Regardless of your taste in music, odds are that you’re at least familiar with the name Sabrina Carpenter. As a Grammy-winning artist with multiple chart-topping hit songs under her belt, she’s become something of a household name, particularly over the last few years. But while you may think of her first and foremost as a popstar sensation, the truth is that Carpenter’s resume extends far beyond that and into the realm of both TV and movies.
From brief but memorable cameos to the TV series that jump started her career, Carpenter has displayed a real talent for acting throughout the years. But hey, you don’t just have to take my word for it. Here are some of Sabrina Carpenter’s best TV shows and movies that she’s been a part of where she’s delivered must-see performances.
Girl Meets World (2014)
Let’s start with the show that put Carpenter on the map and set her on the path to stardom. Carpenter starred on the Disney Channel’s Boy Meets World spinoff series, Girl Meets World, back in 2014 where she played Maya, the best friend of Corey and Topanga’s daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard). The show only lasted for three seasons before getting canceled, but throughout that time, Carpenter quickly garnered a following with her charismatic, rebellious nature and comedic timing. From there, Carpenter’s fame only continued to grow, so if you had to pinpoint where her road to success began, it’s right here.
Adventures in Babysitting (2016)
Serving as a remake to the 1987 film of the same name, the Disney Channel original movie centers around two rival babysitters, Jenny Parker (Carpenter) and Lola Perez (Sofia Carson), who are forced to put their animosity aside and work together in order to track down a lost child. It’s fun and entertaining and a surprisingly enjoyable remake, especially if you were a fan of the original.
The Hate U Give (2018)
Based on Angie Thomas’ 2017 young adult novel of the same name, the coming of age story follows the journey of Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) whose friend becomes a victim of police brutality, which makes national news. Carpenter plays the role of Hailey, one of Starr’s “friends.” (I put that in air quotes because the friendship feels superficial at best.) Carpenter isn’t exactly likable in the film so you won’t find yourself rooting for her character, but it’s a solid display of her acting chops and allows her to demonstrate some range in her capabilities that don’t get showcased that often. Regardless, the film covers a range of important issues and offers powerful insight into the Black Lives Matter movement, making the movie well worth your time.
Tall Girl (2019) & Tall Girl 2 (2022)
Given Carpenter’s short stature (a trait that she has proudly leaned into like the fierce queen that she is), you wouldn’t expect to find her in not one, but two Netflix films about a tall girl in high school struggling with her height. That’s because Carpenter isn’t the tall girl in question but rather said girl’s much shorter — and more popular — older sister, Harper. Neither film received great reviews with many finding the premise to be ridiculous and even problematic. But truth be told, it’s Carpenter’s standout performance that makes it worth your time and keeps you laughing from start to finish.
Work It (2020)
It may not have the massive fan backing of dance-related teen comedies like Bring It On or Center Stage, but Work It provides a fun viewing experience to fans of the genre. That’s in large part thanks to Carpenter, who stars as Quinn, a high school student who starts her own dance team of misfits in the hopes that it will help her get accepted into her dream college. (Those extracurriculars are no joke, guys.) It’s a great comedic role that the singer shines in and it also gives her the opportunity to showcase her dance moves. What can I say? Work It — well, it works.
Clouds (2020)
The film centers around Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a teenage boy who after receiving a terminal diagnosis decides to pursue his dream of becoming a musician with the help of his best friend, Sammy (Carpenter). The premise is based on a true story and serves as a powerful-yet-heartbreaking message on the importance of making every day count. Carpenter delivers an unforgettable performance, proving that she’s more just as capable of tackling serious roles as well as comedic ones. Not to mention, she gets to showcase her vocal talents throughout the film, which is always an added bonus.
Orange Is The New Black (2013)
Although Carpenter’s stint on the popular Netflix series was short-lived (as in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene), she still managed to make even that small cameo a must-see moment. The singer appeared in the first season during a flashback scene as Alex’s former classmate, Jessica Wedge, who was constantly mean to her and teased her for being poor. Needless to say, villainy has never looked so good.
Emergency (2022)
While gearing up for a night of partying in college, two black male students return to their dorm room only to find a white girl on the floor, breathing but unconscious. Having no idea how she got there, but very worried about how it would look if they were to call the police, they attempt to bring the mystery girl safely to a hospital without getting themselves in serious trouble in the process. As you can imagine… things don’t go as planned, especially when the girl’s sister, Maddy (played by Carpenter) tries to track her down. She may not be the star of the project, but the singer more than holds her own, making every scene she’s involved in memorable. The movie, in general, provides a nice blend of both humor and suspense, while highlighting the very real issues of police profiling and systemic racism that, unfortunately, still exist in today’s society.
Saturday Night Live (2024 and 2025)
Performing on a live sketch comedy series is not for the faint of heart, yet it’s something that Carpenter has seemed to thrive in. Though she’s never served as the show’s host (not yet, anyway), she did appear as the musical guest in the 2024 season finale and even dropped by Quinta Brunson’s opening monologue to sing about the joys of being short. She also performed “Homeward Bound” alongside Paul Simon for the SNL 50th anniversary special and popped up in a Domingo skit with Pedro Pascal. If all that doesn’t prove she’d make the perfect host then I don’t know what will.
A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter (2024)
While not technically a movie or TV show, this Netflix variety musical special was chock full of must-see performances with Carpenter as the ringleader. From special duets to surprise cameos all centered around the holiday season, Carpenter’s natural charisma and high energy is guaranteed to leave viewers walking away with some serious yuletide joy. It’s the gift that keeps on giving and something you can indulge in all year round.
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