Over the last ten years or so,Alexandra Daddario has established herself as one of the recognizable new talents on the scene. Across this last decade and change, she’s kept herself busy between a wide range of projects, from massive blockbusters with big movie stars, to leading indie dramas and genre flicks.
Whether you count yourself among a new wave of fans after binge-watchingThe White Lotus, or are someone who has admired her for years, there is more than enough room for all who want to celebrate a star who seems to just be getting warmed up.
12’When We First Met' (2018)
Appeared as Avery Martin
Groundhog Dayis turned into a Netflix rom-com about the antiquated “friendzone” inWhen We First Met, whereAdam DeVine’s Noah repeats the same Halloween party over and over again where he meets Avery (Daddario). In the original timeline, Avery had “friendzoned” Noah that night, and three years later, was engaged. Noah is trying to change his fate so he can be with Avery.
What makes this film different tothe traditionalGroundhog Dayformula, though, is that after each cycle, we see the implications of each decision he makes as he wakes up years into the future. While many of the concepts and jokes are a little outdated in this film, DeVine puts on his usual performance to make it a fun watch. Despite Daddario playing a fairly one-dimensional character,we see some of her charm at work, something that would later define most of her rom-com rolesand is played against in her more serious ones.
When We First Met
11’Bereavement' (2010)
Appeared as Allison Miller
Before she garnered popularity as a potential scream queen inTexas Chainsaw 3D, Daddario led another slasher horror in 2010:Bereavement. The film was the second installment in directorStevan Mena’s trilogy, as it provided a backstory to the first film’s villain. It follows a serial killer who abducts a young boy with a medical condition that prevents him from feeling pain and turns him into an unwilling accomplice as he kills young women in a town.
Daddario plays Allison, who spies the young boy through a window and tries to help him, leading to the inevitable bloody cat-and-mouse hunt between her and the killer. Though the film was critically panned,we see precursors in Daddario’s performance that would later make her a talented horror leadinTexas Chainsaw 3D, as she easily relays fear and pain throughout this ruthless and tense horror.
Bereavement
10’Texas Chainsaw 3D' (2013)
Appeared as Heather Miller
As part of a long-running and infamous horror franchise,Texas Chainsaw 3Dcertainly did notlive up to its predecessorsand was lambasted in every way. But some still found some perverse enjoyment in the film, turning it into one of those “dumb fun” films you can turn your mind off to. Daddario takes the lead as Heather, who goes on a road trip with her friends (and an obligatory hitchhiker) to see the house she unexpectedly inherited. If you’ve ever watched one of these movies, you’ll know who was secretly hiding in the house, waiting patiently with his buzzing chainsaw.
Though the movie cycles through clunky tropes and an un-scary atmosphere,Daddario is one of the film’s main draws, especially after the chilling twist. Her character is slightly more complex than a regular slasher victim, and she plays the role well, conveying Heather’s internal struggle while still fighting for her life. It may not have crowned Daddario as a scream queen, but it has opened the path to more twisted roles like inWhy Women KillorWe Summon the Darkness.
Texas Chainsaw 3D
9’Lost Girls & Love Hotels' (2020)
Appeared as Margaret
A little too preoccupied with trying to sound existential and appear sensual than to be much of either,Lost Girls & Love Hotelsis a 2020 erotic dramathat isn’t quite as smart or exotic as it thinks it is. However,it’s an example of something several other movies that rank a bit higher on this list: Daddario is ready for bigger things.
While she’s had luck in girl-next-door-type roles, rom-coms, and as the occasional Final Girl, this sexual drama of a woman spending her night aimlessly traversing Tokyo’s nightlife looking for love connections is her at her most physically and emotionally vulnerable. Often one of a larger ensemble, here it’s certainly her show, and while the movie itself is a mixed bag, it’s certainly worth watching for anyone interested in seeing Daddario challenging herself.
Lost Girls and Love Hotels
8’Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief' (2010)
Appeared as Annabeth
More successful than a lot of YA blockbusters but not quite as big asHarry PotterorTwilight, the quality of the firstPercy Jacksonmovie falls into a similar kind of category: Better than many, but not as good as the best. The first of the two movies to adaptRick Riordan’s series of books moves at such a speedy pace that it sacrifices plenty of character development, but when it gets going, this family-friendly adventure in Greek mythology moves quickly and finds the fun with some adventure and even a bit of camp (seeUma Thurman’s Medusa).
Daddario is sort of the “Hermione” of the group as Annabeth, a daughter of Athena, who trades her Harry Potter comparison’s intellectual genius for combat mastery. An early, fun role for Daddario that’s neither her best movie nor even her best blockbuster, butshe delivered more than enough to solidify her soon-to-be star statusin a series that perhaps deserved a stronger cinematic outing.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
7’San Andreas' (2015)
Appeared as Blake Gaines
Who saysRoland Emmerich gets to have all the funmaking our planet crumble via natural disasters?Brad Peytonstakes his claim as a maestro of catastrophic destruction with thisDwayne Johnsonvehicle, in which Daddario plays his daughter, Blake.
While this is certainly a show belonging to the hulking lead,Daddario fits into her role nicely as a young woman shaken by the destruction she’s caught in the middle of, but keeps a cool, methodical head as she leads her and her companions to safety as best she can. If you’re someone who loves Daddario or destruction on a monumental scale à laTheDay After Tomorrow, I would suggest this as a good one to check out.
San Andreas
6’Lost Transmissions' (2019)
Appeared as Dana Lee
Much likeLost Girls & Love Hotels,this indie drama with Daddarioflew under the radar in 2020 and is also an imperfect drama. And yet, this one is a far more compelling watch thanks to outstanding leading work fromJuno Templeas a songwriter living in California, andSimon Peggas her friend suffering from relapsing schizophrenia.
While not as big a role as those two, Daddario still gets to flex a bit more range than she has in the past as aKaty Perry-esque pop star named Dana Lee, a diva who acts as a potential gateway into the upper echelon of the music industry that Temple’s character must contend with, all while trying to get Pegg’s character the help he needs. Daddario’s role both makes use of her beauty and likable allure, while at the same time giving her room to be a bit abrasive, both playing into roles she’s fit into before while simultaneously subverting them. An imperfect film with a trio of excellent performances,it’s further proof Daddario is ready for some of those meatier roles.
Lost Transmissions
5’Wildflower' (2022)
Appeared as Joy
Wildflowerwas based on filmmakerMatt Smukler’s unreleased documentary about his niece, who was a neurotypical teenager looking after her neurodivergent parents.Kiernan Shipka takes the leadin this film, which was screened at TIFF, as Bea, and delivers a nuanced, mature, and compelling performance. It opens up with Bea in a comatose state, narrating how she got to this point as she talks us through the ups and downs of her life.
Daddario enters this film as Bea’s concerned and wealthy aunt, who believes Bea’s parents shouldn’t be raising a child.Though she is far more understated in this role, it adds to the complexity of this film, which enthralls us with its slice-of-life, quotidian atmosphere. The coming-of-age story may not be anything new, but Shipka’s captivating performance and Bea’s lifestyle all make for a thoughtful and sharp piece, one that fans of the actors will certainly enjoy.
Wildflower
4’Superman: Man of Tomorrow' (2020)
Appeared as Lois Lane
One entry in a long line of excellent movies in theDC Animated Movie Universe,Superman: Man of Tomorrowtakes a different approach to the origins of Clark Kent/Superman (voiced byDarren Criss) as he learns to become the Man of Steel in Metropolis. Having to confront incoming alien threats like Lobo as he discovers his own past, Supes sometimes learns the painful way what it means to be Earth’s protector. Voicing reporter Lois Lane,Daddario gets to voice a take on the character who is also rising in the ranks of the journalism world—even if it means being ostracized by fellow Daily Planet workers.
Daddario voices her unfettered drive, giving that needed tenaciousness, spunk, and resilience when on the job, and that bit of budding flirtation between scenes with her and Clark. The sheer nature of the movie means it probably won’t go down as one of her most notable works, but she does admirable work breathing life into an iconic character in an excellent Superman tale.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow
Daily Planet intern Clark Kent takes learning-on-the-job to new extremes when Lobo and Parasite set their sights on Metropolis.
3’We Summon the Darkness' (2019)
Appeared as Alexis
Genre flicks likeBereavementandTexas Chainsaw 3Dhave found Daddario outrunning one killer or another, butWe Summon the Darknessgives her the chanceto be the one doing the hunting and have a blast doing it. Taking that kind of charm and humor that have made her a fine fit for some rom-coms, Daddario goes bonkers as a member of a cult looking to murder some poor fools and make it look like the work of Satan worshippers.
Playing into the gonzo humor of the situation and the character, Daddario and castmatesMaddie Hasson,Johnny Knoxville, and othersmake for a wild ride of a midnight thriller that sparks a bit of madness into the home invasion genre.
