Hayden Panettiere movies span nearly three decades, from childhood voice roles in animated films to major appearances in horror, comedy, drama and thriller projects. Her most recent film, Sleepwalker, was released in January 2026 and now stands as her final completed movie following her death on August 16, 2026, at age 36.
Panettiere built a varied film career long before she became widely recognized for television roles in Heroes and Nashville. Her movie credits include A Bug’s Life, Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Bring It On: All or Nothing, I Love You, Beth Cooper, Scream 4, Custody, Scream VI, Amber Alert, A Breed Apart and Sleepwalker.
Her filmography shows a performer who moved comfortably between family entertainment, teen comedies, serious dramas and horror. Her final years on the big screen also brought a return to the Scream franchise and a leading role in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker.
Hayden Panettiere’s Latest Movie Was Sleepwalker
Sleepwalker is the latest and final film in Hayden Panettiere’s movie career. The psychological thriller received a U.S. theatrical release on January 9, 2026, through Brainstorm Media. The company lists Brandon Auman as the director and Panettiere among the principal cast.
Panettiere plays Sarah Pangborn, an accomplished artist whose life becomes increasingly unstable after the death of her daughter. The story combines grief, psychological distress and supernatural-looking visions as Sarah’s sleepwalking episodes intensify.
The film also stars Justin Chatwin, Beverly D’Angelo, Mischa Barton, Lori Tan Chinn and Kea Ho. The official distributor describes the story as a descent into darkness involving frightening visions and a blurred line between reality and nightmare.
Sleepwalker was released in U.S. theaters and through digital availability on January 9, 2026. Apple TV lists the film as a 2026 horror title starring Panettiere, Chatwin and D’Angelo.
The film has gained additional significance because it became Panettiere’s final movie. Current film databases identify Sleepwalker as her final film credit.
Why Sleepwalker Matters in Panettiere’s Filmography
The timing of Sleepwalker makes it a particularly important entry in Panettiere’s movie career. It arrived after her return to major film work through Scream VI and followed her roles in Amber Alert and A Breed Apart.
Unlike some of her earlier movies, Sleepwalker placed Panettiere at the center of a darker psychological story. She played Sarah, giving her a lead role built around a character experiencing grief, disturbing visions and an increasingly uncertain reality.
The film’s release in January 2026 also means Panettiere’s final screen performance was not an unreleased project waiting to reach audiences. It was completed and publicly released during her lifetime.
A Breed Apart Continued Her Move Into Horror
Before Sleepwalker, Panettiere appeared in A Breed Apart, a 2025 horror-comedy thriller.
The movie centers on a group of social-media influencers invited to a private island. Their seemingly exciting trip turns dangerous when they become involved in a deadly situation involving aggressive dogs.
Panettiere played Hayden Hearst in the film. The cast also included Virginia Gardner and Grace Caroline Currey.
A Breed Apart received its U.S. cinema and video-on-demand release on May 16, 2025.
The project continued a noticeable shift in Panettiere’s later movie work toward suspense and horror. That direction became even more prominent with Sleepwalker.
Amber Alert Gave Panettiere a Leading Thriller Role
In 2024, Panettiere starred in Amber Alert as Jacqueline “Jaq” Dana.
The film follows Jaq and Shane, played by Tyler James Williams, after they receive an Amber Alert while traveling in a rideshare. They realize that the vehicle ahead of them may match the description connected to a child-abduction case.
The situation quickly turns into a dangerous chase as the two characters attempt to help save the missing child.
Lionsgate’s official trailer announced a September 27, 2024 release in select theaters and on demand.
The movie gave Panettiere another prominent thriller role after her return to the Scream franchise. It also demonstrated how her later film career increasingly emphasized suspense, danger and emotionally intense situations.
Scream VI Brought Kirby Reed Back
One of the biggest moments in Hayden Panettiere’s later film career came with Scream VI in 2023.
Panettiere returned as Kirby Reed, the character she first played in Scream 4 in 2011. Paramount’s cast listing confirms Panettiere as Kirby Reed in Scream VI.
Her return was significant because Kirby had become one of the most recognizable characters introduced during the later years of the original Scream era.
In Scream 4, Kirby was a Woodsboro teenager with extensive knowledge of horror movies. Her character became closely associated with the film’s self-aware approach to horror conventions.
Nearly 12 years after Scream 4, Panettiere returned for Scream VI. The 2023 movie moved the action from Woodsboro to New York City, where a new Ghostface mystery unfolded.
The return also represented Panettiere’s comeback to a major theatrical franchise after several years away from prominent movie roles. Her performance received substantial attention from fans who had followed Kirby’s story since the fourth installment.
Scream 4 Remains One of Her Most Recognizable Movies
Scream 4, released in 2011, introduced Panettiere as Kirby Reed.
Directed by Wes Craven, the movie brought the Scream franchise back to Woodsboro and introduced a younger generation of characters alongside returning stars.
Kirby stood out because of her deep knowledge of horror films. Her character could recognize many of the genre rules that shaped the Ghostface killings, making her one of the film’s most memorable younger characters.
The role also became important to Panettiere’s career because Kirby eventually returned more than a decade later in Scream VI.
Her connection to the character therefore spans two different periods of the franchise and remains one of the clearest threads running through her movie career.
Custody Showed a Different Side of Panettiere
Panettiere moved into serious drama with Custody, a 2016 courtroom film directed and written by James Lapine.
The movie centers on three women whose lives intersect through New York Family Court. Viola Davis plays Judge Martha Schulman, while Catalina Sandino Moreno portrays Sara Diaz.
Panettiere plays Ally Fisher, a young attorney assigned to represent Sara.
The role differed sharply from Panettiere’s better-known teen and horror characters.
Rather than playing a young genre character, she portrayed a lawyer working inside a complicated family-court system. The movie gave her the opportunity to appear alongside established performers including Davis and Ellen Burstyn.
Custody premiered in 2016 and later became available through home and streaming distribution.
The Forger Featured Panettiere Alongside Josh Hutcherson
The Forger is another important entry from Panettiere’s filmography.
Released in 2012, the drama stars Josh Hutcherson as Joshua, a troubled teenager who becomes involved with an art-forgery operation. Panettiere plays Amber Felter, while Alfred Molina and Lauren Bacall also appear in the cast.
The story combines family problems, romance, art and crime. Panettiere’s role places her within the personal side of Joshua’s increasingly complicated life.
The movie was considerably different from the supernatural and horror projects that later became associated with her film career.
Hoodwinked Too! Gave Her Another Voice Role
Panettiere also worked extensively with animation and voice acting.
In Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, released in 2011, she voiced Red Puckett. The animated sequel expanded the fairy-tale world of the first Hoodwinked movie.
The role was part of a period when Panettiere continued balancing live-action projects with animated work.
Voice performances were familiar territory for her. She had already worked on major animated productions during childhood, making animation an important part of her overall film history.
Alpha and Omega Featured Panettiere as Kate
In 2010, Panettiere voiced Kate in Alpha and Omega.
The animated adventure follows two wolves whose lives become complicated when they are separated from their pack and must find their way home.
Panettiere’s involvement added another family-oriented project to her filmography after years of live-action work.
The movie also showed the range of projects she could take on outside of the teen dramas and comedies that had become associated with her during the 2000s.
I Love You, Beth Cooper Became a Teen Comedy Favorite
In 2009, Panettiere took the title role in I Love You, Beth Cooper.
She played Beth Cooper, a popular high school student who becomes the unexpected focus of a graduation-night adventure.
The movie was based on Larry Doyle’s novel and placed Panettiere in a lead comedy role.
At the time, she was already widely recognized because of Heroes. The film therefore allowed audiences to see her outside the superhero-oriented television world that had made her internationally famous.
Fireflies in the Garden Featured Panettiere in a Family Drama
Panettiere appeared in Fireflies in the Garden, a drama released in 2008.
She played the younger version of Jane Lawrence in the film, which featured a large ensemble cast.
The project gave Panettiere another opportunity to work in a more serious dramatic setting. It also demonstrated how her film roles were becoming broader as she moved from childhood acting into adult performances.
Shanghai Kiss Added Another Independent Film Credit
In 2007, Panettiere appeared in Shanghai Kiss as Adelaide Bourbon.
The independent romantic comedy-drama follows a struggling actor whose life changes after he discovers information about his family background.
Panettiere’s role was smaller than some of her later leading parts, but it remains part of her feature-film history.
The project came during a period when she was balancing film work with the growing success of Heroes.
Bring It On: All or Nothing Became a Teen-Culture Favorite
Bring It On: All or Nothing remains one of the most recognizable Hayden Panettiere movies from the 2000s.
Released in 2006, the film stars Panettiere as Britney Allen, a popular cheerleader whose circumstances change after her family moves and she transfers to another high school.
At her new school, Britney joins a rival cheerleading team and eventually faces her former squad.
The movie also features Solange Knowles and Rihanna. Universal’s current home-entertainment listing identifies Panettiere as the star playing Britney and confirms its 2006 release.
The film was released directly to home video rather than receiving a conventional theatrical rollout. It became particularly familiar to viewers who followed the Bring It On series during the 2000s.
Ice Princess Put Panettiere in a Skating Story
In 2005, Panettiere appeared in Disney’s Ice Princess as Gennifer “Gen” Harwood.
The film stars Michelle Trachtenberg as Casey Carlyle, a teenager who discovers a passion for competitive figure skating.
Panettiere’s Gen is part of the competitive skating world surrounding Casey.
The film became one of the better-known family titles from Panettiere’s early teenage years. It also showcased her ability to perform in a sports-oriented story while working alongside a young ensemble.
Racing Stripes Added Another Family Film
Panettiere voiced Channing Walsh in Racing Stripes, the 2005 family comedy about a zebra with ambitions of competing as a racehorse.
Her character is connected to the young people and animals at the center of the story.
The movie followed Panettiere’s earlier family-oriented roles and reinforced her presence in movies aimed at younger audiences.
Raising Helen Featured Panettiere With Kate Hudson
In 2004, Panettiere appeared in Raising Helen, starring Kate Hudson.
She played Audrey Davis, one of the children whose lives change after a family tragedy.
The movie gave Panettiere a supporting role in a mainstream family comedy-drama with an established adult cast.
It was another step in her transition from child performer to a recognizable young actress working in studio features.
Remember the Titans Was an Early Breakthrough
One of the most important early Hayden Panettiere movies was Remember the Titans, released in 2000.
Panettiere played Sheryl Yoast, the daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast. The sports drama follows a Virginia high school football team during the process of racial integration.
Her performance became one of the earliest roles that introduced her to a much wider movie audience.
The film remains one of her most remembered projects. Panettiere later identified Remember the Titans as a particularly meaningful movie from her childhood career.
A Bug’s Life Was One of Her Earliest Major Movie Roles
Panettiere voiced Princess Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.
The 1998 animated movie follows an ant named Flik who attempts to protect his colony from a group of threatening grasshoppers.
Panettiere was still a child when she joined the voice cast.
Her performance in A Bug’s Life became an early part of a movie career that would eventually include live-action dramas, teen comedies, horror franchises and psychological thrillers.
A Look at Hayden Panettiere’s Major Movies
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Bug’s Life | Dot, voice |
| 2000 | Remember the Titans | Sheryl Yoast |
| 2001 | Joe Somebody | Natalie Scheffer |
| 2001 | The Affair of the Necklace | Young Jeanne |
| 2004 | Raising Helen | Audrey Davis |
| 2004 | The Dust Factory | Melanie Lewis |
| 2005 | Ice Princess | Gen Harwood |
| 2005 | Racing Stripes | Channing Walsh |
| 2006 | Bring It On: All or Nothing | Britney Allen |
| 2007 | Shanghai Kiss | Adelaide Bourbon |
| 2008 | Fireflies in the Garden | Young Jane Lawrence |
| 2009 | I Love You, Beth Cooper | Beth Cooper |
| 2010 | Alpha and Omega | Kate, voice |
| 2011 | Scream 4 | Kirby Reed |
| 2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Red, voice |
| 2012 | The Forger | Amber Felter |
| 2016 | Custody | Ally Fisher |
| 2019 | Berlin, I Love You | Angie |
| 2023 | Scream VI | Kirby Reed |
| 2024 | Amber Alert | Jaq |
| 2025 | A Breed Apart | Hayden Hearst |
| 2026 | Sleepwalker | Sarah Pangborn |
Filmography databases list additional credits and voice appearances, but the titles above represent the major feature-film entries associated with Panettiere’s career.
How Hayden Panettiere’s Movie Career Changed Over Time
Panettiere’s film career can be divided into several distinct periods.
Her earliest work centered heavily on family movies and animation. A Bug’s Life, Dinosaur, Remember the Titans and Joe Somebody established her as a young performer capable of working across different formats.
During her teenage years, she became increasingly associated with youth-oriented films. Ice Princess and Bring It On: All or Nothing remain especially recognizable examples from that period.
Her adult film work then became more varied. The Forger and Custody moved her into more dramatic material, while Scream 4 introduced the character that eventually became one of the defining roles of her later movie career.
After a period with fewer major film appearances, Panettiere returned to the Scream universe in Scream VI. She then appeared in Amber Alert, A Breed Apart and Sleepwalker.
That final group of films shows a clear concentration on thrillers and horror. Her last three completed movie releases placed her in stories built around danger, survival and psychological tension.
What Is the Latest Status of Hayden Panettiere Movies?
As of September 14, 2026, Sleepwalker is the latest released movie in Panettiere’s filmography.
It was released in the United States on January 9, 2026, and remains her final film credit.
Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, in South Carolina at age 36. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said emergency responders found her unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. An autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, while the cause and manner remained pending further investigation at the time of the latest official update.
For audiences revisiting her film career, that makes Sleepwalker an especially significant final chapter. It followed a career that began in childhood and moved through animation, family entertainment, teen comedy, drama and horror.
Her best-known movie characters remain Sheryl Yoast in Remember the Titans, Britney Allen in Bring It On: All or Nothing, Kirby Reed in Scream 4 and Scream VI, Jaq in Amber Alert and Sarah Pangborn in Sleepwalker.
Together, those performances show the breadth of Panettiere’s work on film and explain why her movie career continues to attract renewed attention.
Which Hayden Panettiere movie remains your favorite? Share your pick and stay tuned for verified updates about her film legacy.
For readers following the latest developments surrounding the actress, our Hayden Panettiere update covers the reported investigation into her death, including the suspected fentanyl-laced pill, the DEA’s involvement, and the status of the official cause of death. The report also explains what investigators have revealed so far and what remains unresolved.