The Best Zoe Saldaña Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 1.9K votes 470 voters 74.8K views
Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Zoe Saldaña Movies
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Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
Latest additions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Most divisive: Burning Palms

Over 450 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best Zoe Saldaña movies. With over two decades of acting experience, Zoe Saldaña has solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and talented actresses.

From playing Nyota Uhura in J. J. Abrams' Star Trek franchise to Neytiri in James Cameron's Avatar movies, she has captivated audiences with her remarkable performances throughout the years. She is also known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Colombiana and various Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

What makes these films so great? Well, it could be argued that much of their success lies in Zoe's ability to convey a range of emotions with subtle facial expressions or a simple look from behind her piercing eyes. Her dynamic on-screen presence often gives life and depth to characters who would otherwise be relegated to second fiddle or background noise status.

So which are your favorite movies starring the brilliant actress? Take a look at this list below and vote up your favorites or add any you think should have made it onto our rankings - after all, everyone's opinion counts.

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  • Colombiana
    1

    Colombiana

    Zoe Saldana, Jordi Mollà, Lennie James
    151 votes
    • Released: 2011
    • Directed by: Olivier Megaton
    In 1992 Bogota, a little girl (Amandla Stenberg) watches crime lord Don Luis (Beto Benites) and his henchman Marco (Jordi Mollà) murder her parents. Fifteen years later, the now-grown Cataleya (Zoe Saldana), who is named for a Colombian orchid, works as a contract killer for her Chicago-based uncle (Cliff Curtis). Leaving a lipstick drawing of her namesake on every victim, Cataleya carries out her assignments with cold, frightening efficiency and dreams of avenging her family.

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  • Avatar
    2

    Avatar

    Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
    122 votes
    • Released: 2009
    • Directed by: James Cameron
    In Avatar, paraplegic ex-Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) finds a new lease on life on the alien world of Pandora. Aided by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), he embarks on a mission involving avatars, bodies that resemble the planet's native Na'vi inhabitants. As Jake explores Pandora's lush biosphere, he grows close to Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a fierce Na'vi warrior. Their bond deepens as they face corporate forces driven by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) that threaten Pandora's existence. This epic science fiction film directed by James Cameron snagged three Academy Awards for its groundbreaking visual effects and art direction.

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  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
    3

    Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

    Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
    83 votes
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Gore Verbinski
    In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to reclaim his ship, the Black Pearl, from cursed pirates. Alongside him is blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who's desperate to rescue his love, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), kidnapped by these supernatural sea-robbers. This adventure-fantasy flick, directed by Gore Verbinski, offers a thrilling blend of humor, swashbuckling action and eerie curses. It earned five Academy Award nominations, cementing its status in the annals of modern cinematic classics.

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  • Star Trek
    4

    Star Trek

    Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy
    71 votes
    • Released: 2009
    • Directed by: J.J. Abrams
    Star Trek, a science fiction film directed by J.J. Abrams, embarks on a thrilling journey through the cosmos. The plot centers around James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), an impulsive cadet at Starfleet Academy, and Spock (Zachary Quinto), a Vulcan who struggles to reconcile his logical nature with his human half. Together, they must thwart the diabolical plans of the villainous Nero (Eric Bana). Aided by an ensemble cast of memorable characters like Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Bones (Karl Urban), they navigate interstellar politics, alien races, and black holes. Filled with action-packed sequences and intricate storylines, Star Trek is both a reboot and homage to the original TV series. The film won an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

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  • Star Trek Into Darkness
    5

    Star Trek Into Darkness

    Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban
    63 votes
    • Released: 2013
    • Directed by: J.J. Abrams
    Star Trek Into Darkness, a thrilling space adventure, plunges Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his intrepid crew of the Starship Enterprise into a world of peril. They grapple with an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, embodied by John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), a former Starfleet operative turned rogue. As the Enterprise is called home, its team faces a war-zone world, triggering an epic chess game of life and death. Aided by Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and Scotty (Simon Pegg), Kirk leads his crew into a battle to save the universe from impending doom. This blockbuster film, directed by J.J. Abrams, is replete with intense action sequences and thought-provoking themes, making it a must-watch for fans of science fiction.

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  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
    6

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

    Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper
    40 votes
    • Released: 2017
    • Directed by: James Gunn
    In 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we see the return of the ragtag band of intergalactic misfits. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, grapples with newfound revelations about his parentage while leading his team through a series of cosmic adventures. The group's camaraderie strengthens as they battle old enemies and encounter strange new allies. Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) all reprise their roles in this action-packed, humor-infused sci-fi epic. The film, directed by James Gunn, is a thrilling sequel to its predecessor, combining elements of adventure, comedy, and drama into a cohesive narrative that expands the Guardians' universe.

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