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Hustlers and the 10 greatest Jennifer Lopez movies of all time (so far)

By Reed Gaudens

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jennifer Lopez attends 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jennifer Lopez attends 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /
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9. The Boy Next Door

Original Release Date: The Boy Next Door officially hit theaters on Jan. 23, 2015.

Box Office Earnings: Despite lackluster reviews from critics, the film opened in the midst of the January dead zone, prime real estate for thrillers, and debut at No. 2 with a domestic opening of $14.9 million. The Boy Next Door became Lopez’s best live-action debut since 2005 and went on to gross over $53 worldwide against a budget of $5 million.

Critical Acclaim: The film didn’t earn much critical acclaim, as evidenced by its 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics felt the film could have reached cult classic status if the camp factor had been increased rather than playing it Lifetime movie safe. Still, Jennifer Lopez and the film were nominated for People’s Choice Awards, and Lopez won an MTV Movie Award for Best Scared-As-Sh-t Performance.

About the Role: Lopez stars in The Boy Next Door as Claire Peterson, a high school teacher who befriends the charming teenager named Noah (Ryan Guzman) when he moves in next door. The two even engage in some innocent flirting, since Claire believes it’s harmless fun. While Noah spends a lot of his time with Claire’s son, his attraction to her becomes increasingly apparent. After giving into temptation with Noah, Claire soon discovers that ending their relationship won’t be simple and could invite danger and violence into her home.

Simply the Best: One thing you can’t say about Jennifer Lopez is that she continuously makes the same movie. Just when you think you have her pegged as a romantic comedy queen, she headlines a thriller or action film and makes sure we aren’t underestimating her big-screen talents. Although The Boy Next Door isn’t particularly heralded as a showstopper, it’s another showing of her range as a performer and her power as a movie star. With anyone else in the lead, the movie could have been buried. But you can’t deny J. Lo brought this mid-level flick up a few notches.

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