News

Born September 1, 1996, Zendaya rose to fame as a child star on the Disney Channel, with fan-favorite characters in “Shake It Up” and “K.C. Undercover.” The singer and actress soon started dabbling in feature films, where she earned the plum role of Mj, Tom Holland‘s love interest, in Marvel’s “Spider-Man” movies. Zendaya’s biggest claim to fame was in 2020, when she became the youngest-ever Emmy winner in the Best Drama Actress category for playing a teen drug addict on “Euphoria.” Her career continues to blossom thanks to recent releases like “Challengers” (directed by Luca Guadagnino) and “Dune” (directed by Denis Villeneuve).

Explore our photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the 11 best Zendaya movies and TV shows, ranked. Does your #1 choice match ours?

11. ‘Shake It Up’ (2010-13)

This Disney Channel series marked the first major on-screen appearance for the then-13-year-old actress. Zendaya takes on the role Rocky Blue,...

“Ask God why, I didn’t get an answer/Why I lose my brother to bullets/Why I lose my grandma to cancer,” Offset harmonizes on “Say My Grace.” Few could have imagined that the Atlanta artist who emerged as one-third of Migos a decade ago with “Versace,” reintroducing the concept of a rap group to the Zoomer generation, would settle uncomfortably into the role of husband to pop icon Cardi B, and become a target of internet gossip so pernicious that the phrase “Offset cheating” elicits thousands of Google search results dating back years.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion made their triumphant collaborative return with "Bongos" on Sept. 8, offering up what is effectively a sequel to their 2020 pussy rap smash hit, "Wap."

"Wap" and its sexual lyrics struck a cord worldwide with supporters and critics alike. Its detractors claimed it demeans women, while supporters pointed out the song promotes unapologetic sexual expression on women's terms in an industry overflowing with men who sing and rap about sex and face far less scrutiny.

Cardi and Megan continue their message of women's sexual empowerment with "Bongos." However, with "Wap," the meaning behind the song's title was a little more straightforward: it meant "wet ass pussy," and that lyric was interspersed repeatedly throughout the song. Fans might be wondering what "bongos" means now, considering the word itself is not used quite as frequently or explicitly in the song's lyrics.

But while "Bongos" is a tiny bit...

With two Emmys by the age of 26 and over 100 million Instagram followers, Zendaya is arguably one of the biggest celebrities on the planet — and she's just getting started. The multi-talented actress has already played several memorable characters, each one further cementing her status as a major star. From Lola Bunny in the "Space Jam" sequel to one of the most notable Spider-Man characters outside of Peter Parker himself, Zendaya's performances have made her one of the most sought-after young actors working today.

But before Zendaya became the icon we all know and love, she was a "Disney kid," starring in the popular Disney Channel series "Shake It Up." Since her screen debut in 2010, she's ascended from teen star to industry darling, adored by critics and audiences alike. With the smashing success of projects like HBO's "Euphoria," which she both stars in and executive produces, and Denis Villeneuve's "Dune," Zendaya...

Alex Lehmann brings to us a movie where an estranged daughter travels thousands of miles to reconnect with her reclusive father, who spends time watching for aliens. The 2023 film “Acidman” features Thomas Haden Church and Dianna Agron in the roles of Lloyd, the eccentric dad, and Maggie, the estranged daughter, respectively. An emotional movie where the bond between a father and daughter is explored in a poignant way, “Acidman” is a testament to how mental issues can drive a wedge between family members and ruin relationships. However, it takes one person willing to go the extra mile and re-establish the severed bond, and this becomes Maggie’s motivation to find her dad. Read on for a detailed dive into the multiple themes and events that transpire in this lovely movie.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘Acidman’?

Estranged daughter Maggie painstakingly finds out about her reclusive father Lloyd’s...

Thomas Haden Church in Acidman. Courtesy of Brainstorm Media

Thomas Haden Church gives a striking performance as a reclusive eccentric who is tentatively reconnecting with his grown daughter, in the character-drive indie drama Acidman. After a breakout role in Sideways and a career of well-drawn character parts in a host of films, it is nice to see Thomas Haden Church get a leading part, albeit in a small indie film like Acidman, in a performance that may be his career best.

“Acidman,” graffiti painted in large orange letters on the side of a trailer deep in the woods, is the sight that greets Maggie (Dianna Agron) when she arrives looking for her father Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church). It is the nickname that local teens have given the solitary, oddball Lloyd, who is the object of rumors and their pranks, like defacing his trailer. Maggie has driven a long way to...