awarded a 31% score after 32 reviews. Though having two critical flops in a row is disconcerting, the fact that Ortega has a massive project coming in 2024 is a reassurance that things will again start looking up for the actor.
Beetlejuice 2 will hit theaters on September 6, 2024, and given the cult classic status of the original 1988 movie, it’s expected to be a massive hit. Prospects are only improved by the return of the more prominent members of the original cast, including Michael Keaton as the titular nuisance himself, Winona Ryder as a grown-up Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as her mother. Of course, as the new darling of horror, Ortega’s presence in Beetlejuice 2 also contributes to the hype. Only time will tell, but it’s certainly a safe bet that this next movie will make up for Ortega’s past two.
Why The Reviews For Miller’s Girl Are So Bad
There was a lot of hope for Miller’s Girl, but something seems to have gone wrong. Advertised as a psychological thriller, it should have been right up Ortega’s alley, and the presence of Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit, Black Panther) only added to the appeal. Unfortunately, by the time Miller’s Girl debuted, critics had already published their disappointment over the film. Many reviews claimed that the movie didn’t deliver as a thriller and was instead boring or, even worse, “vapid.”
This is unfortunate since Ortega’s Miller’s Girl was controversial from the first trailer. On first impression, the film seems to centers on the idea of an seductive college student (Ortega’s character), and a professor (Freeman) who falls victim to her manipulation. This could perpetuate harmful stereotypes, but it was hoped that Miller’s Girl could turn such a concept on its head in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, critical opinion indicates that it has failed to do so. Though this is bad news for Ortega, Beetlejuice 2 can still wipe this disappointment from critics’ minds.
