Honestly, if you grew up in the late '90s, Sarah Michelle Gellar wasn't just an actress. She was a mood. She was the person who made us think a tiny blonde girl could actually beat the literal devil, and she did it while delivering some of the sharpest dialogue in television history. But when people talk about Sarah Michelle Gellar movies and tv shows, they usually stop at Buffy or Cruel Intentions. That’s a mistake. Her career is this wild, zigzagging journey that starts with a Burger King commercial that got her sued and ends—well, it hasn't ended. She's actually having a massive resurgence right now in 2026.
The Early Days and the Soap Opera Grind
Before the stakes and the vampires, there was Kendall Hart. A lot of fans forget that Gellar’s first big break wasn't supernatural; it was suburban. She played the long-lost daughter of Erica Kane on All My Children. Most actors struggle to hold their own against a legend like Susan Lucci, but Gellar basically walked on set at sixteen and started winning Emmys. She won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress in 1995. It was the perfect training ground. It taught her how to handle insane workloads and melodrama without losing the emotional core of a character.
Then came 1997. That was the year everything changed.
The 1997 Triple Threat
Imagine being twenty years old and having three projects define a generation in twelve months.
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- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The show premiered in March 1997. It wasn't a hit immediately, but it changed the "final girl" trope forever.
- I Know What You Did Last Summer: Released in October, featuring that legendary chase scene through the department store.
- Scream 2: Dropped in December, where she played Cici Cooper and proved she could hold her own in a meta-horror masterpiece.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Movies and TV Shows: The Peak Era
By the time Cruel Intentions hit theaters in 1999, SMG was the undisputed queen of teen media. Her portrayal of Kathryn Merteuil is still terrifying. It’s cold. It’s calculated. It’s also wildly different from the heroic Buffy Summers. Seeing her go from saving the world to destroying reputations on the Upper East Side was a masterclass in range.
People often ask why she didn't become an even bigger movie star after The Grudge (2004). That movie was a massive financial success, grossing over $187 million worldwide. It actually kicked off the whole J-horror remake craze in Hollywood. But honestly? She was tired. You've got to remember she spent seven years doing 22 episodes a season for Buffy. That’s physical, grueling work.
The Quiet Years and the 2026 Comeback
For a while, she disappeared into voice work and smaller projects. She was great as the Seventh Sister in Star Wars Rebels and Teela in Masters of the Universe: Revelation. She also leaned into her life as a mom, which she’s been very open about. She missed the "firsts" while she was working, so she took a step back to be there for her kids.
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But then came the shift. In the last couple of years, she’s been leaning back into the genre that made her famous.
The Modern Era
- Wolf Pack (2023): This was her big return to supernatural TV. Even though it only lasted one season, it showed she still had that screen presence.
- Do Revenge (2022): A brilliant cameo that nodded to her Cruel Intentions roots.
- Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026): Her latest big-screen role. It's a horror-comedy that perfectly fits her vibe.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale: The project everyone is talking about. It's a continuation, not a reboot. Working with Chloé Zhao, she's finally bringing the Slayer back to the screen in a way that respects the original legacy.
Why Her Legacy Still Matters
A lot of actors from the '90s faded away because they were just "of the time." Gellar is different. Her work on Buffy is studied in universities. Seriously, there’s an entire field called "Buffy Studies." She played a character that dealt with depression, loss, and the crushing weight of responsibility, all while fighting monsters.
If you're looking to revisit her filmography, don't just stick to the hits. Check out Ringer, where she played twins, or The Crazy Ones, her sitcom with the late Robin Williams. She’s always been more versatile than the "Scream Queen" label suggests.
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To truly appreciate the scope of her career, start with the 1997-1999 run to see the star-making power, then jump to her 2020s work to see how she’s evolved into a producer and a seasoned veteran who knows exactly what her audience wants. She isn't just a nostalgic icon; she's a working actor who finally knows her worth outside of the industry's metrics.
To get the most out of her work today, keep an eye on Hulu for updates on the New Sunnydale project—it's reportedly filming sooner than we think.