This former Disney Channel star is currently at the top of the game. Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has had a remarkable run over the past few years. Since going viral for her “Nonsense” outros back in 2022, Carpenter eventually topped the charts and won the hearts of her fans with Short n’ Sweet. At the moment, she’s on track for a potential Grammy win with her latest album, Man’s Best Friend.
But long before she became one of this generation’s ultimate it girls, Carpenter was making her mark as an actress, transitioning from child star to Netflix favorite. Now, after a three-year hiatus from acting, Carpenter is set to return to the big screen in a new musical inspired by Lewis Caroll‘s Alice in Wonderland, marking her first leading role in a theatrical film. To celebrate her evolution from Disney darling to pop powerhouse, here are the eight best Sabrina Carpenter shows and movies, ranked.
8
‘Adventures in Babysitting’ (2016)
Adventures in Babysitting is a modern-day Disney Channel reinterpretation of the 1987 classic. Two teenage babysitters — Jenny (Carpenter) and Lola (Sofia Carson) — accidentally switch phones and end up responsible for two different sets of kids on a chaotic night in the city. Their misadventures include lost cars, run-ins with petty criminals, and an impromptu rap battle. While the remake still has the heart of the original film, it presents a simpler, safer story meant to appeal to a tween audience.
As a Disney movie, it’s entertaining enough to pull out a couple of mild laughs. Much of that has to do with Carpenter’s warmth, which brings a likable personality to Jenny, making her a charming leader from the start. But considering the legacy of its predecessor, the modern Adventures in Babysitting doesn’t live up to the same sharp wit and originality. With double the kids, the pacing feels rushed and cluttered, resulting in fewer thrills and standalone moments to cling to.
7
‘Tall Girl’ (2019)
Tall Girl introduces the larger-than-life Jodi Kreyman (Ava Michelle) to the world. If it isn’t obvious enough, the 16-year-old literally stands out because of her 6’1” height — something that she’s highly insecure about. All her life, she has wanted to be seen for more than her striking appearance. When a tall Swedish exchange student enters her life, Jodi starts to embrace who she is.
Accompanying Jodi is her sweet, pageant-winning sister Harper (Carpenter), who helps Jodi with her journey. For all its good intentions and purposes, Tall Girl is supposed to be an uplifting movie about accepting one’s own insecurities. But despite Harper’s humor and bubbliness — fitting of Carpenter’s personality — Jodi’s self-pity overshadows the movie. She may be fun and caring, but her pessimism constantly brings the mood down. Story-wise, the movie feels disjointed in places, with abrupt transitions that make everything feel more emotionally detached.
6
‘Tall Girl 2’ (2022)
Jodi Kreyman touches the skies again (metaphorically) in Tall Girl 2. Picking up after the events of the homecoming dance, Jodi is now more confident and popular than ever. She lands the lead role in the school musical and appears to have everything together. But the more she feels assured with herself, the louder her inner critic becomes. As Jodi struggles with new expectations, the film follows the teen as she toughens up her mental resilience.
While the sequel’s plot feels predictable, its message about overcoming one’s inner critic is surprisingly heartfelt. Insecurity here is not defined as one’s setback, but rather a strength. Considering its largely teen/young adolescent viewership, it’s an important message to convey, especially in a teen comedy. The sequel is an improvement from the first movie, and despite her limited screen time, Carpenter leaves an impression every time the camera’s on her.
5
‘Work It’ (2020)
It takes some high grades and dance floor moves to get into Duke. Work It follows Quinn Ackerman (Carpenter), a smart but awkward high school senior who lies about being on her school’s elite dance team to impress a college admissions officer. Determined to make her lie a reality, she forms her own ragtag dance crew with the help of her best friend Jasmine (Liza Koshy) and a retired dancer, Jake (Jordan Fisher). She might not be the most perfect dancer on the team, but Quinn is certainly the most passionate.
While Work It is predictable and occasionally rushed, the movie has an undeniably feel-good vibe to it. There’s limited time for character growth, but with everyone busting out dance moves, the fast pace seems justified. Carpenter’s chemistry with Fisher blooms organically, playing greatly into how Quinn transforms from an uptight student into someone who’s not afraid to embrace her flaws. Not only does Carpenter act in Work It, she also sings the soundtrack, with “Let Me Move You” being one of her highlight hits.
4
‘Girl Meets World’ (2014-2017)
Girl Meets World is the nostalgic sequel to Boy Meets World, reuniting Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel as Cory and Topanga. This time around, they’re married with children and living in New York City. While the show carries the same family-friendly tone and “lesson of the week” format as its predecessor, it feels much lighter and geared toward a younger Disney Channel audience.
Instead of Cory and Topanga, Girl Meets World follows their daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard), and her best friend, Maya (Carpenter). Together, they go through the perils of middle school, friendships, and secret crushes. Like any remake or sequel, the series doesn’t hold up to the standards held by the much more grounded Boy Meets World. Girl Meets World feels a little bit too silly, lacking a sense of realism that makes the story even more relatable to audiences. Despite that, Blanchard and Carpenter’s on-screen friendship feels sincere and engaging enough to carry the show.
3
‘Emergency’ (2022)
College friends Sean (RJ Cyler), Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins), and Carlos (Sebastian Chacon) plan to complete their “Legendary Tour” of frat parties but find an unconscious white girl, Emma (Maddie Nichols), in their house. Fearing racial bias, they avoid calling the police and try to take her to a hospital, leading to a night of unwanted events and even a police standoff. Though Emma survives, the night leaves her deeply traumatized by systemic racism and fear.
As a movie, Emergency starts in a lighthearted comedic tone, but it eventually evolves into a sharp, socially charged drama about race, privilege, and fear. Carpenter plays Maddy, the older sister of Emma, and spends much of the film frantically searching for her sister. Though the film struggles with the genre switches, Carpenter contributes to the movie’s conflict, as she believes the three college friends have kidnapped her.
2
‘The Hate U Give’ (2018)
Mirroring tragic real-life events, The Hate U Give tells the story of Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), a 16-year-old girl who lives in the mostly Black neighborhood of Garden Heights but attends a wealthy, mostly white private school. Her life is divided between two worlds until she witnesses the tragic police shooting of her childhood friend Khalil (Algee Smith), who is unarmed. As the sole witness, Starr must decide whether to speak out or remain silent to protect her family.
The Hate U Give garnered acclaim for its unapologetic portrayal of police violence and racial inequality. Besides the obvious discrimination, the film also questions unchecked microaggressions. Carpenter’s character Hailey embodies this. Despite being Starr’s friend, she’s guilty of subtle racism, which becomes the starting point for Starr’s awakening. Socially relevant and confrontational, The Hate U Give is resonant in today’s America.
1
‘The Short History of the Long Road’ (2019)
A testament to the spirit of wanderlust, The Short History of the Long Road follows teenage Nola (Carpenter) as she travels across the American West with her father, Clint (Steven Ogg). Forget airplanes and cushy hotels — the two spend their days on the road in an old, reliable van. Their nomadic life may be off the grid, but it’s fulfilling. Unfortunately, Nola is left alone to fend for herself after tragedy strikes. With only herself to count on, her travels bring her to New Mexico in search of her estranged mother.
Carpenter might be more famous for her more light-hearted, teen-friendly roles, which makes The Short History of the Long Road even more impressive. It’s a rare glimpse of Carpenter’s more mature and compelling performances. The film may be slow-paced, but it is deliberately done so to mimic the vastness of the American Southwest. While the plot could have pushed further emotionally, Carpenter delivers a quiet but profound exploration of grief and identity in Nowhere Land.
- Release Date
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June 15, 2020
- Director
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Ani Simon-Kennedy
- Writers
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Ani Simon-Kennedy
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