‘Beetlejuice 2’ Box Office Proves Jenna Ortega Is Hollywood’s Next Bankable Star

‘Beetlejuice 2’ Box Office Proves Jenna Ortega Is Hollywood’s Next Bankable Star

Zendaya’s meteoric rise from Disney Channel star to the most bankable young actress in Hollywood has been a sight to behold. In less than a decade, she’s gone from a Disney Channel fixture to a red carpet regular, fronting multimillion-dollar film franchises like “Dune” and “Spider-Man” and the occasional edgy prestige tennis movie — not to mention the edgy teen show that marked her breakthrough.

But Zendaya has to look over her shoulder: Jenna Ortega is coming for her crown.

This weekend, Ortega scored the biggest box office success of her young career. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 classic, scored the second-highest opening weekend ever for the month of September at the domestic box office with $110 million.

While Ortega’s rise to stardom in some ways mirrors that of the “Dune” star, Ortega is taking a different path. Can she reach similar heights?

Ortega has turned to darker roles to find success


Jenna Ortega with a ghost behind her

Jenna Ortega in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

Warner Bros.



Like Zendaya (28), Ortega (21) made her debut in the Disney world as a child star. She played Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel series “Stuck in the Middle” and voiced Princess Isabel in the animated series “Elena of Avalor”.

After her Disney Channel “Shake It Up”https://www.businessinsider.com/”KC Undercover” era, Zendaya broke through to the mainstream with a role in a (much) more mature show, HBO’s “Euphoria.” Ortega’s trajectory was similar, breaking out as the star of the Netflix hit series “Wednesday.”

Now Ortega is taking the next step toward full-fledged movie stardom, proving her worth as a successful star in a major franchise with “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”


Zendaya attends the "Dune: Part Two" premiere in London, England.

Zendaya attends the premiere of “Dune: Part Two” in London, England.

Daniel Leal/Getty Images



In reality, it would be difficult for any actress in her 20s to rival Zendaya for the hearts and wallets of today’s young moviegoers (sorry, Sydney Sweeney fans: Though Zendaya’s “Euphoria” co-star is carving out an impressive career, even reviving romantic comedies, she’s yet to have a box office success to compare).

But Ortega’s rise is intriguing in the ways her choices differ from Zendaya’s. While Zendaya is no stranger to playing characters with a hint of darkness, Ortega’s projects more often lean explicitly toward thriller and horror: Ellie Alves in “You,” the reboot of the “Scream” franchise and, of course, her deadpan perfection as this generation’s Wednesday Addams.

While Zendaya follows the classic Hollywood star route (in addition to acting, she can sing and dance), Ortega’s characters are often more sarcastic and her image more off the beaten path. That made her the perfect casting for Burton’s trip back to “Beetlejuice.”

The question now is whether Ortega’s talents extend beyond the dark, brooding characters.

Like Zendaya, Ortega is using existing intellectual property to grow her career


zendaya chani dune

Zendaya plays Chani in the “Dune” franchise.

Chiabella James/Warner Bros. Photos



“Can You Imagine Jenna Ortega ‘Challengers’?”

That was the response I got from a Hollywood producer when I asked him about Ortega’s pursuit of Zendaya’s throne, referring to Zendaya’s acclaimed tennis drama Luca Guadagnino.

“Jenna is bankable because of ‘Wednesday,’ and that made her perfect for ‘Beetlejuice,'” the producer continued. “But I also couldn’t see Zendaya in that movie. Jenna definitely has the range to carry certain movies.”

But the “Wednesday” law could get boring after a while, and that is the challenge that lies ahead: the need to evolve.


A woman with black hair, red eye shadow and lipstick, a silver necklace and a red dress in the shape of a heart.

Jenna Ortega at the 81st Venice International Film Festival for the red carpet of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”.

Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images



The producer notes that it all “depends on the projects” Ortega chooses, but the advantage of today’s movie star compared to decades ago is that they have box office help in the form of existing IP. Whether it’s a beloved character from the Marvel universe or a beloved character from the mind of Tim Burton, today’s audiences are compelled to go to the movies by a mix of star power and familiar material.

For example, Ortega is fantastic in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” but there were also many people who went to see the film because she was the lead, and who loved Burton’s original just as much.

The same can be said for Zendaya in the “Dune” films. While she delivers a powerful performance, there are legions of book fans who would have gone to see “Dune” on the big screen regardless of who Chani would play.

And in another world, that could have been Ortega’s role, too.