Jennifer Lopez movies span more than three decades and range from biographical dramas to romantic comedies and action thrillers. Born in the Bronx on July 24, 1969, Lopez first gained national attention as a dancer on In Living Color before transitioning to film. Her breakthrough came with Selena in 1997, and she has since built one of the most varied filmographies of any modern entertainer.
Early Career and Breakthrough in the 1990s
Lopez made her film debut in My Little Girl in 1986, but her first notable supporting roles arrived in the mid-1990s with My Family and Money Train. The turning point came when she was cast as the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla in Selena (1997), a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. That same year, she appeared opposite Sean Penn and Nick Nolte in Oliver Stone’s U Turn.
In 1998, Lopez starred alongside George Clooney in Out of Sight, Steven Soderbergh’s crime romance adapted from Elmore Leonard’s novel. The film received widespread critical praise and earned two Academy Award nominations, while Lopez won an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Crossover Role. She also voiced Azteca in the animated film Antz that year.
Rise to Romantic Comedy and Drama Success in the 2000s
The new millennium brought Lopez her first major romantic comedy lead in The Wedding Planner (2001) with Matthew McConaughey. She followed it with the psychological thriller The Cell (2000) and the drama Angel Eyes (2001). In 2002, she starred in Enough as a woman who fights back against an abusive husband, and in Maid in Manhattan as a hotel maid mistaken for a socialite.
The mid-2000s brought both hits and misfires. Shall We Dance? (2004) paired her with Richard Gere in a ballroom dancing romance, while Monster-in-Law (2005) cast her opposite Jane Fonda in a comedy about a terrifying future mother-in-law. Less successful were Gigli (2003) and Jersey Girl (2004), both co-starring Ben Affleck. Gigli earned a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and became a notorious critical failure. She also starred in the biographical drama El Cantante (2006) with then-husband Marc Anthony and the border drama Bordertown (2007).Jennifer Lopez Quick Bio
Career Transitions in the 2010s
Lopez returned to romantic comedy with The Back-up Plan (2010) and appeared in the ensemble comedy What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012). She voiced Shira in two Ice Age sequels, Continental Drift (2012) and Collision Course (2016). The thriller Parker (2013) cast her alongside Jason Statham, while The Boy Next Door (2015) became one of her lowest-rated films.
The turning point of the decade came with Hustlers (2019), Lorene Scafaria’s crime drama based on a true story about strippers who defraud Wall Street clients. Lopez played Ramona and also served as a producer. The performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, her second nomination and first in 22 years. Hustlers holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of her best-reviewed films.
Recent and Current Work in the 2020s
Lopez opened the decade with the romantic comedy Marry Me (2022), in which her pop star character marries a stranger played by Owen Wilson. She followed it with Shotgun Wedding (2022) opposite Josh Duhamel and the documentary Halftime (2022). In 2023, she starred in the action thriller The Mother as an assassin protecting the daughter she gave up.
This Is Me… Now: A Love Story (2024) was a narrative-driven musical film accompanying her album of the same name. Later that year, she starred in the sci-fi action film Atlas with Simu Liu and Sterling K. Brown. Her most recent release is Office Romance (2026), a romantic comedy directed by Ol Parker.
Television Work
While Lopez is primarily known for film, she has had notable television roles. She starred as Detective Harlee Santos in the NBC series Shades of Blue from 2016 to 2018. She also appeared in Will & Grace and How I Met Your Mother. Her early television work included the sketch comedy In Living Color from 1991 to 1993 and the short-lived series Hotel Malibu and Second Chances.
Awards and Recognition
Despite her commercial success, Lopez has not won a competitive Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, or Golden Globe. She has been nominated for two Golden Globes, for Selena and Hustlers, and two Grammys. In a 2023 acceptance speech for the Elle Women in Hollywood Icon Award, she addressed this directly. “I don’t have an Oscar. And I don’t have a Golden Globe. And I don’t have a Grammy or a SAG Award or a BAFTA or a Critics Choice,” she said, per Variety.
Her films have received mixed critical reception overall. Out of Sight remains her highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes at 94%, followed by Hustlers at 88%. Several of her romantic comedies and thrillers, including Gigli, The Boy Next Door, and The Wedding Planner, have received ratings below 20%.
How to Watch
Lopez’s films are distributed across multiple streaming platforms, and availability changes frequently by region. Her recent releases, including Atlas and The Mother, are available on Netflix. Hustlers and Marry Me can typically be found on major rental platforms. For her older films, availability depends on licensing agreements that vary by country and change over time. Checking a streaming aggregator for your region will give the most current information.
Conclusion
Jennifer Lopez has built a film career defined by range and persistence. From her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough in Selena to her career resurgence with Hustlers, she has worked across genres and eras without settling into a single mold. While critical reception has varied widely, her willingness to take on diverse roles from romantic comedies to action thrillers has kept her relevant for nearly 30 years. Her continued output in the 2020s suggests that her filmography is far from complete.1. What is Jennifer Lopez’s highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes?
Her 1998 crime romance Out of Sight holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it her best-reviewed film. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and co-starring George Clooney, it received widespread critical praise and remains a career highlight.
2. Has Jennifer Lopez ever been nominated for an Oscar?
No, she has never received an Academy Award nomination. Despite strong buzz for Hustlers in 2019, she was not nominated. In her 2022 documentary Halftime, she admitted, “I really started to think I was gonna get nominated. I got my hopes up because so many people were telling me I would be. And then it didn’t happen”.
3. What was Jennifer Lopez’s biggest box office opening?
Hustlers (2019) had the biggest opening weekend of her live-action career, debuting to $33.2 million** domestically. It went on to gross over **$157 million worldwide and was the most successful opening in STX Entertainment’s history at the time.
4. Which role did Jennifer Lopez regret turning down?
She turned down the lead in Unfaithful (2002), a role that ultimately went to Diane Lane. Lopez explained on The Howard Stern Show that she rejected it because she thought “the script wasn’t good,” but director Adrian Lyne “made it great.” Lane earned an Oscar nomination for her performance.
5. What is Jennifer Lopez’s most recent movie?
Her latest film is Office Romance (2026), a romantic comedy released on Netflix. She stars as CEO Jackie Cruz opposite Brett Goldstein, who also co-wrote the film. It was directed by Ol Parker and is available exclusively on the streaming platform.
