After a test run in Lightyear, Palmer proved her blockbuster bonafides in Jordan Peele's latest film, which concerns a mysterious alien invasion. Comprised of equal parts science-fiction, horror, and western, Nope is one of the purest summer box office smashes in recent memory.
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As Mercedes, Palmer is second to only Jennifer Lopez as the MVP in Hustlers — Lorene Scafaria's visionary comic thriller based on a true story. This was the movie that showed Hollywood (and those unfamiliar with her recent television turns) that Palmer was ready to be taken seriously as a movie star.
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Palmer's breakout turn came in this unfussy and emotionally-gratifying film about the young title character, Akeelah, who prepares to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the help of her coach (Laurence Fishburne) and her strict mother (Angela Bassett).
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This searing, ravishingly well-mounted drama concerns recently-paroled aspiring writer Bambi (John Boyega), who returns home to find his life drastically altered for the worse.
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Palmer is utterly brilliant in this spirited yet downtrodden film — which recalls movies like Across 110th Street — as Wednesday, a young girl who's forced to take over her father's (DMX) illegal business to support her drug-addled mother (Aunjanue Ellis).
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Palmer stars as Zayday Williams in Ryan Murphy's bubble gum slasher homage alongside an absolutely killer cast of genre veterans (Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Roberts, Oliver Hudson) and comedy greats (Niecy Nash, Nasim Pedrad, John Stamos).
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Palmer anchors this Nickelodeon series as the eponymous teenager who becomes the vice president of a fashion company after being spotted selling sandwiches in the Garment District by an eccentric CEO (Greg Proops).
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Palmer holds her own against Cicely Tyson in this Lifetime remake of the better-remembered 1985 feature of the same name. As Thelma, she shows up mid-way through this road trip picture to share a memorable beat with Tyson aboard a Greyhound bus.
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Palmer's role as Kym in the third (and best) season of the Scream TV series is both a call back to her time on Scream Queens and a subversion of the well-honed Final Girl trope in slasher movies.
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Much of this amiable, well-shot inspirational sports drama rests on Palmer's shoulders. The Longshots is based upon the true story of Jasmine Plummer, the first woman to play Pop Warner football, and directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.
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