Actor Rachel Zegler quickly became a big name in Hollywood after her debut in West Side Story (2021), offering up memorable performances in movies. Zegler was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on May 3, 2001, and she grew to prominence online for her YouTube channel where she mostly posts videos of her singing. The actor submitted videos through Twitter for the open casting call to find a Maria for West Side Story.

Despite being one of 2021’s biggest box office bombs, West Side Story was highly praised by critics and audiences, thrusting Rachel Zegler into the spotlight. Since then, she’s continued to get lead roles in movies across different genres, with most featuring her beautiful vocals. However, not every Rachel Zegler movie rises to the same level of success as the last, with some outshining the others.

Title
Tomatometer
Popcornmeter

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
49%
85%

Spellbound

45%
53%

Y2K
43%
51%

Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
64%
89%

West Side Story
91%
93%

Rotten Tomatoes Scores as of 12/8/2024

5Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2023)

Rachel Zegler As Anthea

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Movie

5.5/10

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

PG-13
Action
Adventure
Comedy

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DirectorDavid F. Sandberg
Release DateMarch 17, 2023
WritersHenry Gayden , Chris Morgan
CastHelen Mirren , Zachary Levi , Grace Caroline Currey , Lucy Liu , Rachel Zegler , Adam Brody​, Meagan Good

Character(s)Shazam , Billy Batson , Freddy Freeman , Anthea , Super Hero Freddy , Super Hero Eugene , Super Hero Pedro , Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary , Super Hero Darla , Kalypso , Wizard , Hespera , Darla Dudley , Eugene Choi , Pedro Peña , Rosa Vasquez , Victor Vasquez , Docent , Dr. Dario Bava , Mr. Geckle , Museum Security Guard , Landlord , Girl Running on Bridge , Nurse in Need of a Hero , Driver with Kittens
Runtime130 minutes
Main GenreAdventure

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Of all Rachel Zegler’s movies, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the weakest film, but not because of Zegler’s performance. If Zegler’s performance were isolated from the rest of the movie, it’d be easy to argue that Shazam 2 should rank higher. The Shazam sequel is an unfortunate situation where the movie has many components necessary to make a great movie, making it even more disappointing how lackluster the result is. The cast of Shazam 2 has given incredible performances in other movies, and they try to give this film their all, too.

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Shazam! Fury Of The Gods Review: A Fun Superhero Romp With Shaky Execution

However, those willing to go along with Billy’s patchy journey just might find themselves entertained by what this DC sequel has to offer.

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Sadly, the final product falls into the category where it’s not good or bad enough to be memorable. The storyline is formulaic, making it forgettable in the long run. The movie is targeted towards audiences of all ages, but Shazam 2 feels much more catered towards children, making it dull for adult viewers.

The jokes just don’t land like they do in the first film, coming across as immature but not absurd or goofy enough to match the first movie. The SFX also isn’t terrible but it’s lacking compared to other films and TV series in the superhero genre. The movie also changes the iconic costume from the first movie, abandoning the campy style that felt like an homage to DC’s Golden Age comic books, one of the biggest Shazam! Fury of the Gods criticisms.

Despite these criticisms, the movie is still enjoyable to watch with lowered expectations. It isn’t a completely joyless film, and it does have some genuinely interesting moments. However, it ultimately ranks lower than other movies that star Rachel Zegler, as most of her other movies have been well-received.

4Spellbound (2024)

Rachel Zegler As Princess Ellian

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Movie

5/10

8.3/10

Spellbound

PG
Animation
Comedy
Fantasy
Musical

DirectorVicky Jenson
Release DateNovember 22, 2024
Studio(s)Skydance Animation
WritersVicky Jenson , Lauren Hynek , Elizabeth Martin
CastRachel Zegler , Miguel Bernardeau , Giovanna Bush , Dennis Stowe , Jenifer Lewis , Dee Bradley Baker , Susan Fitzer , Nicole Kidman , Javier Bardem , John Lithgow , Olga Merediz , Rich Moore , Nathan Lane , Tituss Burgess , John Ratzenberger , Vicky Jenson , Angela Grovey , Jessica Molaskey , Isabelle McCalla
Character(s)Princess Ellian , Chilo , Orsola , Lumbrian Soldier , Nazara , Flink Dee , Old Maid , Queen Ellsmere , King Solon , Bolinar , The General , The Postmaster , Luno – Oracle of the Moon , Sunny – Oracle of the Sun , Milo The Monster Handler , Old Blue-Haired Woman , Lumbrian Citizen
Runtime109 Minutes
Main GenreAnimation

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Based on the Rotten Tomatoes score for Spellbound, the movie should land in last place. After all, the critic score is on par with Shazam! Gods of Fury, but the audience score is lower. However, the audience score skewed negatively due to the fact that angry adults review-bombed the movie for normalizing divorce — a choice that was bound to ruffle feathers for viewers with antiquated values. As such, the scores can’t be the determining factor in placement.

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Spellbound Review: Netflix’s Colorful Skydance Animation Bites Off More Than It Can Chew

Spellbound takes too long to make its point and underwhelms in other areas in the process, leaving a hole in the heart of the animation’s story.

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Spellbound is enjoyable, especially for those who didn’t have picture-perfect childhoods. Even though the pacing and narrative is uneven, the story, themes, and characters are well-developed. Children, who are the target demographic, might not have the patience to get through the less exciting moments. Luckily, Princess Ellian, played by Rachel Zegler, has enough spunk and personality to make up for the weaker moments. The movie also possesses stunning visuals that show the caliber of Skydance Animation. The Spellbound soundtrack also has a relistenable quality because of Zegler’s crisp, musical theater-style vocals and the Alan Menken songs.

Despite the strengths of the movie, it can’t be ignored that the stakes of Spellbound are painfully low. The film doesn’t offer a sense of urgency. Additionally, the story gets extremely predictable at times, and it often feels like the solutions to problems are simply handed to Elian. In the best children’s stories, the protagonists have an active role in problem-solving, allowing young viewers to feel empowered. Because of these issues, Spellbound falls below Y2K on a list of Rachel Zegler movies in terms of quality and entertainment value, but it’s much better than Shazam 2.

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3Y2K (2024)

Rachel Zegler As Laura

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Movie

4/10

4.3/10

Y2K

Comedy
Sci-Fi

DirectorKyle Mooney
Release DateMarch 9, 2024
WritersEvan Winter
CastRachel Zegler , Alicia Silverstone , Julian Dennison , Jaeden Martell , Eduardo Franco , Mason Gooding , Miles Robbins , Tim Heidecker
Runtime93 Minutes
Main GenreComedy

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The horror-comedy offers an apocalyptic take on “What if Y2K really happened?” The outcome is divisive, with most people loving it or hating it. Y2K is campy, cheesy, and packed with nostalgia, making it the perfect choice for Millennials who love a terrible horror movie. Viewers will only enjoy the film if they love hilariously bad kills filled with unnecessary gore. The horror-comedy has a similar vibe to Superbad, Dale & Tucker vs. Evil, and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. There’s definitely an audience for this film even if it’s super niche.

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Y2K Review: Julian Dennison Is The Highlight Of A Messy Sci-Fi Horror Comedy That Loses Its Charm

Y2K will surely find an audience, but the nostalgia and a solid premise aren’t enough to make this a memorable watch.

However, the movie will have minimal appeal to viewers too young to remember the Y2K fear and hysteria, plus the surrounding time period. Even with the 90s and early 00s trends becoming popular again, many references require a solid knowledge of that era. The fact that a movie is niche doesn’t make it inherently bad, though. Plenty of movies cater to a very specific group of people. The biggest difference is that niche films typically release with limited releases or go directly to streaming. A24 might have been better off changing the release plan.

Luckily, since they released the movie widely, everyone can enjoy Y2K’s fantastic soundtrack, jam-packed with songs popular during the year 1999. It’s also easy to care about Eli, Ash, Danny, and Laura — the four characters that shine above the rest. Additionally, Rachel Zegler, who plays Laura gives a heartfelt performance despite the fact that she’s stuck with an uneven script.

Y2K must also be applauded for having the guts to kill off a main character within the first half of the movie. The movie’s promotional materials featured Danny so heavily that it seemed like he and Eli would be the two guaranteed survivors at the end of Y2K. Ultimately, the movie might not be life-changing by any means, but it doesn’t need to leave a major cinematic impact in order to entertain audiences.

2The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

Rachel Zegler As Lucy Gray Baird

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Movie

9/10

8.3/10

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

PG-13
Action
Adventure
Drama

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DirectorFrancis Lawrence
Release DateNovember 17, 2023
Studio(s)Color Force , Lionsgate
Distributor(s)Lionsgate
WritersMichael Lesslie , Michael Arndt , Suzanne Collins
CastTom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis
Runtime157 Minutes
Franchise(s)The Hunger Games
Sequel(s)The Hunger Games , The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

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The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a significant risk because it requires the audience to empathize with a character who becomes dictatorial and Machiavellian by the first movie in the Hunger Games franchise. Somehow, the film succeeds in making the younger version of Coriolanus Snow sympathetic despite his eventual fate. The background knowledge also makes every moment of the movie feel more tragic, since the audience knows there’s no hope.

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Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes also feels like a throwback to the first two Hunger Games movies because the story follows Snow as he mentors a girl named Lucy Gray Baird, who is a tribute preparing for the titular competition. The story sends the same messages from the original book, which still resonate years later.

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The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes Review – An Excellent, Fascinating Return To Panem

With top-notch performances and production design, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a worthy addition to the Hunger Games franchise.

Additionally, the prequel movie thrives thanks to the star power of Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes‘ lead actors, Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. The duo infuse their characters with authenticity and emotion that make them easy to invest in. Their compelling performances might not rise to the level of Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games, but they get pretty close.

Zegler was also perfectly cast, as singing is integral to the character Lucy Gray Baird. The actress’s saccharine and beautiful singing draws out emotion in the audience. It almost makes up for the nearly three-hour runtime, which was inevitable since Suzanne Collins’ Songbirds & Snakes book is the longest in the series.

Unfortunately, Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes cannot take the title of the best Rachel Zegler for two reasons. Fans of the franchise complained about Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ PG-13 rating, which lessens the violence and cruelty of the Hunger Games. Additionally, the number one movie, West Side Story, rises so far above and beyond the rest that it isn’t truly a competition.

1West Side Story (2021)

Rachel Zegler As Maria

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Movie

6/10

8/10

West Side Story

PG-13
Drama
Crime
Musical

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DirectorSteven Spielberg
Release DateDecember 10, 2021
Studio(s)20th Century
Distributor(s)20th Century
WritersTony Kushner
CastMike Iveson , Ansel Elgort , Ariana DeBose , Yassmin Alers , Iris Menas , Rachel Zegler , Annelise Cepero , Corey Stoll , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Rita Moreno , Jamila Velazquez , Brian D’Arcy James , David Alvarez , Rory Curtiss Cook , Jamie Harris
Runtime156 minutes
Budget$100 million

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Inspired by the story of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story – which is set in the 1950s – tells the story of a young Puerto Rican woman who falls in love with a Polish white man who’s trying to change his life after a gang-related jail stint. The 1961 version of West Side Story is so beloved that the Steven Spielberg remake had high expectations. Luckily, the 2021 movie is one of the best Broadway musical adaptations of all time despite being drastically underappreciated and a box office bomb.

The movie musical’s costume design thrives above most in terms of details and overall aesthetics, showing the contrast between the warring gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. Lead Costume designer Paul Tazewell does an excellent job with Tony’s and Maria’s costumes, staying true to the iconic looks while updating them with new details.

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West Side Story Review: Spielberg’s Musical Remake Is Magnetic But Flawed

West Side Story is visually entrancing, emotional, and the choreography and staging magnetic even when certain aspects of the story don’t always work.

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The West Side Story cast and casting team also deserve praise as they enhance the viewing experience. Rather than casting Hollywood actors who can sing, the casting team went a different direction, bringing together almost exclusively Broadway actors who could execute the music and Justin Peck’s choreography with precision. This means numbers like “America” and “Gee, Officer Krupke” stand out, with the latter ranking among the best group numbers from Broadway musical adaptations. The frequent use of wide shots and long sequences without cuts also makes West Side Story’s numbers feel like watching a stage show.

Actor Rachel Zegler won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in West Side Story.

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The acting of Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose must also be highlighted when discussing the success of the West Side Story remake. Ariana DeBose is a well-known Broadway actor who made a memorable transition into Hollywood acting. She makes Anita just as lovable and memorable as Rita Moreno’s version. Rachel Zegler does just as incredible a job as the established actors in the movie. Shockingly, this was Rachel Zegler’s first onscreen role, but she held her own opposite Ansel Elgort, an established actor with almost a decade of experience before the Broadway musical adaptation.

Ultimately, it feels justified that the movie has a 91% Tomatometer score and a 93% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes, making up for the poor box office performance. The West Side Story remake clearly deserves to be remembered and praised just as much as the original movie version.