Euphoria is a polarizing show. The graphic depiction of sex and drugs, especially with regards to how old the characters are supposed to be, has rubbed people the wrong. Then there was the reaction to season 2, which was generally considered to be a step down it quality from its predecessor.
One thing that cannot be denied, though, is that Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has an eye for talent. Since season 2 wrapped, the cast of the HBO drama has blown up in a major way. Nearly all of the key players have gone on to establish themselves as viable big screen presences. Some are now among the most viable in Hollywood, period.
With that in mind, we've broken down the post-Euphoria career paths of the cast to determine which of them reigns supreme. We only included names that are currently active (RIP to Angus Cloud), and who have multiple film credits since Euphoria aired (apologies to Maude Apatow and Alexa Demie).
6. Barbie Ferreira
Barbie Ferreira may not be drawing the attention that her co-stars have, but she's quietly put together a fascinating run of films. She had a supporting role in Jordan Peele's horror hit Nope (2022), and was solid in the little-seen comedy Bob Trevino Likes It (2024).
Ferreira also has some interesting titles lined up. She set to appear in the horror film House of Spoils alongside Ariana DeBoise, as well as the remake of the genre classic Faces of Death. The latter will see the actress lead a fascinating cast that includes Dacre Montgomery and Chari XCX.
Consider us intrigued.
5. Hunter Schafer
Hunter Schafer has a shorter film resume than her Euphoria co-stars, but she's made it count. The actress scored a major box office hit with her live-action debut, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023).
She followed it up with a fascinating supporting turn in the ensemble dramedy Kinds of Kindness, and is being praised up and down the internet for her visceral turn in the horror flick Cuckoo (both 2024). Schafer is the real deal, and her next film, Mother Mary, suggests that she is going to continue to carve out a fascinating, unpredictable career.
4. Coleman Domingo
Coleman Domingo has been acting since the 1990s. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his turn in the Broadway musical The Scottsboro Boys (2011), and scored a notable supporting role on Fear the Walking Dead (2013-15), but Euphoria is what made him a household name.
The popularity of the show has had a recognizable impact on his film career. Domingo was always a solid supporting presence, but he landed an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his turn in the 2023 film Rustin. Many suspect that he will earn a second nomination for his stellar performance in the new prison drama Sing Sing.
If he does, he may end up leapfrogging some of his younger co-stars on this list.
3. Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi could have easily been typecast as a psychotic womanizer due to his sinister turn in Euphoria, but the actor has done a skillful job of showcasing his range. He's taken on an eclectic batch of films in the last few years, and all have yielded critical acclaim.
His performance as Elvis Presley lent emotional heft to Priscilla, while his matinee idol looks were amplified to an unnerving degree in Saltburn (both 2023). Reception to the latter was mixed, but he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Elordi is also slated to appear in upcoming films by directors Guillermo del Toro and Paul Schrader. In short, he's doing it right.
2. Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney has become a cultural phenomenon in a way that few could have predicted after Euphoria's first season. The actress has become the sex symbol of the current generation, and the box office receipts for Anyone but You (2023) and Immaculate (2024) prove that she has the sort of megawatt appeal to get people into theaters.
Immaculate made a tidy profit, especially for a horror film, but Anyone but You was a phenomenon, sparking conversation about the "return of the rom-com." Sweeney has a laundry list of films in the works, so we expect her profile to get even bigger in the next few years.
1. Zendaya
Zendaya is the most famous actress of her generation. She already had box office success prior to her stint on Euphoria, thanks to supporting roles in The Greatest Showman (2017) and the Spider-Man franchise, but she has really blossomed post-season 2.
She has effectively owned 2024, thanks to the critical and commercial success of Dune: Part 2 and Challengers. In the case of the latter, Zendaya was not only the top-billed star, but the producer of the film as well. She's A-list, and from the look of it, she's going to be for a long time.