A Ranking of the 12 Best Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows, From Classic ’80s Sitcoms to Intense ’90s Thrillers
We've watched her grow up onscreen and she can do it all!
We fell in love with Alyssa Milano back when she was a child star in Who’s the Boss? She was only 10 when she landed the role of Samantha Micelli, the daughter of Tony Danza‘s character, and from 1984 to 1992 countless viewers tuned in each week to see what this spunky, charismatic young actress had to say.
Fans have watched Milano grow up onscreen, and she’s captivated us ever since the ’80s. When a star starts out in a sitcom role, it can be hard to break out, but this was never the case for Milano, as over the decades she’s been in many movies and shows, showing off her comedic, dramatic and even romantic acting sides.
Milano has also done a great job of staying down to earth over the years. When asked about balancing fame with her personal life, she said, “I stay grounded because I was raised that every single person on this planet is created equal and that family, love and friendships are bigger than anything that goes on in show business.”
Here’s a look at 12 of our favorite Alyssa Milano movies and TV shows, from ’80s sitcoms to ’90s dramas to ’00s rom-coms.
12. Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (1993)
After Who’s the Boss? ended, Milano set out to prove herself as a grown-up actress with more mature and provocative roles. One of the most notorious of these projects was this made-for-TV movie, in which she starred as the notorious Amy Fisher, the teenager who shocked the nation when she had an affair with Joey Buttafuoco and shot his wife, leading her to be known as the “Long Island Lolita.”
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11. Commando (1985)
In this action-packed film, John Matrix (the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a retired Special Forces Colonel whose daughter, Jenny (Milano), is kidnapped by mercenaries seeking to manipulate him into assassinating a South American dictator. Matrix embarks on a relentless mission to rescue his daughter and thwart the villain’s plans.
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10. Hugo Pool (1997)
This quirky indie movie followed the adventures of Hugo Dugay (Milano), a plucky young woman working as a pool cleaner in Los Angeles. As Hugo navigates her unconventional job and eccentric clients, she forms unexpected connections and discovers the true meaning of love and friendship. Patrick Dempsey, Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. also starred.
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9. Below Utopia (1997): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
In this thriller, Daniel Beckett (Justin Theroux) takes his girlfriend Susanne (Milano) on a trip to his family’s mountain cabin. However, tensions escalate as secrets are revealed, and the couple finds themselves entangled in a dangerous game of deception and survival.
8. My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (2010)
In this romantic comedy, Jesse (Alyssa Milano) finds herself torn between two men, her current boyfriend, Ethan (Christopher Gorham), and her new love interest, Troy (Michael Landes). As Jesse navigates the complexities of love and commitment, she must ultimately choose between her heart’s desires.
7. Mistresses (2013-2014): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
Milano played Savannah “Savi” Davis, a successful attorney grappling with issues of infidelity, temptation, and betrayal alongside her three close friends in this juicy, LA-set series.
6. New Year’s Eve (2011)
In this star-studded rom-com, multiple storylines intersect on New Year’s Eve in New York City, weaving together tales of love, hope and second chances. Milano appears as a nurse who experiences unexpected romantic developments amidst the holiday festivities. The movie stars many A-listers including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron and more.
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5. Melrose Place (1997-1998): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
Milano joined the cast of this popular primetime soap opera during its seventh season, portraying Jennifer Mancini, the scheming younger sister of Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro). Jennifer’s arrival in Melrose Place brought a new wave of drama and intrigue to the notorious apartment complex.
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4. Wisegal (2008): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
Milano took on the role of Patty Montanari, a single mother who becomes involved with the mob in order to provide for her family, in this riveting Lifetime crime drama. As Patty delves deeper into the criminal underworld, she must confront the harsh realities of her choices and their impact on her loved ones.
3. Fear (1996)
This intense thriller follows an innocent teen (Reese Witherspoon) who falls under the spell of a charming, handsome older guy (Mark Wahlberg) who soon goes from affectionate to obsessive. Milano played Witherspoon’s bad girl BFF.
2. Who’s the Boss? (1984-1992): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
This beloved sitcom follows the story of Tony Micelli (Tony Danza), a former baseball player who becomes a live-in housekeeper for a successful advertising executive, Angela Bower (Judith Light). Alyssa Milano played Samantha Micelli, Tony’s spirited and independent daughter, whose presence adds a delightful dynamic to the household.
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Who’s the Boss? is filled with delightful ’80s nostalgia, but Milano has also spoken about how ahead of its time the show was, saying, “At the time, Who’s the Boss? was very progressive: It was about a single mom who ran her own business (Light), who then hired a man to be the housekeeper (Danza), and had this promiscuous mother (Helmond) who lived in the guest house. In the early ’80s, nobody was really talking about gender issues.”
1. Charmed (1998-2006): Alyssa Milano Movies and TV Shows
Milano is the rare actress who’s starred in an iconic show of the ’80s and an iconic show of the ’90s. Charmed was a supernatural drama that followed the lives of three sisters, Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe Halliwell (Milano), who discover they are powerful witches destined to protect the world from evil. Together, they navigate the complexities of magic, sisterhood, and love while battling dark forces.
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There was also some drama behind the scenes. Milano was accused of getting her onscreen sister Shannen Doherty fired from the show in 2001. 20 years later, Milano said, “I … want to take accountability and apologize for whatever part I played in the situation. I am the most sad that a show that has meant so much to so many people has been tarnished by a toxicity that is still to this day almost a quarter of a century later still happening.”
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Even with all the gossip around the cast, Charmed has long been a cult favorite, and over 25 years after it debuted it’s as beloved as ever.
