Sydney Sweeney Is The Last Movie Star Left Alive
By The Editorial Team • February 18, 2026
If you told a studio executive in late 2025 that Sydney Sweeney—fresh off a brutal string of box-office misfires—would kick off 2026 as the most bankable woman in cinema, they would have laughed you out of the Soho House. Yet, here we are. The narrative of Sydney Sweeney has always been one of underestimated grit; she’s the girl who built a mechanic shop’s work ethic into a luxury brand, the actress who pivoted from “that girl in Euphoria” to a mogul with a $40 million war chest.
But let’s be real: 2025 was scary. For a minute, it looked like the Sweeney machine had stalled. We watched Eden and Americana arrive and vanish like ghosts in the multiplex, and the much-hyped boxing biopic Christy took a jab at the box office and missed. Critics sharpened their knives, ready to write the obituary of another “influencer-actress.” Then came December. The Housemaid didn’t just open; it detonated, grossing over $350 million and reminding the world that Sweeney isn’t just an algorithm favorite—she is a legitimate ticket-selling event.
As we stand in February 2026, awaiting the return of Cassie Howard in April’s Euphoria Season 3, it’s time to look at the filmography that got us here. This isn’t just a list of movies; it’s a forensic accounting of how a Gen Z icon became a Hollywood heavyweight. Here are the top 10 Sydney Sweeney movies, ranked.
1. The Housemaid (2025)
This is the moment everything changed. Released in late December 2025, this adaptation of Freida McFadden’s bestseller was supposed to be a modest thriller to counter-program the holiday blockbusters. Instead, it became a cultural phenomenon. Sweeney plays Millie, a desperate ex-con turned housekeeper, with a coiled, feral intensity that finally shed her “sad teen” typecast. The film’s marketing was genius—leaning into the campy, erotic thriller vibes of the 90s—but it was Sweeney’s chemistry with Amanda Seyfried (playing her unhinged employer) that turned theaters into electric participation zones. It’s not high art, but it’s high entertainment, proving Sweeney can anchor a massive global franchise.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Euphoria,The White Lotus, Revival of the Erotic Thriller
- Current Status:Pre-production onThe Housemaid’s Secret(Sequel)
Why It’s #1: It single-handedly erased the “box office poison” narrative of mid-2025 and established her as the queen of the modern thriller. It’s her Basic Instinct.
2. Reality (2023)
If The Housemaid is her commercial peak, Reality remains her artistic north star. Stripped of the glamour, the makeup, and the male gaze that often defines her roles, Sweeney vanished into the role of Reality Winner, the NSA whistleblower. The film is a masterclass in tension, taking place almost entirely in one room, using the actual FBI transcript as dialogue. Sweeney’s performance is a terrifying exercise in micro-acting; every blink and swallow conveys the suffocating weight of state power. It was the first time critics stopped talking about her looks and started talking about her chops.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Critical Darling, Indie Cred
- Current Status:Campaigning for prestige drama roles.
Why It’s #2: It proved she doesn’t need pyrotechnics or co-stars to hold an audience. It’s a haunting, claustrophobic performance that will age better than anything else on this list.
3. Anyone But You (2023)
The rom-com that saved the genre. Before this movie, studios had all but given up on theatrical romantic comedies, resigning them to the streaming bin. Sweeney, acting as executive producer, willed this film into a hit through sheer force of charisma and a brilliantly chaotic marketing campaign with co-star Glen Powell. The movie itself is a glossy, Shakespeare-lite confection, but it works because Sweeney understands the assignment perfectly: be funny, be messy, and look great doing it. It grossed over $220 million, a number that seems quaint post-Housemaid but was revolutionary at the time.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Reviving the Rom-Com
- Current Status:Developing a new vehicle for her and Powell.
Why It’s #3: It solidified her status as a producer-star who understands audience appetite better than most studio heads.
4. Immaculate (2024)
A passion project years in the making, this horror flick showed us the darker, gnarilier side of Sweeney’s ambition. She auditioned for this role as a teenager, didn’t get it, bought the rights years later, and made it herself. The ending alone—a guttural, one-take scream of primal female rage—is already iconic cinema history. While the film had pacing issues, Sweeney’s performance as a nun impregnated by a sinister convent was fearless. It bridged the gap between her scream-queen roots and her A-list future.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:The “Scream” heard ’round the world
- Current Status:Producing more horror via Fifty-Fifty Films.
Why It’s #4: It was a bold swing that paid off, showcasing her willingness to get bloody and ugly for the sake of the art.
5. Echo Valley (2025)
Released on Apple TV+ last summer, this film was unfairly buried by the algorithm. Starring opposite the legendary Julianne Moore, Sweeney plays a drug-addicted daughter who shows up at her mother’s horse farm covered in someone else’s blood. It’s a moody, atmospheric noir that requires Sweeney to be repulsive, manipulative, and heartbreaking all at once. Watching her go toe-to-toe with Moore—and holding her own—was a revelation. It didn’t break box office records, but it earned her the respect of the serious film community.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Dramatic duels with acting legends
- Current Status:Seeking more “two-hander” dramas.
Why It’s #5: A masterclass in acting tennis. If you want to see Sweeney actually act without the distraction of a pop soundtrack, watch this.
6. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
Yes, she has a small role. No, we don’t care. Being cast by Quentin Tarantino is a badge of honor that stays on your resume forever. As “Snake,” a member of the Manson family, Sweeney had limited screen time, but her presence was undeniable. It was the role that put her on the map for cinephiles and signaled that she was ready to graduate from teen dramas to serious filmmaking. It’s also the film that connected her with the industry veterans who would later support her producing endeavors.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:The Tarantino Stamp of Approval
- Current Status:Rumored for a future Tarantino project (we wish).
Why It’s #6: It’s a prestige anchor. You can’t tell the story of her rise without the Tarantino co-sign.
7. Eden (2025)
Part of the “Summer of Flops” in 2025, Ron Howard’s survival thriller deserves a re-evaluation. While it tanked in theaters (grossing under $3 million globally), its streaming afterlife on Netflix has been robust. Sweeney plays a German settler in the Galapagos who descends into madness. It’s an ensemble piece—she’s fighting for oxygen against Jude Law and Ana de Armas—but her descent from wide-eyed optimism to survivalist brutality is fascinating. The movie is a mess, but it’s an ambitious, beautiful mess.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Survivalist grit
- Current Status:Recovering from the film’s commercial failure.
Why It’s #7: A noble failure. It showed she’s willing to take risks with auteur directors, even if they don’t always land.
8. The Voyeurs (2021)
Before The Housemaid, there was The Voyeurs. This Amazon Prime thriller is trashy, ridiculous, and utterly addictive—the kind of movie you watch at 1 AM with a glass of wine. Sweeney plays a young woman obsessed with her neighbors, leading to a twist ending that is genuinely shocking. It established her as a streaming darling and proved she could elevate B-movie material into something watchable. It’s the spiritual predecessor to her current domination of the thriller genre.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Erotic Thriller Revival (Part 1)
- Current Status:The blueprint for her current success.
Why It’s #8: It’s a guilty pleasure classic. Without this, she likely wouldn’t have leaned into the genre that eventually gave us The Housemaid.
9. Americana (2025)
Another casualty of the 2025 theatrical slump, Americana is a jagged, alt-country crime caper that feels like a Coen Brothers B-side. Sweeney plays a waitress caught up in the theft of a legendary Lakota Ghost Shirt. It’s quirky, violent, and fast-paced. While the film failed to find an audience, Sweeney’s performance is spiky and fun, proving she can do “indie cool” as well as she does “mainstream gloss.” It’s destined to become a cult classic in five years when people discover it on a random Tuesday night.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Indie crime capers
- Current Status:Moving away from small-budget releases.
Why It’s #9: It shows her taste level. She picks interesting scripts, even if the box office doesn’t always agree.
10. Christy (2025)
We have to talk about Christy. The boxing biopic released last September was supposed to be her Oscar vehicle. She trained for months, transformed her body, and delivered a physically bruising performance as Christy Martin. The result? One of the worst box-office openings for a wide release in history. The movie is heavy, often dour, and difficult to watch. But you cannot deny the commitment. Sweeney disappeared into the role, shedding every ounce of vanity. It’s on this list because, despite the commercial failure, it proved she is fearless.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million (Est. 2026)
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Physical transformation
- Current Status:Using the critical praise (if not the box office) to fuel future dramatic roles.
Why It’s #10: It’s her ” I am a serious actor” badge. It failed, but it failed boldly.
The Verdict
Looking at this list in February 2026, a clear picture emerges. Sydney Sweeney is not just a star; she is a survivor. She survived the “blonde bombshell” pigeonhole, she survived the Marvel flop era (we kindly left Madame Web off this list, you’re welcome), and she survived a brutal 2025 box office slump to emerge victorious with The Housemaid.
Her career is a masterclass in diversification: she does the artsy A24 films (Reality), the streaming popcorn flicks (The Voyeurs), the big-budget rom-coms (Anyone But You), and the franchise anchors (The Housemaid). She understands that in the modern landscape, an actress must be a brand, a producer, and a risk-taker all at once. She is the last true movie star because she is the only one who seems to actually enjoy the game of being famous. And with Euphoria Season 3 and the Kim Novak biopic Scandalous on the horizon, she’s just getting started.
