Alexandra Daddario is the actress your kid likely knows as the original Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson movies, but her career since then has shifted almost entirely into R-rated prestige TV, supernatural horror, and adult-leaning blockbusters. If your middle-schooler is rediscovering the OG demigod movies on Netflix and wants to "see what else she’s in," you’re going to want to gatekeep the search bar, because the jump from "battling a Hydra" to her roles in The White Lotus or True Detective is a massive one.
Alexandra Daddario is the face of the 2010s Percy Jackson franchise, making her a nostalgia hit for kids today. While her disaster flick San Andreas is safe PG-13 territory, the vast majority of her recent work—including The White Lotus and Mayfair Witches—is strictly for adults, featuring heavy themes, nudity, and graphic horror.
For a lot of kids, Daddario is Annabeth Chase. Even though the Disney+ series has its own (excellent) cast, the original movies—The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters—are constantly cycling through the top ten on streaming services.
In these, she’s the ultimate "smartest person in the room" archetype. It’s classic middle-grade action: high stakes, low gore, and zero "adult" content beyond some mild teen pining. If your kid is in the Percy Jackson book phase, these movies are the obvious next step. Just be ready for the inevitable "Why isn't she blonde like in the books?" conversation that has plagued the internet since 2010.
Find more movies for Percy Jackson fans
If they’ve exhausted the demigod stuff and want more, there is exactly one other "safe" stop: San Andreas.
This is a quintessential disaster movie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Daddario plays his daughter, and it’s essentially 114 minutes of her being incredibly capable while California falls into the ocean. It’s PG-13, loud, and intense, but it’s "safe" intensity. It’s the kind of movie you put on a big screen with a bowl of popcorn when you want to see things explode without having to explain a complex existential crisis or navigate a sex scene.
For a full breakdown of what fits your family's vibe, check out our best family movies list.
Here is where the "intentional" part of your parenting comes in. Daddario’s post-2015 career is not for children. She deliberately moved away from the "daughter/ingenue" roles into prestige television, and she didn't do it halfway.
She was the breakout star of Season 1, playing a struggling journalist on a disastrous honeymoon. It is brilliant television, but it is HBO at its most HBO. We’re talking graphic nudity, drug use, and incredibly uncomfortable social satire. It’s a "watch after the kids are in bed" show, not a "watch with your teen who likes Percy Jackson" show.
Based on the Anne Rice novels, this is her current big vehicle. It’s supernatural, but it’s not the "fun" kind of magic. It’s gothic horror—dark, sexualized, and often quite gruesome. If your teen is into Stranger Things and thinks they’re ready for "adult" horror, this is still a significant step up in terms of mature content.
The "Skip It" List for Kids
If your kid is browsing IMDb, these are the ones that should stay off the family watchlist:
- True Detective (Season 1): Features an infamous nude scene that is still one of the most searched things about her.
- Baywatch: An R-rated comedy that leans heavily into exactly the kind of humor you’d expect from an R-rated Baywatch movie.
- Texas Chainsaw 3D: Graphic slasher horror. No further explanation needed.
It’s very common for kids to hit age 11 or 12, find an actor they love in a "safe" role, and then want to consume everything that person has ever made. It’s a great moment to teach media literacy.
Instead of just saying "No, you can't watch that," explain the trajectory. "She started in movies made for your age, but now she’s a professional actor who makes stories for adults. Just like you wouldn't read a toddler's picture book, adults have stories that deal with things you're not quite ready for yet."
If they’re looking for that same "competent girl lead" energy but in an age-appropriate package, steer them toward Hilda or The Last Kids on Earth.
The "Daddario Rabbit Hole" is real because she is incredibly charismatic and has a very distinct look that makes her memorable. The friction point usually happens when a kid tries to follow her to social media or YouTube. Her interviews (like the Vogue one above) are generally charming and fine, but the comments and the suggested videos often lean into the "male gaze" side of her fame. If your kid is searching her on YouTube, they are one click away from "Top 10 Hottest Scenes" compilations.
Q: Is the original Percy Jackson movie okay for an 8-year-old? Yes, generally. It’s PG and hits that sweet spot of action and adventure. If they can handle the Harry Potter movies, they can handle Percy Jackson.
Q: Why is Alexandra Daddario trending on Netflix right now? Streaming rights often shift, and when the Percy Jackson movies land on a major platform like Netflix, they almost always hit the Top 10 because of the massive built-in fanbase of the books.
Q: Is Mayfair Witches okay for teens? It’s rated TV-MA. For most families, this is a "wait until they're 17 or 18" show. It deals with generational trauma, occult themes, and explicit sexuality that usually misses the mark for younger teens.
Enjoy the Percy Jackson nostalgia with your kids—it’s fun, fast-paced, and Daddario is great in it. Just keep the remote in your hand when the credits roll. Her newer work is a different beast entirely.
- For more age-appropriate fantasy, check out our digital guide for middle school.
- If your kid is obsessed with Greek myths, see our best books for kids list for more Riordan-esque recommendations.
- Ask our chatbot for more actor-specific guides