If you still think of Piper Curda as just that girl from the Disney Channel who lived in a constant state of "I Didn't Do It" chaos, you’ve seriously missed the boat. Honestly, the transition she’s made over the last few years is one of the most interesting "child star" evolutions we’ve seen in a long time. It wasn't loud. It wasn't messy. It was just... smart.
She basically vanished from the spotlight to get a degree at Wheaton College, then came back and started picking projects that would make most former sitcom kids' heads spin. From psychological dramas to upcoming Pixar blockbusters, the list of Piper Curda movies and shows looks less like a resume and more like a masterclass in reinventing yourself without burning the house down.
From Disney Sitcoms to Todd Haynes Darlings
Most of us first met Piper as Jasmine Kang. She had that specific Disney energy—fast-talking, slightly sarcastic, and perpetually stuck in some high-concept predicament. I Didn't Do It was her bread and butter from 2014 to 2015. It was safe. It was fun. But the girl was clearly itching for something with more meat on the bones.
Fast forward to 2023. If you haven't seen May December, go watch it. Now.
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She plays Honor Atherton-Yoo, the daughter of the central couple played by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. It is a deeply uncomfortable movie directed by Todd Haynes. Curda doesn't have the most screen time, but she steals the scenes she’s in. There is this one specific moment at a graduation party where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and she plays that "traumatized kid trying to be normal" vibe perfectly. It was the first time a lot of critics went, "Oh, wait, she’s actually really good."
The 2026 Shift: Why Hoppers Changes Everything
We’re currently in 2026, and the biggest thing on her plate is Pixar’s Hoppers. This is massive. She’s voicing Mabel Tanaka, a teenager who "hops" her consciousness into a robotic beaver. It sounds ridiculous on paper, but the trailers suggest it’s that classic Pixar mix of existential dread and cute animals.
Being the lead in a Pixar film is a different kind of beast. It’s not just a voice role; it’s a global platform. Starring alongside Jon Hamm and Bobby Moynihan puts her in a bracket that most of her Disney peers never quite reached.
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A Quick Reality Check on the Career Timeline
- The Early Days (2011–2013): Guest spots on Law & Order: SVU (yeah, she was the "Ella Mendez" kid) and A.N.T. Farm.
- The Disney Peak (2014–2015): I Didn't Do It and Teen Beach 2. She was the "it" girl for a specific demographic.
- The Re-Entry (2019–2022): The Wretched (a surprisingly decent horror flick) and a recurring role as Jen in Legacies.
- The Prestige Era (2023–2026): May December, her role as Kira Yu in the Matlock reboot, and finally, lead status in Hoppers.
Why You Should Care About The Wretched
If you're looking for hidden gems in the Piper Curda movies and shows catalog, The Wretched (2019) is it. It’s a low-budget horror movie that somehow became the #1 movie in America during the early pandemic because it was the only thing playing in drive-ins.
She plays Mallory. She’s the girl-next-door archetype but with a lot more cynicism. It’s not a "prestige" film, but it showed she could carry a movie that wasn't polished by the Disney machine. It’s gritty, a bit gross, and she’s the best part of it.
The Matlock Factor
Lately, she’s been popping up in the Matlock reboot (2024–2025) as Kira Yu. Working with Kathy Bates isn't exactly a small feat. Playing a young attorney requires a level of gravitas that "Jasmine Kang" wouldn't have known what to do with. It shows she can do the procedural TV grind while still maintaining that edge she developed in indie films.
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What's Next?
If you want to follow her trajectory, keep an eye on Hoppers releasing this March. It’s likely going to be her biggest commercial hit to date. Also, look for her in the upcoming season of The Morning Show as Justice Briggs—a role that feels like a deliberate step into the "prestige TV" world of Apple TV+.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch "May December" first: It's her best performance to date and explains why she's getting cast in big-budget films now.
- Don't skip the indie stuff: Movies like When Time Got Louder (2022) show a much more vulnerable side of her acting that you won't see in Teen Beach 2.
- Track her voice work: Beyond Hoppers, she’s done work in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. She’s actually a very versatile voice actor.
The reality is that Piper Curda is no longer a "Disney kid." She's a working actor with a weirdly diverse filmography that covers everything from "robotic beavers" to "psychological trauma." That’s a career path worth watching.