By Joshua Tyler
| Published
Sydney Sweeney is suddenly the most famous person in the world for simply looking sexy in some clothing ads. That’s not her primary career, however. She’s been a successful Hollywood actress for several years, doing amazing work in high-profile projects.
If you liked her jeans, you’ll probably like these too. This is our ranking of Sydney Sweeney’s best movies and TV shows.
1. The White Lotus Season 1 | 2021
Sydney Sweeney’s Olivia Mossbacher in The White Lotus is the embodiment of privilege wrapped in an air of indifference. As the daughter of a wealthy family vacationing in Hawaii, she navigates her surroundings with a sense of detached superiority, hiding her insecurities behind passive-aggressive commentary.
Sweeney doesn’t overplay the character’s flaws, instead letting them simmer underneath the surface, making Olivia a quietly toxic presence. Her interactions, particularly with Paula, reveal her lack of self-awareness and the deep chasm between her perception of the world and the reality of those around her. It’s a role that’s equal parts frustrating and fascinating.
2. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood | 2019
Sydney Sweeney’s appearance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood doesn’t scream for attention, but it doesn’t have to. Playing one of the Manson Family members, she’s a small yet unnerving part of the film’s broader tension.
Sweeney’s role doesn’t require much in terms of dialogue or screen time, but she nails the vibe of a cult member just by standing there. Her performance has an eerie calmness, an unsettling undercurrent that contrasts sharply with the more vivid characters around her. It’s a perfect example of how sometimes the most chilling performances are the ones that do the least.
3. Reality | 2023
Sydney Sweeney’s performance in Reality (2023) is a masterclass in restraint. Portraying NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, Sweeney navigates a tense FBI interrogation with a subtle blend of composure and underlying anxiety.
The film, adapted from Tina Satter’s play Is This a Room, unfolds in real-time, capturing the 2017 encounter between Winner and FBI agents. Sweeney’s portrayal is marked by its naturalism, capturing the nuances of Winner’s demeanor without resorting to overt dramatization. Her performance anchors the film, turning a confined setting into a compelling exploration of truth, power, and consequence.
4. Eurphoria | 2019
Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie Howard in Euphoria is the embodiment of desperate vulnerability masked by a facade of sweetness. She’s not the innocent girl she presents herself to be, and the show doesn’t let us forget that. Sweeney plays her with a quiet, almost tragic fragility, capturing the tension between Cassie’s longing for love and her self-destructive decisions.
The relationship with Nate is the catalyst for much of her unraveling, but it’s Sweeney’s subtle performance, the way Cassie shifts from wide-eyed idealism to manipulative desperation, that truly makes the character stand out. It’s a portrayal that doesn’t scream for attention, but commands it all the same.
5. Big Time Adolescence | 2019
In Big Time Adolescence, Sydney Sweeney plays a supporting role that’s as sharp as it is understated. Her character, a high school student caught up in the orbit of a reckless older guy, doesn’t demand the spotlight, but Sweeney makes sure she’s memorable.
The film’s focus is on the relationship between the protagonist and his mentor, but Sweeney’s performance offers a refreshing counterpoint. Her character’s interactions with the lead are casual but loaded, carrying just enough emotional weight to show that Sweeney knows how to make the most of her moments, even when she’s not the one driving the plot forward.
6. Immaculate | 2024
In Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney takes on the role of Sister Cecilia, a nun in a remote Italian convent who discovers she’s inexplicably pregnant despite her vows of chastity. The film is a mix of psychological horror and religious critique, and Sweeney’s performance anchors it.
She doesn’t overplay the shock or horror; instead, her transformation from naive novice to a woman grappling with an impossible situation feels grounded and unnerving. The plot might tread familiar ground in the horror genre, but Sweeney’s portrayal adds weight to the tension, making the situation’s absurdity feel disturbingly real. It’s a restrained, but powerful performance in a film that, for all its drama, never lets her character off the hook.
7. Under the Silver Lake | 2018
In Under the Silver Lake, Sydney Sweeney’s role is brief but impactful. The film is a bizarre, noir-infused puzzle, with Andrew Garfield’s Sam searching through the underbelly of Los Angeles, and Sweeney’s character, Sarah, plays a small but crucial part in the tangled web of conspiracy and strange encounters. Sweeney doesn’t have a ton of screen time, but she doesn’t need it.
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GFR Score calculated using averages of audience and critical reactions across multiple platforms.
