Amanda Righetti is an American actress best known for her work in television dramas, horror films, and psychological thrillers. She gained widespread recognition for playing Grace Van Pelt in the crime series The Mentalist, where her performance helped establish her as a familiar face among television audiences. Alongside her television career, Righetti has appeared in several feature films, including the horror remake Friday the 13th and the supernatural thriller The Roommate. Her film roles have ranged from supporting appearances in independent productions to prominent parts in mainstream horror movies. Although television has accounted for much of her career, her filmography reflects a consistent interest in suspense, mystery, and character-driven stories. This guide to Amanda Righetti movies by year covers her released feature-film appearances in chronological order, including lesser-known titles and relevant non-standard credits.
1995 — Love and Happiness
Love and Happiness is an early screen credit in Amanda Righetti’s career, predating her rise to mainstream television and film recognition. She played Charlie’s Kid Sister in the production, a supporting role from her teenage years. The film is among the lesser-known entries in her early filmography, reflecting the small parts through which she began building acting experience.
1996 — Kiss & Tell
Righetti appeared as Little One in Kiss & Tell, an early film credit from the beginning of her career. The title belongs to the formative period before she began receiving larger roles in television dramas and feature films. Although it is less widely known than her later horror and thriller projects, it helps document her early progression as a performer.
2002 — Angel Blade
In Angel Blade, Righetti played Samantha Goodman in a thriller directed by David Heavener. The film centres on a story of crime, danger, and complicated personal relationships, placing its characters in increasingly tense circumstances. This early feature-film appearance came before her breakthrough roles in television and demonstrated her involvement in darker dramatic material.
2007 — Pipeline
Righetti played Jocelyn in Pipeline, an independent drama and thriller that also marked an early step in her work as a producer. The film belongs to a period when she was expanding beyond television guest appearances and taking on more substantial independent projects. Her involvement behind the scenes also reflected an interest in developing productions as well as performing in them.
2007 — Return to House on Haunted Hill
In Return to House on Haunted Hill, Righetti played Ariel Wolfe, one of the central characters in this supernatural horror sequel. Directed by Víctor García, the direct-to-video film follows a group of people who enter a notorious haunted psychiatric hospital in search of a valuable artefact. Their expedition turns into a fight for survival as they encounter terrifying supernatural forces. The film is a notable entry in Righetti’s horror work, arriving before her leading role in Friday the 13th.
2008 — Role Models
Righetti appeared as Isabel in Role Models, a comedy directed by David Wain. The film stars Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as two energy-drink salesmen who are sentenced to community service with a youth mentoring programme. Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bobb’e J. Thompson play the young people who become involved with the pair. Righetti’s supporting role places her in a comedy that contrasts with the horror and suspense projects that feature prominently in her film career.
2009 — Friday the 13th
Righetti played Whitney Miller in Friday the 13th, the 2009 reboot of the long-running slasher franchise directed by Marcus Nispel. The story follows a group of young people whose trip to the woods near Crystal Lake brings them into the path of the masked killer Jason Voorhees, played by Derek Mears. Whitney becomes central to the plot as Jason’s violence intersects with her search for her missing brother. The film was a major theatrical horror release and remains one of Righetti’s best-known movie roles.
2009 — His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th
Righetti appeared as herself in His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th, a documentary celebrating the slasher franchise’s history. The production examines the films, their legacy, and the people who helped shape the series. Her contribution relates to the 2009 reboot in which she starred as Whitney Miller. This is a documentary appearance rather than a conventional acting role in a fictional feature.
2011 — Captain America: The First Avenger
Righetti played a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in Captain America: The First Avenger, a Marvel superhero film directed by Joe Johnston. Set during the Second World War, the story follows Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, as he becomes Captain America and battles the forces of HYDRA. The cast includes Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, and Tommy Lee Jones. Although Righetti’s appearance is brief, the film is a significant credit because it forms part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2011 — The Chateau Meroux
In The Chateau Meroux, Righetti played Jennifer in a romantic comedy-drama directed by Bob Fugger. The story centres on a woman who inherits a winery and must learn to manage the business while navigating personal and romantic complications. The wine-country setting gives the film a lighter atmosphere than Righetti’s better-known horror and suspense projects. It demonstrates her range across genres, including romance and character-focused comedy.
2011 — Wandering Eye
Righetti starred as Maren Abbott in Wandering Eye, a suspense thriller directed by François Dompierre. The story follows a woman whose extramarital encounter develops into a dangerous situation involving surveillance and a potentially obsessive stranger. As events escalate, personal choices become tied to a larger mystery. The production is often listed among her film credits, although it was made as a television movie rather than a conventional theatrical feature.
2012 — Shadow of Fear
Also known as Dangerous Attraction, Shadow of Fear features Righetti as Casey Cooper in a thriller directed by Michael Lohmann. The story explores the consequences of attraction, deception, and dangerous relationships as its central characters become caught in a tense situation. Righetti leads the drama alongside Anthony Michael Hall. Like Wandering Eye, this title is a television film, so it is best distinguished from her theatrical releases.
2013 — Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th
Righetti appeared as herself in Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th, a documentary examining the development of the influential horror franchise. The film draws on interviews, archival material, and behind-the-scenes accounts to trace the series from its beginnings through its later instalments. Her contribution relates to her role in the 2009 film. Although it is not a fictional feature, the documentary is relevant to understanding her connection with the franchise.
2015 — Cats Dancing on Jupiter
Righetti played Josephine Smart in Cats Dancing on Jupiter, an independent thriller that she also co-produced. The film centres on a group of women whose lives become connected through secrets, relationships, and a series of unsettling events. Its independent production distinguishes it from the larger studio films in her filmography. The project also demonstrates Righetti’s growing involvement in the creative and production sides of filmmaking.
2021 — Christmas at the Ranch
In Christmas at the Ranch, Righetti played Kate, the central character in a holiday romantic comedy directed by Christin Baker. The story follows a city woman who returns to her family’s ranch and finds herself reconsidering her priorities during the Christmas season. Laur Allen and Lindsey Gort also star in the film, which blends romance, family relationships, and the challenges of rural life. The role offered Righetti a warmer, lighter alternative to the thrillers and horror films associated with her earlier screen work.
2021 — Queer Fish in God’s Waiting Room
Righetti appeared as Misty in the independent short film Queer Fish in God’s Waiting Room, and she also received a producer credit. The project is distinct from her full-length feature films because of its short-film format. It represents another example of her involvement in independent filmmaking beyond acting alone. Its inclusion helps distinguish her wider screen work from her conventional feature-film appearances.
2023 — Far Haven
Righetti played Lilly Rayne in Far Haven, a western drama directed by Gary Wheeler. The film follows a woman who returns to her hometown with her children and attempts to rebuild her life while confronting local prejudice and family challenges. The cast includes Bailey Chase, Martin Kove, and A Martinez. The production gave Righetti a leading role in a contemporary western centred on resilience, community, and second chances.
2023 — Showdown at the Grand
In Showdown at the Grand, Righetti played Lynn in an action-comedy directed by Orson Oblowitz. The film follows the owner of a historic cinema as he tries to save his theatre from a corporate redevelopment plan, with events taking an increasingly chaotic turn. Terrence Howard, Dolph Lundgren, and John Savage appear in the ensemble cast. The movie combines action and comedy with a tribute to traditional cinemas and the experience of watching films on the big screen.
2024 — Reagan
Righetti portrayed Nelle Reagan, the mother of future US president Ronald Reagan, in Reagan, a biographical drama directed by Sean McNamara. Dennis Quaid stars as Ronald Reagan, with Penelope Ann Miller playing his wife, Nancy Reagan, and Jon Voight appearing as a former KGB agent who recounts aspects of Reagan’s life. The film follows Reagan’s journey from his early years through his careers in entertainment and politics. Righetti’s role allowed her to explore a historical character in a production centred on family influence, faith, and political legacy.
2026 — Shed
Righetti plays Ruth in Shed, a psychological horror feature directed by Mila Vilaplana and written by Valerie Jane Parker. The film centres on Becca, a successful but emotionally isolated woman whose unresolved trauma and grief manifest in increasingly disturbing ways. William Mapother and Spencer Locke also appear in the cast. The film premiered at the Nashville Film Festival in September 2026, making it a released feature-film credit as of October 2026, although a wider release has not been announced.
Conclusion
Amanda Righetti’s film career spans independent dramas, romantic comedies, supernatural horror, and major studio productions. Her role as Whitney Miller in Friday the 13th remains one of her most recognisable film performances, while Captain America: The First Avenger connected her work to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Independent projects such as Pipeline and Cats Dancing on Jupiter also highlight her interest in producing, alongside acting. More recent appearances in Far Haven, Showdown at the Grand, Reagan, and Shed demonstrate her continued involvement in a variety of film genres.
