HBO’s Euphoria made major waves last summer upon its debut and quickly became one of the biggest small screen hits of 2019. The gritty series won the attention of fans from all over the world for giving audiences an uncensored and controversial look at the lives of teenagers living in suburbia today. Along with its captivating storyline and a stellar soundtrack, Euphoria essentially shot its relatively unknown cast into the spotlight overnight.
Besides Zendaya’s already A-list status, the hit series has turned the likes of Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, and Storm Reid into the industry’s biggest names. Additionally, the show marks Hunter Schafer’s first acting role, who beforehand found her rise to fame as a transgender fashion model, along with Angus Cloud who plays drug dealer Fezco.
While we patiently wait for season 2 to arrive, production has currently been put on hold indefinitely due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, below are 10 films and shows starring the cast you need to see.
Zendaya - The OA
For those looking for something a little more out there, Netflix’s sci-fi series The OA will hit the spot. The original series centers on a woman named Prairie aka “the OA,” played by Brit Marling, who has returned to her home after being missing for years.
In the second season, Zendaya surprised fans by starring as a supporting character named Fola. Although she only appears in a few episodes, her character helps a private detective in finding a teen that has gone missing after playing an online game.
Along with Zendaya, Alexa Demie also shows up in one of the episodes. Unfortunately, the pair do not share any common scenes.
Alexa Demie - Waves
Backed by indie powerhouse A24, Waves is a coming-of-age story that centers on a suburban African American family in South Florida. Full of beautiful cinematography and a soundtrack composed by Academy Award winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the film’s main selling point is its emotionally heavy story, anchored by eloquent performances from Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Euphoria’s Alexa Demie.
Waves made its way through the film festival circuit, having debuted at the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, and can now be stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Mid90s
Alexa Demie also stars in another one of A24’s coming-of-age tales, Mid90s. Released in 2018, the film marks Jonah Hill’s directorial debut and tells the story of 13-year-old Stevie "Sunburn," portrayed by Sunny Suljic, and a group of young skateboarders as they navigate through life’s obstacles in 1990s Los Angeles.
In Mid90s, Demie plays cool girl Estee, a love interest of Sunburn who sports very ‘90s nostalgic outfits. In addition to Demie, the film also stars real-life skater Na-kel Smith and was co-produced by Mikey Alfred of American skateboarding company and clothing brand Illegal Civilization.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Before portraying Cassie, a teen with an infamous sexual past, on Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney was playing a character on the extreme opposite side of the scale: a pious child-bride named Eden on The Handmaid’s Tale. During Sweeney’s reoccurring role on the show, she marries Nick Blaine, who is played by Max Minghella, but unfortunately doesn’t find her happy ending.
Based on Margaret Atwood’s bestselling classic of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian future where woman have lost all their rights. The Handmaid’s Tale can be streamed on Hulu.
Sharp Objects
Sweeney can also be seen in HBO’s Sharp Objects—an eight-part miniseries based off of Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn’s debut novel of the same name—where she portrays a troubled teen named Alice. Although Sweeny only has a small role, her character shares a room in a psychiatric facility with Amy Adams’ lead character Camille Preaker and manages to leave a devastating impact on her.
Sharp Objects is a slow-burn mystery filled with psychological thrills and horror-laced imagery. Along with Sweeney and Adams, the limited series stars Patricia Clarkson.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Besides her multiple small-screen projects, Sweeney starred in the big-budget flick Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Acting as Quentin Tarantino’s penultimate film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a love letter to the long-gone Hollywood of the 1960s and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as fictional western TV star Rick Dalton and his loyal stuntman, Cliff Booth. Sweeney plays Snake, the youngest girl of the Manson family cult.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is chock full of signature Tarantino troupes such as his unique way of storytelling, edits, and humor.
The Kissing Booth
Jacob Elordi seems to have shot into the mainstream limelight after scoring the role of Nate, the villainous high school quarterback and alpha male of Euphoria, where he was able to showcase some of his best acting chops in the later episodes of the season.
To catch one of Elordi’s earlier projects, there's the Netflix film The Kissing Booth, where he plays opposite then-girlfriend Joey King. The film gave Elordi his first big break, and he will be reprising his role as Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth 2, which is expected to release later this year.
When They See Us
Albeit a small role, Storm Reid, who plays Rue’s 13-year-old sister Gia in Euphoria, appeared in the first and fourth chapter of Ava DuVernay’s powerful limited series When They See Us as Korey’s Wise’s girlfriend Lisa.
Based on the true story of the Central Park Five, a group of five young black boys from Harlem who were wrongfully incarcerated for a crime they did not commit, DuVernay powerfully touches upon racism, political injustice, and the broken system. All four episodes of When They See Us can be streamed on Netflix. You can also catch Reid in DuVernay’s adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time.
Divorce
Barbie Ferreira’s portrayal as Kat Hernandez on Euphoria is the model’s first main cast acting gig. Before landing the coveted role of a body-conscious teen exploring her sexuality, Ferreira was mostly modeling, but she did have a small stint on the second season of HBO’s Divorce as the character Ella, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church. who play a middle-aged couple amid a divorce.
You can also catch Ferreira in a 10-episode digital series for VICE called “How to Behave,” which teaches etiquette, and Teen Vogue’s “Body Party,” which touches on body positivity.
The Hate U Give
Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give stars Algee Smith as Khalil Harris, the protagonist’s (played by Amandla Stenberg) childhood best friend. The film follows the aftermath of Stenberg’s character Starr as she witnesses her best friend being killed by a police shooting. The Hate U Give is available to stream on HBO Go.
In Euphoria, Smith plays Cassie’s boyfriend Chris McKay, a college football player looking to become pro. You can also catch him in the film Detroit which also stars Star Wars’ John Boyega.