Selena Gomez’s 10 Best Movie & TV Roles, According To IMDb

There aren’t many people in their early 30s who can trace their acting careers back through three different decades. However, Selena Gomez is one of those rare cases. She originally got her start on TV screens as a child on Barney & Friends and has only seen her star power grow since.

Gomez is multi-talented, working in films, television, being a huge name in the music industry, and producing hit shows like 13 Reasons Why. Looking at her acting work, Gomez has led her own series, had notable cameos, lent her voice to a film franchise, and more. Her projects have grown with her, with a few standing out as being the best.

10 Ramona And Beezus (6.5)

This was almost perfect timing for Selena Gomez’s career. She was in the midst of the most iconic role from her teenage years and then appeared as the older sister in a film based on a beloved book series. Written by Beverly Cleary, the Ramona books spanned decades and have been read by almost everyone growing up.

The film adaptation arrived in 2010 and saw Gomez portray Beezus, the older sister to the rambunctious Ramona Quimby (Joey King). Their relationship and the shenanigans they get into are at the heart of the movie. It got praise for being sweet, funny, and for the chemistry between Gomez and King.

9 Hotel Transylvania 2 (6.7)

The biggest blockbuster that Selena Gomez is part of has to be the Hotel Transylvania franchise. After the first installment proved to be a huge hit, a sequel was greenlit and released in 2015. It managed to be an even bigger success, grossing $474.8M, which is the most that any film in Gomez’s career has racked up, only to be bested by the third entry.

Gomez voices the character of Mavis, the daughter of Count Dracula (Adam Sandler). In this installment, she and her human boyfriend Johnny (Andy Samberg) have a son who Dracula worries won’t have any special abilities. While not groundbreaking, it was generally viewed as a good time.

8 Horton Hears A Who! (6.8)

Similar to her taking part in the Ramona film version, Selena Gomez also joined in another adaption of books for kids before that. This one came two years earlier in 2008, as she lent her voice to Horton Hears a Who!, originally written by Dr. Seuss. It can be difficult to turn a small book into a feature film and has missed the mark in the past.

However, this one was mostly met with a positive response for being true to the source material and being heartwarming. The story centers on an elephant (Jim Carrey) who tries to protect the tiny and secret community of Whoville. Gomez voiced Helga, the daughter of the Whoville mayor.

7 Wizards Of Waverly Place (6.9)

It’s the role that Selena Gomez is most known for. Like a lot of stars around her age including Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, Gomez was at the center of a popular Disney Channel series. Hers was Wizards of Waverly Place, which may have been the best of them all.

The show was well-received, the series finale set a viewership record for the network, and it even won an Emmy. Gomez was in the lead role as Alex Russo, a teen who must compete with her brothers to officially be the next wizard in the family. This beloved series made Gomez a star.

6 The Muppets (7.1)

Of all of the roles included here, this is the smallest for Selena Gomez. She wasn’t part of the main cast but still had an enjoyable appearance. When The Muppets got a 2011 film reboot, it seemed like many stars were fans in the past and wanted to show up in the movie.

There are almost too many cameos in this one to count. They begin with the likes of Emily Blunt reprising her role from The Devil Wears Prada and they go all the way through to John Krasinski, Neil Patrick Harris, and Selena Gomez. The plot sees the titular characters interact with many celebrities in their attempt to put on a show that will save Muppet Theatre.

5 Hotel Transylvania (7.1)

Selena Gomez made her debut as Mavis Dracula in 2012’s Hotel Transylvania. As noted earlier, the film was a commercial success that sparked two sequels, with a fourth installment set to release in the near future. It became popular for the fun tone and the premise.

A hotel run only for monsters gets invaded by a typical human male who Mavis ends up falling for was just the setup needed to make this work. Gomez has also gone on to reprise the role in a special short film titled Puppy! that adds to the existing world.

4 The Fundamentals Of Caring (7.3)

Although this was a little-seen film, it features some of the best work of Selena Gomez’s career. In many ways, it’s one of the performances that helped prove she was ready to move into more serious roles. The Fundamentals of Caring was a Sundance Film Festival hit in 2016.

After its premiere, it got picked up by Netflix. The film centers on a man dealing with a tragic loss (Paul Rudd) who becomes a caregiver for a teen with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Craig Roberts) as they go on a road trip. While there, they meet Dot (Gomez), who bonds with them.

3 Rudderless (7.5)

Speaking of movies that weren’t seen by many people, there’s Rudderless. Released in 2014, this musical drama only grossed $546,149 against a budget of $5 million. Despite the commercial struggles, it was viewed positively by the critics.

Directed by William H. Macy, this emotional tale has a talented cast including Billy Crudup, Miles Heizer, Jamie Chung, and Selena Gomez. The plot follows a father (Crudup) who finds demo tapes recorded by his recently deceased son (Heizer) and forms a band with the music to honor him. Gomez played the ex-girlfriend of the son.

2 The Big Short (7.8)

Like her appearance in The Muppets, Selena Gomez doesn’t do a lot in The Big Short. She once again has a cameo where she plays herself, though this one comes in a unique fashion. The Big Short focuses on the financial crisis that rocked the United States in the late 2000s.

A lot of the jargon used during the film can be a bit difficult for casual viewers to understand. So, the filmmakers included random cameos from Gomez, Margot Robbie, Anthony Bourdain, and Richard Thaler who only show up to explain things to the audience.

1 Selena + Chef (8.2)

Selena Gomez was one of those celebrities who found a way to do some good during the COVID-19 pandemic. While stuck at home, she started Selena + Chef, a reality cooking series on HBO Max. Gomez says she loves to cook but isn’t good at it.

The series sees her remotely work with various professional chefs like Antonia Lofaso, Roy Choi, Kelis Rogers, and more. They teach her how to make delicious dishes, have fun with her and her family, and at the end of it all, money is donated to food-related charities.

About The Author