Gina Rodriguez: 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, According To IMDb
2022 is only a few months in, and Gina Rodriguez continues to thrive in Hollywood with the February 11 release of I Want You Back on Amazon Prime. With 60 acting credits on IMDb, Rodriguez has made a name for herself in TV and film. She has captivated hearts with her emotive and diverse performances, thriving in every role.
The evidence is in the reception of her work. She's won several awards, including a Golden Globe and an Imagen Award for Best Actress in Jane the Virgin. Several more of her movies and shows have achieved rave reviews and high ratings. Projects such as short films and minor guest appearances are not considered.
10 Kajillionaire (2020) - 6.4
Kajillionaire is an independent film available with a HBO Max subscription, about a family of thieves who would do just about anything for a few hundred dollars. When they cross paths with a stranger (Gina Rodriguez,) the daughter (Evan Rachel Wood,) finds there’s more to life than stealing for her parents. Gina Rodriguez plays Melanie, the young Puerto Rican stranger who’s recruited by the family.
Melanie is a LGBTQ+ character. Rodriguez and Wood play off one another to portray a flirty, innocent, and sometimes strange relationship between their characters. Melanie’s layers are peeled back to reveal someone who cares about people, has a rocky relationship with her mom, and won't compromise her body for someone else's pleasure. Kajillionaire went on to win the Tom Poe Award for Best LGBT Film.
9 Elena Of Avalor (2016 - 2020) - 6.5
Elena of Avalor is an animated series about the first Latina princess within the House of Mouse. Elena (Aimee Carrero) is a natural-born leader with magical powers which aid her as she protects her home. Gina Rodriguez is introduced in season 2 as Marisa, a sirena princess who is determined to end a years-long conflict between the humans and sirens. She teams up with Elena to save Avalor and heal the strain between their two species.
Elena of Avalor is one of the many animated projects Gina Rodriguez has worked on. She's found a love for animation, telling GoldenGlobes.com that she loves "playing pretend in a space where you are solely using your imagination." Gina praised Elena of Avalor for its long-overdue Latina representation, and when it was announced she would join the cast for a few episodes, excitement was expressed all over the internet.
8 Smallfoot (2018) - 6.6
Smallfoot is a fun animated musical about a yeti named Migo (Channing Tatum,) who goes on a journey to prove the existence of humans to his community. Along the way, he finds friendship and builds trust in a human named Percy (James Corden.) Gina Rodriguez plays Kolka, one of the yetis who believes in the existence of humans. When conflict arises, she remains steadfast in her fight for truth.
Like her character on Elena of Avalor, Kolka is a headstrong mythical creature who is willing to fight for what she believes in. It's not hard to see why Gina accepted this role. The movie's message of fighting for change amid traditionalist ideals is something Gina herself tries to do. Smallfoot went on to win the Truly Moving Picture Award that year.
7 I Want You Back (2022) - 6.6
Starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate, I Want You Back follows two recently dumped people who work together to try and get their exes back. As things go awry, they learn much about themselves and each other. Gina Rodriguez plays Peter’s ex-girlfriend, Anne. She dumps Peter (Day) because she feels he is holding her back.
Gina's role as Anna is complex, as many of her roles rightfully are, but this film takes it to a whole new level. None of the characters in I Want You Back are absolute heroes or villains in this story. Rodriguez played this role well. She was able to blend comedy with sincerity and deliver a character who wants everything to be perfect in an imperfect world and sacrifices the man she loved for years to try and get it.
6 Ferdinand (2017) - 6.7
Ferdinand is a modern take on a classic Disney character from the twentieth century, a bull (John Cena) who doesn’t like to fight. He must bring everyone together and lead them all on a journey to save their lives. Gina Rodriguez plays Una, a hedgehog who helps Ferdinand and his friends escape captivity. Una appears to be prickly, but she cares about her pals and is determined to protect them.
Like many of Gina's other projects, Ferdinand offers a beautiful message for the actress to get behind. The film tells its audience that it's okay to be different and it's important to ignore the critics and remain true to oneself. Rodriguez can relate to this message. Living her life in the limelight, she is criticized for everything she does, but she keeps on going. Ferdinand went on to win a Humanitas award for Best Family Feature Film.
5 Annihilation (2018) - 6.8
Annihilation is a science-fiction thriller about a dangerous expedition into a quarantined area inhabited by a mutating species. When Lena (Natalie Portman) is visited by her ill husband after years apart, she is whisked into a secret government operation that brings deadly consequences. Gina plays Anya, one of the women who explores the quarantined area.
Among all of Gina's best movies and TV shows, Annihilation stands out as her most atypical film yet. Her role as Anya is far gone from her usual peppy characters, allowing her to show audiences the wide range of her acting talent. Annihilation went on to win seventeen awards, including the Golden Carp Film Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year and the Dorian Award for Visually Striking Film of the Year.
4 Deepwater Horizon (2016) - 7.1
Based on the 2010 oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico, Deepwater Horizon gives the world a chilling look at the timeline of events that led up to the tragedy. Gina plays Andrea, a real person who worked on the oil rig and survived the explosion that took many lives. Rodriguez stars alongside primed action star, Mark Wahlberg, who is no stranger to films based on real events.
Deepwater Horizon can be uncomfortable for audiences to watch, as many reckless mistakes were made that day prior to the oil spill. Gina's heartbreaking performance adds to the inevitable emotion audiences will feel. Her character, while experiencing something unimaginable, offers a sense of hope. Deepwater Horizon has won four awards, including two from the Visual Effects Society.
3 Big Mouth (2017 -) - 8
Big Mouth is an animated Netflix show starring Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, known for its controversial depiction of the growing body and mind. Gina’s character, Gina Alvarez, was introduced at the beginning of season 2 as one of the first girls in school to develop breasts.
Gina Rodriguez is known for choosing roles and projects that go against societal norms, and Big Mouth certainly fits that description. Her character gives developing young ladies a person to look up to and adults, someone to reminisce with. Big Mouth has gone on to win seven awards, including an Annie Award and an Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting.
2 Carmen Sandiego (2019 - 2021)
Based on a video game series released in 1985, Carmen Sandiego follows a thief who uses her tricks for good, fighting the evil origination that trained her. Gina Rodriguez plays the title character and will continue to bring Carmen to life in an upcoming live action special. Finn Wolfhard co-stars as the Player.
Carmen Sandiego is a brilliant animated series adored by families. In addition to the frequent geography lessons, the show offers many life lessons that kids and adults alike can take to heart. Gina herself lives one of the first lessons taught in the series. Just as Carmen uses her thieving skills for good, Gina uses her platform to raise awareness of important issues.
1 Jane The Virgin (2014 - 2019) - 8
Gina Rodriguez may be best known for her titular role as Jane Villanueva in Jane the Virgin. The story begins as Jane is accidentally artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant with her boss’ baby, despite being a virgin. Her life becomes increasingly more complicated as she must navigate the struggles of motherhood and endure revelations worthy of a telenovela.
Jane the Virgin holds a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, cheesiness, and ridiculousness. The show doesn't take itself too seriously which works in its favor. Jane was the role that allowed Gina to show the entertainment industry what she was capable of, and she did just that. Her expressive acting caught the eye and continues to catch the eye of viewers everywhere.