Jennifer Lopez has starred in over thirty-five feature films during a career that spans four decades as an actor and a producer. With critical and commercial success across numerous genres, Lopez has been nominated for Screen Actors Guild , Golden Globes and Film Independent Spirit Awards , alongside accolades from the likes of the Palm Springs International Film Festival . [1] [2] [3] [4]
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Lopez also rose to become the highest paid actor of Latin descent in Hollywood, and one of the highest paid actors in all of Hollywood during the late-nineties and into the current millennium, making in the region of US$20 million per film role. [5] [6] She is also the richest actress in Hollywood, with an estimated net worth of $400 million (as of 2013). [7]
Lopez received her first high-profile job in 1992 as a Fly Girl dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color . Following her departure from the show in 1993, Lopez made two guest appearances on the television series South Central . She then appeared in the made-for-television movie Lost in the Wild (1993) and starred as Melinda Lopez in the short-lived television series Second Chances (1993), and its spin-off, Hotel Malibu (1994). Neither were well received. [8]
Lopez's first significant acting role was in Gregory Nava's multi-generational saga, My Family , which secured a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in 1996. Whilst a higher profile role came in the 1995 crime thriller, Money Train , alongside Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, which received mixed reviews and was not a financial success. [9] Her next two film roles were in Francis Ford Coppola's Jack , which starred Robin Williams, and alongside Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine in Bob Rafelson's postmodern film noir, Blood and Wine (1997). The former received mixed reviews while the latter was praised by Roger Ebert. [10] [11]
Lopez won her first leading role playing Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 biopic Selena . The film was a commercial and critical success and Lopez was Golden Globe -nominated for her performance as the late Tejano singer. [12] This film is often cited by critics as Lopez' breakout role. [13] [14] Later that year, Lopez starred as Terri Chavez in the film Anaconda , which found negative reviews from many critics, although it was a major box office success. [15] In 1998, Lopez starred alongside George Clooney in the crime film Out of Sight (1998). The film met with positive reviews and was a box office success. [16] In the same year, she also lent her voice to the animated film Antz .
Following the launch of her music career in 1999, Lopez continued acting in films, including the psychological thriller, The Cell , which Roger Ebert ranked among his top-ten films of the year 2000. The Cell grossed over $100 million worldwide and reached No. 1 at the domestic box office. [17] [18] In 2001, Lopez starred in the films The Wedding Planner and Angel Eyes , with both receiving mixed reviews, although Ebert gave high praise to Angel Eyes , as did Johnathan Ross on BBC Film... . [19]
With the simultaneous release of The Wedding Planner and her second album, J.Lo , Lopez became the first and only artist to have a number one film at the US box office and a number one album on the Billboard 200 at the same time. [5] In 2002, Lopez starred alongside Ralph Fiennes in the romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan , which received mixed reviews, but was a significant box office success, grossing over $160 million worldwide and reaching number one at the domestic box office. [20] [21]
In 2003 and 2004 Lopez starred alongside then-boyfriend Ben Affleck in the films Gigli and Jersey Girl . Critics wrote negatively of both films, [22] and Gigli is considered one of the worst films of all time. [23] Although this consensus was not shared by Roger Ebert in his review. [24]
Lopez, however, remained a major box office attraction, co-starring with Richard Gere in the 2004 film Shall We Dance? , which grossed over $170 million worldwide. [25] And in the 2005 romantic comedy, Monster-in-Law , alongside Jane Fonda, which went to No. 1 at the domestic box office and grossed over $155 million worldwide. [26]
Following the wide commercial success of these projects, Lopez starred alongside Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman in An Unfinished Life (2005), whilst a move into producing her own projects began in earnest with El Cantante (2006) and Bordertown . The latter in conjunction with Selena director, Gregory Nava.
In 2006 and 2007 Lopez also embarked upon executive producer roles on the television series South Beach and DanceLife , the film Feel the Noise , and the mini-series Jennifer Lopez Presents: Como Ama una Mujer .
Following the birth of her twins in 2008, Lopez took a break from her career. She made a return to cinema screens and television in 2010, starring in the film The Back-Up Plan , which went to No. 2 at the domestic weekend box office, [27] and making a guest appearance on an episode of the CBS sitcom , How I Met Your Mother . In March of 2024, "The Back-Up Plan" found resurgent popularity on Netflix when it became the No. 2 film worldwide on the streaming platform. [28]
In 2011 and 2012, during its tenth and eleventh seasons, Lopez was a judge on the reality television singing competition American Idol . She earned a reported $12 million for her first season and $20 million for her second season on the show. [29] In 2012, she launched ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen , a talent show created by Simon Fuller, that followed Lopez, Marc Anthony, and director-choreographer Jamie King as they travelled across 21 Latin American countries to find talent for a Las Vegas show.
In 2012, Lopez also co-starred alongside an ensemble cast consisting of Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Matthew Morrison and Dennis Quaid in the film What to Expect When You're Expecting . [30] Based on the book of the same name, the film was a moderate commercial success but received generally negative reviews from film critics. [31] Later that same year, Lopez also voiced the character, Shira , in the 2012 animated film, Ice Age: Continental Drift . This was the fourth film in the Ice Age franchise. It reached No. 1 at the domestic box office and ultimately grossed $879 million worldwide. [32] [33]
Next for Lopez was a co-starring role alongside Jason Statham in Parker , an adaptation of Donald Westlake's novel, "Flashfire." Lopez's role was expanded upon her involvement in the project, which bowed at 5th place on the domestic box office chart during its opening weekend, grossing over $7 million and ultimately earning over $48.5 million world-wide. [34]
Also in 2013, Lopez was instrumental in bringing the television series, The Fosters , to the screen, working as co-executive producer on the show, which ran for five seasons on Freeform . In 2018, a spin-off show, Good Trouble , was commissioned and also ran for five seasons, until 2024, with Lopez continuing as co-executive producer. The Fosters was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2014 GLAAD Media Award s, whilst Lopez was recognised with the GLAAD Vanguard Award . [35] Both The Fosters and Good Trouble were nominated for GLAAD Media Award s and Teen Choice Awards during their run, whilst The Fosters was also awarded the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming in 2015. [36]
Lopez next starred in 2015's The Boy Next Door , a low budget thriller made by Blumhouse for only $4 million, which Lopez co-executive produced. The film was a runaway success, debuting at No. 2 on the domestic box office behind American Sniper , with a gross of $14,910,105 and ultimately earning over $53 million worldwide. [37] [38]
Also in 2015, Lopez co-starred with Viola Davis in the thriller Lila & Eve and voiced the character Lucy Tucci in the DreamWorks Animation film, Home , which debuted at No. 1 domestic and grossed over $386 million worldwide. Lopez also recorded the song "Feel the Light" for the animated film's soundtrack, which she performed on American Idol .
Subsequently, after lending her voice to 2016's Ice Age: Collision Course , which grossed $408.5 million worldwide, Lopez continued to produce and starred in three seasons of the NBC crime series, Shades of Blue . The series, which was co-developed by Barry Levinson and featured Ray Liotta, debuted with a 1.8 share and 8.55 million viewers. [39] Lopez won a People's Choice Award in 2017 for her performance as detective Harlee Santos in the series, which lasted three seasons. [40]
Lopez also starred in the 2018 film Second Act , which was adapted from a treatment by Lopez's long-time producing partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and was directed by Peter Segal. "Second Act" peaked at No. 6 on the weekly domestic box office chart, spending three weeks inside the top-ten and ultimately grossing over $72 million worldwide. Lopez also recorded "Limitless", the theme song from "Second Act," and directed its music video.
Lopez next produced and starred in the 2019 film, Hustlers , which premiered to much acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival . Based on Jessica Pressler's 2015 New York Magazine article, "The Hustlers at Scores," Lopez was highly praised for her performance which was nominated for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Film Independent Spirit Awards. Lopez was also awarded the Palm Springs International Film Festival Spotlight Award, which was presented by the film's writer and director, Lorene Scafaria . Hustlers grossed over $157 million worldwide.
In 2022, Lopez produced and starred in Marry Me , alongside Owen Wilson and Maluma . "Marry Me" was simultaneously released in cinemas and on Peacock, and was highlighted by Comcast CEO and chairman Brian L. Roberts as a significant success. [41] [42] [43] "Marry Me" debuted in third place at the domestic weekend box office, behind Death on the Nile and Jackass Forever , and remained in the box office top-ten for three weeks. [44] In April 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that over six million Peacock accounts had streamed the film. [45] In June 2022, "Marry Me" also became a hit on Amazon Prime, where is was the number one film for two weeks. [46]
Also in 2022, Lopez starred in Shotgun Wedding , which, according to Nielsen Media Research, contributed towards Amazon Prime Video 's largest monthly usage increase, recording a 9.3% uptick in viewing (+0.2 share pts.) that was driven by both Shotgun Wedding and Prime Video original series, Jack Ryan . [47]
Lopez was also the subject of Amanda Micheli's 2022 Netflix documentary, Halftime , which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Whilst a first look deal with Netflix resulted in The Mother becoming the most-watched film on Netflix in 2023, and being highlighted by Variety as the third most-seen film of the year, behind Barbie and the Super Mario Bros. Movie . [48]
On February 16, 2024, Lopez released the album and musical project, This Is Me... Now , which included the film This Is Me... Now: A Love Story . Lopez co-wrote the film's screenplay along with Matt Walton and financed the $20 million project herself, when the studio originally set to distribute the film dropped out at the "eleventh hour". [49] Lopez collaborated on the film with director, Dave Meyers , who previously worked with Lopez on the music videos for "I'm Real" (Jennifer Lopez song) , I'm Gonna Be Alright , and "All I Have" (song).
Inspired by Lopez's own life, This Is Me... Now: A Love Story screened exclusively on Amazon Prime and was positively received by critics, [50] including Robbie Collin , who called the film an "astonishing pop-art tour de force" in his four star review for The Daily Telegraph . [51] Whilst the three star review in Empire Magazine praised the film's audacity and how earnest it is. [52]
This Is Me... Now: A Love Story debuted at No. 2 worldwide on Amazon Prime's top-ten movies. It subsequently became the No. 1 film worldwide on the streaming platform [53] after reaching the top position in over a dozen countries, including North America. [54] A documentary about the making of the film, entitled "The Greatest Love Story Never Told," was also a hit on Prime, reaching the top-ten worldwide in its own right. Made in conjunction with Artists Equity and featuring Ben Affleck, the documentary was instigated during pre-production of the film and after the album had been recorded. Whilst a concert special featuring Lopez performing songs from the album was subsequently released on Apple TV +.
Lopez next starred in the science fiction film Atlas , which was released on May 25 and went to number worldwide on Netflix, reaching the top position in 67 countries during its first 24 hours on release, [55] and 73 countries over its first weekend. [55] Atlas was viewed 28.2 million times during its first weekend on Netflix, accumulating 56.3 million viewing hours [56] The film cost a reported $100 million [57] with Lopez receiving $16.5 million for her role as star and producer. [58]
Continuing with a slate of projects in 2024, Lopez appeared in William Goldenberg's directorial debut, Unstoppable , which is based on the life of amateur wrestler, Anthony Robles. Premiering at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival , [59] Unstoppable received largely positive reviews, with Lopez being praised for her performance as Judy Robles, the mother of Anthony Robles [60] [61] [62]
"Unstoppable" was released in select theatres on December 6th and will screen exclusively on Amazon Prime from January 16th, 2025. On December 5th, Lopez was the recipient of the IndieWire Maverick Award for her performance in the movie. [63] Whilst Variety and Amazon Prime will present a Jennifer Lopez career retrospective, hosted by Variety's Senior Awards Editor, Clayton Davis, from December 12th to December 15th, 2024. The films Selena , Out of Sight , Hustlers , and Unstoppable will be screened during the event. Lopez will also take part in an exclusive Q&A on December 15th. [64]
Lopez will also be awarded with Variety's "Legend & Groundbreaker Award" at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival, [65] with Variety's vice-president of content, Steve Gaydos, stating: “Jennifer Lopez is more than a multi-threat talent, first breaking through decades ago as a dancer, then establishing herself as one of the music world’s top artists and one of the film world’s most popular and acclaimed actors . . . This year, she again reminds film fans of her acting prowess and range in the powerful, inspiring awards contender, Unstoppable .’”
Also announced and in development during 2024 is a new animated Bob the Builder movie, which Lopez will produce, with Anthony Ramos voicing the title character. [66] Distribution rights were won by Amazon MGM Studios after a bidding war that found interest from Netflix and Skydance Productions. [67]
Before this, however, Lopez will star in a new film adaptation of the 1993 stage play Kiss of the Spider Woman , which was directed by Bill Condon and will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival [68] .
In 2025, Lopez will also produce and star in Office Romance, which will co-star Brett Goldstein. The Office Romance screenplay was written by Goldstein and Joe Kelly. [69] Distribution rights for the film were won by Netflix after a "hot bidding war." Production is scheduled to begin in March 2025, with Ol Parker attached to direct. [70]
Lopez remains the only actor to have a number one film at the US box office and a number one album on the Billboard 200 at the same time. Lopez is a member of the Producers Guild of America and produces via her own production company, Nuyorican Productions.
