Honestly, if you only know Danna Paola from her time playing the legendary "Lu" in Élite, you’re basically missing three-quarters of the story. Most people see her as this overnight Netflix sensation, but in Mexico, she’s been a household name since she was literally four years old. We're talking about someone who grew up on camera, transitioning from the "girl with the blue backpack" to a global pop powerhouse who is now redefining herself mononymously as Danna.
But here’s the thing about movies with Danna Paola: her filmography is actually a bit of a weird, fascinating puzzle. Unlike other child stars who jump straight into Hollywood blockbusters, her movie career has been a mix of cult-favorite Mexican rom-coms and some of the biggest voice-acting roles in the Spanish-speaking world.
If you're trying to binge her work today, you have to look beyond the live-action stuff.
The Rom-Com Era: Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo
In 2018, right before the world exploded for her with Élite, Danna starred in a film called Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo (The simplest thing is to complicate everything).
She plays Renata, a 17-year-old who is hopelessly in love with her half-brother's best friend—who happens to be much older and engaged. Look, I’m gonna be real with you: the critics didn't exactly hand out Oscars for this one. On sites like FlixPatrol, the ratings are... let's just say "modest." But for fans? It’s a total time capsule. You get to see Danna right on the cusp of becoming an international adult star. It’s bubbly, it’s dramatic, and it features her single "¿Dónde estabas tú?".
It’s the kind of movie you watch on a rainy Sunday when you just want to see Danna being charmingly chaotic.
The Secret Queen of Voice Acting
This is where the "Danna Paola movie" conversation gets interesting. If you’ve watched a Disney or DreamWorks movie in Latin America in the last decade, there is a 90% chance you’ve heard her voice without even realizing it.
- Tangled (2010): She was the voice of Rapunzel. This wasn't just a minor gig; she is the definitive Rapunzel for an entire generation of Spanish speakers.
- Home (2015): She took on the role of Tip (originally voiced by Rihanna).
- Raya and the Last Dragon (2021): She voiced the lead, Raya, bringing a much tougher, more grounded energy than her Disney Princess days.
People often overlook dubbing, but in the Latin American market, these are the massive "movies with Danna Paola" that actually reached millions of households. It’s also where she gets to flex those insane vocal cords—the girl can sing, and Disney knows it.
The Wicked Shift (2024–2025)
We have to talk about Wicked. For years, Danna was the youngest person ever to play Elphaba in the stage production of Wicked in Mexico City. She was only 18. Fast forward to 2024, and the universe finally came full circle.
When the big-budget Wicked movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande hit theaters, Danna was brought back to voice Elphaba for the Latin American Spanish dub. It’s a massive full-circle moment. She isn't just "another voice actor" here; she is the person who defined that role for the Spanish theater world. For many fans, her version of "Defying Gravity" (Defiando la Gravedad) is the gold standard.
With Wicked: For Good expected in 2025, she’s essentially cemented herself as the face of this franchise in her home region.
Why She’s Picky About Live-Action Roles
You might notice there aren't twenty different live-action movies with Danna Paola on Netflix right now. Why? Because she’s focused on the music.
After the success of Élite, she made a very conscious (and honestly, pretty brave) choice to step back from acting to reclaim her identity as a singer. Her 2024 album Childstar was all about shedding the "child star" image that had been stuck to her since her María Belén days in 2001.
That doesn't mean she’s done with movies, though. She’s recently hinted in interviews that she’s looking for "darker, more complex" roles. She’s done with the "Patito" and "Lu" archetypes. She wants something that matches her current Childstar era—edgy, experimental, and maybe a little bit raw.
What to Watch Right Now
If you want the full Danna Paola movie experience, here is the non-traditional watchlist I'd recommend:
- Arráncame la Vida (2008): A tiny role (she plays Lilia at age 12), but it’s a high-quality Mexican period drama that shows she was always destined for the big screen.
- Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo (2018): For the pure teen-pop-star nostalgia.
- Raya and the Last Dragon (2021): Watch the Spanish dub specifically to hear how much her voice has matured.
- Wicked (2024): Again, the Spanish dub is the way to go to see her interpret the role that changed her life.
Moving Forward: What's Next?
Danna is currently in a "rebranding" phase, which usually means a big movie project is brewing behind the scenes. In 2026, keep your eyes on the international film festival circuits. There are rumors of her looking into independent cinema in Europe, similar to the path taken by other crossover stars who want to prove their "serious" acting chops.
If you’re a fan, the move is to stop waiting for another teen drama and start looking for her in projects that lean into her musicality or her darker creative side. She's no longer the girl in the blue backpack, and her future filmography is likely going to reflect that.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Disney+ "Spanish Dub" versions of Tangled and Raya—even if you speak English, her vocal performance is worth the listen.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 Latin Grammy season; she often uses her music videos (like the ones for Childstar) as "mini-movies" that showcase the type of acting she wants to do next.
- Follow her official social media channels under the name Danna (not Danna Paola) to catch the first announcements of her upcoming 2026-2027 film projects.