When you think of iconic actresses from the 2000s, Jessica Alba immediately comes to mind. After staring her career as a child actress appearing in shows like The Secret World of Alex Mack and shooting commercials for companies like Nintendo, Alba moved onto supporting roles in films like Never Been Kissed and Idle Hands. Her big break came when she was cast as Max Guevera in the TV series Dark Angel, created by filmmaker James Cameron. Soon after, Alba became a household name, celebrated both for being one of the most beautiful women alive and for proudly claiming to be a feminist long before it was widely accepted to be an outspoken one in Hollywood.
Though Alba’s days starring in Marvel blockbusters are over — for now — she’s kept herself busy in the past decade with running her own company (The Honest Company, which she founded in 2011), being a mother to her three children, and raising money for charities — all while finding the time to star in shows like L.A.’s Finest. Over 30 years into her career, there’s no doubt Alba’s still got it and it’s about time we celebrated her by sharing our 10 favorite Jessica Alba movies and TV shows.
10. Stretch (2014)
The 2014 film Stretch follows Patrick Wilson as down on his luck limo driver Kevin “Stretch” Brzyzowski who can’t seem to get anything right. After his girlfriend dumps him, Kevin, a failed actor (it’s Hollywood after all) struggles to break free of his vices, including a $6000 gambling debt owed to a man named Ignacio. One day, Ignacio demands Stretch pay up by midnight or else Stretch will lose his life. With the help of the sympathetic limousine company receptionist, Charlie (Jessica Alba), Stretch winds up doing the bidding of millionaire Roger Karos (played by an uncredited Chris Pine) in the hopes of earning a large tip, but his orders become more illegal and surreal as the night goes on. Add in some unexpected celeb cameos and the ghost of a successful limo driver, and you get the wonderfully chaotic Stretch. If you’re a fan of one night comedies and Joe Carnahan’s (Smokin’ Aces, The A-Team) writing, you’ll love this surrealist comedy.
9. Honey (2003)
In 2003’s Honey, Alba plays the titular Honey, an aspiring choreographer who teaches a hip hop class at the community center her mother runs. Honey’s goals are noble; she hopes to help keep the children in her neighborhood off the streets through dance, by opening her own studio. When fame and fortune inevitably come calling (I mean, look at her dance skills), will Honey be able to resist the big leagues and stay true to herself? Looking back as an adult, it’s easy to write off Honey for being cheesy, derivative, and unoriginal — and yes, these are valid criticisms — but for many young kids growing up in the early 2000s, Honey was their first introduction a classic Hollywood formula. Movie cliches have been around for as long as stories have been told, but there’s a reason these tropes continue to show up in media throughout the ages; while predictable, they simply work.
8. Dark Angel (2000-2002)
Playing the genetically engineered super-human Max Guevara in the short-lived Dark Angel was Alba’s big break and ensured she became an actress to watch. Fresh off the success of The Terminator and Titanic, James Cameron made his television debut with the help of screenwriter Charles H. Eglee, and the sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and feminist series was an immediate hit. Dark Angel is set in the far-off year of 2019 and follows Guevara – a runaway super-soldier who is searching for her fellow genetically engineered siblings while attempting to live a normal life. The show expands on the Y2K terror from the turn of the millennium by exploring a decidedly low-tech future; after Guevara and her siblings escape the corrupt military they call home in 2009, terrorists remotely destroy most computer and communication systems by using a very long-range electromagnetic pulse. Alba is great as the kickass Guevara, and it’s a shame we couldn’t see her spend more time in this character as Dark Angel was cancelled after its second season.
7. Awake (2007)
Awake is a suspenseful thriller with a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes — 23 percent as of writing — but don’t let that stop you from watching, especially if you love a good conspiracy film. Fresh off 2005’s Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Hayden Christensen stars as a young billionaire named Clay who elopes with his mother Lilith’s (Lena Olin) personal assistant, the young and beautiful Sam Lockwood (Alba) shortly before he undergoes a dangerous heart transplant. When put under anesthesia, Clay realizes he is still aware of everything happening and that’s all you need to know before watching this film. Unfortunately, the film’s trailers and promotional materials spoil some crucial plot points (probably a big reason for that low Rotten Tomatoes score), but if you go in with an open mind, Awake is an enjoyable thriller.
6. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
In this Fantastic Four sequel, Alba reprises her role as Susan Storm/the Invisible Woman, and although this film is not a part of the MCU (and is generally regarded by many fans as a bad film), it’s hard to not appreciate one of the earlier successful Marvel movie adaptations. Premiering less than a year before the first Iron Man, Rise of the Silver Surfer is a perfectly enjoyable, albeit a little campy (as if that’s a bad thing), superhero film. The chemistry between this iteration of the Fantastic Four has yet to be matched. It’s unlikely the cast will return to reprise their roles — especially given Chris Evans, who plays the Human Torch, is a cornerstone of the MCU as Captain America — but as casting rumors for the new reboot abound, we can always return to this classic at any time.
5. Idle Hands (1999)
One of Alba’s earlier roles is in this 1999 stoner comedy-slash-horror film Idle Hands as the male lead’s high school crush Molly. Protagonist Anton is a stereotypical 90s stoner who takes an embarrassingly long time to notice both his parents have been murdered by a demonic force in his home. He soon realizes his hand is possessed by said demonic force and after killing his two best friends, Mick and Pnub — who then become high-functioning zombies for the rest of the film. He must then figure out how to stop his possessed hand from demolishing the entire town. While the film flopped in the box office (making only $4 million back from its estimated $20 million budget), it’s gone onto to have a cult following among the same people who enjoy Seth Rogan films and horror comedies.
4. Fantastic Four (2005)
Was this a good movie? No. Was this a good superhero movie? Still no. Do we love it anyway? Yes. Just a few short years before the MCU began (and six years before star Chris Evans would retire from playing the Human Torch and become “America’s ass“), Fantastic Four was released to theaters amid the success of other high-performing superhero films like X-Men and Spider-Man. The film tells the origin story of the four superheroes and the villain Dr. Doom after a cosmic storm cloud gives them strange abilities. Fantastic Four represents a simpler time for superhero blockbusters where a film was more contained to a single story rather than setting up an overarching narrative. While not perfect, Evans’ and Alba’s portrayal of Johnny and Sue Storm are highlights.
3. Machete (2010)
In the 2010 film Machete, directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring Danny Trejo, Alba plays Santana Rivera, an immigration officer who is committed to upholding the law but doubts herself as the law proves to be unjust. Machete had been a planned project for over a decade (Rodriguez started working on the idea when he first worked with Trejo on the 1995 film Desperado) as its director aimed to make an action movie with a distinct “Latin flavor” and the exploitation action style film is just as big on style as it is violence. The film’s protagonist uncovers corruption after he is betrayed by his employer when he fails to assassinate corrupt Texas Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) who is campaigning on the promise of deporting millions of illegal Mexican immigrants. If you enjoy Rodriguez’ other works or Tarantino films, you’re sure to enjoy the stylistic silliness of Machete.
2. Into the Blue (2005)
Alba stars alongside the late Paul Walker in the 2005 film thriller Into the Blue as one half of an ocean-loving couple who end up with a lot more than they bargained for when they uncover a lost treasure on the ocean floor. While Alba’s Sam is content with their simple life in a beach-side trailer, Walker’s Jared is itching for adventure and has always hoped to discover some long-lost pirate bounty and when his friend Bryce reappears in his life, the group finally stumbles upon just that. Things are never as easy as they seem —this is especially true in movies like this one—and the group end up entangled with criminals trying to reclaim the treasure (and a sizable amount of cocaine). Into the Blue has a lot of action and a decent plot; this is definitely worth a watch if you’re into the genre.
1. Sin City (2005)
Sin City is a film that people tend to love or hate, but no matter what, it certainly gets people talking. Robert Rodriguez adapts a few storylines from the comics written by Frank Miller and his ridiculously faithful adaptation (frame by frame in many parts) leads to one of the most satisfying stylistic films ever made. As it’s more of a collection of stories rather than an overarching plot, Sin City is frequently criticized for prioritizing style over substance and, whether that works for you depends on your own artistic priorities. There’s a huge ensemble cast here with names like Bruce Willis, Alexis Bledel, Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, and Brittany Murphy, but Alba’s role as the sensitive, hardworking stripper Nancy Callahan is a highlight.