- Sydney Sweeney's rise in Hollywood didn't happen overnight.
- She's been working since she was a child, with roles in indie movies and TV guest spots.
- Since breaking out in "Euphoria," her star has grown with movies like "Anyone But You" and "The Housemaid."
It may seem like Sydney Sweeney's rise to stardom happened overnight, but the 28-year-old has been acting for most of her life.
Since her first appearance on screen as a scared child in 2010's forgettable "ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction," she's been on the grind, building her credits and landing the occasional guest spot on shows like "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Handmaid's Tale."
Finally, she hit it big when she landed role of Cassie Howard in the HBO series "Euphoria," which premiered in 2019. Since then, she's shot up the Hollywood ranks starring in a string of hits, from season one of "The White Lotus" to the 2023 hit rom-com "Anyone But You." This year, she physically transformed for the boxing biopic "Christy," and can next be seen starring alongside Amanda Seyfried in the big screen adaptation of Freida McFadden's book "The Housemaid."
Below, a look at Sydney Sweeney's best and worst movie and TV credits, according to the critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
All scores are accurate as of publication but are subject to change.
Sweeney's entry into the MCU was thwarted thanks to 2024's "Madame Web."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%
Sweeney tried to get a piece of the Marvel pie by starring opposite Dakota Johnson in this Spider-Women origin story.
But with disastrous box office and even worse reviews, all involved moved on.
Sweeney struck rom-com gold — but only middling reviews — with 2023's "Anyone But You."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 53%
Historically, rom-coms don't connect with critics, and this one is no different.
However, box office doesn't lie; the combination of Sweeney and Glen Powell caused a sensation.
2024's historical drama "Eden" was forgettable.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%
Though it was directed by Ron Howard and stars Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, and Ana de Armas, this true-life thriller in which Sweeney plays one of the original settlers of Floreana Island, in the Galápagos Islands, didn't connect with critics.
Sweeney's character didn't have a name in 2018's "Under the Silver Lake."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 58%
If Sweeney was excited to be cast in director David Robert Mitchell's follow-up to his hit 2014 horror movie "It Follows," that likely dissipated when she saw that her name on the cast list was "Shooting Star #2."
She had almost zero screen time and played an escort.
Thanks to COVID, few saw Sweeney in 2020's "Clementine."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%
Sweeney landed a solid performance in this trippy drama — though you likely didn't see it, as it was released during the height of COVID.
Sweeney got spooky in the 2020 Blumhouse horror "Nocturne."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%
In this thriller from Blumhouse, Sweeney stars alongside Madison Iseman as twins who get competitive when one outshines the other while attending a prestigious school for classical musicians.
Sweeney was part of the ensemble cast in 2025's "Americana."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%
This modern-day Western crime thriller with Tarantino and Coen brothers vibes stars Sweeney as a waitress with aspirations of being a country singer. She teams with a friend (Paul Walter Hauser) to try to steal a rare Native American artifact. But things get complicated when others also try to get their hands on it.
Sweeney's first-ever appearance on screen was in 2010's "ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%
This outlandish low-budget horror movie marks Sweeney's screen debut. It's quite memorable, as her one scene in the movie ends with her getting blindsided by an SUV.
Sweeney took her shot at award season glory with 2025's "Christy."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%
Sweeney goes all in playing former pro boxer Christy Martin and delivers a believable performance. Though critics were mixed, the movie has only made around $2 million at the box office. That won't get it done when you're looking for awards consideration.
Sweeney showed up in another B-movie horror with 2017's "Dead Ant."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%
Sweeney fights giant ants alongside Tom Arnold and Sean Astin in this B-movie horror that went straight-to-VOD.
Sweeney showed impressive range in 2024's "Immaculate."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
With "Immaculate," Sweeney chose the right horror movie this time. Here, she plays an American nun who travels to a remote Italian convent, where she endures horrific terrors.
Sweeney starred in the 2018 Netflix series "Everything Sucks!" which was canceled after 1 season.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
Before "Euphoria," Sweeney thought this Netflix teen series, in which she played moody drama club member Emaline, would be her big break. Though the series had strong reviews, the streamer scrapped it after one season.
Sweeney matched sinister stares with Amanda Seyfried in 2025's "The Housemaid."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%
Sweeney stars as a young woman who, looking for a fresh start, takes a job as a live-in maid. But the wealthy couple (Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar) who hired her are harboring some dark and twisted secrets.
In 2017, Sweeney appeared in season 7 of "Pretty Little Liars."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%
Sweeney shows up in the finale of season 7 playing a high school friend of Addison (Ava Allan).
She kept an eye on Brad Pitt in 2019's "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Sweeney's most prominent scene in Quentin Tarantino's love letter to Hollywood comes when Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) visits Spahn Ranch.
She's at the door keeping an eye on Booth's movements through the ranch.
Sweeney played Pete Davidson's girlfriend in 2019's "Big Time Adolescence."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
In this indie, Sweeney plays the girlfriend of Pete Davidson's drug-dealing character.
Everything changed for Sweeney when she was cast in 2019's "Euphoria."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%
Sweeney's role as Cassie Howard in "Euphoria" also charts her evolution as an actor. This is most evident in season two, when Cassie steals Nate (Jacob Elordi) from Maddy (Alexa Demie), leading to major drama and one famous tear-filled breakdown. She received an Emmy nomination for her work in season two.
In 2021, she delivered an impressive performance in season 1 of "The White Lotus."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
In season one of the HBO anthology series, Sweeney plays Olivia, a college student who goes on a trip to the luxurious Hawaiian resort with her wealthy family and college friend. She would score another Emmy nomination for her performance.
In 2018, she landed a role in season 2 of "The Handmaid's Tale."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Sweeney appeared in a handful of episodes in season two as the child bride Eden Spencer.
Sweeney held her own opposite Amy Adams in 2018's "Sharp Objects."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Though the limited series is based on the Gillian Flynn book, Sweeney's character was created for the show.
Sweeney plays Alice, the troubled roommate of Amy Adams' character in a psychiatric hospital.
Critics believe Sweeney's best performance to date is 2023's "Reality."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Critics praised Sweeney for her performance as Reality Winner, a former NSA contractor who leaked classified documents about Russian interference in the 2016 US elections to the media.
