Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix’s Wednesday and Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, has faced a significant setback in her career as her latest movie, Miller’s Girl, bombed at the box office and received harsh reviews from critics. The film, which also stars Martin Freeman, is a psychological thriller about a young writer who gets involved with her teacher.
A dismal debut OF Jenna Ortega and a low score
According to Box Office Mojo, Miller’s Girl, written and directed by Jade Halley Bartlett, opened in US theaters on January 26, 2024, and made only $321,000 in its first weekend. This marks Jenna Ortega’s lowest-ever domestic opening weekend and her second-lowest opening per-screen average after her 2018 indie film Saving Flora.
The film also failed to impress the critics, who gave it a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Ortega’s worst score ever and one of Freeman’s lowest scores in over a decade. The critics slammed the film for its weak script, poor direction, and implausible plot.
The Wall Street Journal called the film “a work of glaring artifice” and said, “Only a generous grader would award this script anything better than a D-plus.” The New York Times said the film was “too vapid and silly to do much besides titillate” and “being touted as a psychological thriller, but it’s not.”
Surprising praise and a hopeful future
Despite the hostile reception, the filmmaker Bartlett praised Jenna Ortega for her performance and said she was “totally, totally surprised” by her talent and charm. She told Screen Rant that Jenna Ortega was “hysterical” and “very funny” in the film and that she “disarmed” her during their Zoom meeting.
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Bartlett also said that she hoped the film would find its audience and was proud of her work. She wanted to tell a story about “the power of creativity and the power of words” and that her writing experiences inspired her.
Jenna Ortega, who has not commented on the film’s failure, is still one of Hollywood’s most popular and promising young stars. She has a loyal fan base and a diverse portfolio of projects, ranging from comedy to drama to horror. Jenna Ortega is best known for her roles as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, Harley Diaz in Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, and Ellie Alves in Netflix’s You.
Jenna Ortega is also set to star in several upcoming films, such as Madame Web, a spin-off of the Spider-Man franchise; Fallout, a drama about the aftermath of a school shooting; and Yes Day 2, a sequel to the Netflix family comedy. She is also an activist for women’s rights, mental health, and environmental issues.
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