When the Cheerleader Became the Fury: How Jennifer’s Body Helped Megan Fox Unleash Her Rage—and Find Her Voice

At a special screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Megan Fox opens up about merciless paparazzi, the catharsis of playing Jennifer Check, and the long-in-the-works sequel from Diablo Cody and Karyn Kusama.

During a special screening of the 2009 cult horror-comedy Jennifer’s Body at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Megan Fox reflected on one of the most difficult chapters of her career with striking honesty. She described her younger self, fresh from her breakout in Transformers, as “so lost, so full of that rage that I had towards how I had been treated in the industry.”

At the time, Fox was facing intense scrutiny from the media and paparazzi, whose treatment she described as “ruthless and misogynistic.” She recalled attending the premiere of Jennifer’s Body and being verbally attacked by photographers shouting demeaning questions. “One guy’s like, ‘Megan, why are you such a bitch?’ And another said, ‘Do you think you’re overrated? The internet says so.’ And I’m just trying to do my job,” she shared.

The experience left her feeling cornered, but the film itself offered a powerful outlet. “I had all of this grief and sorrow and also anger and rage that needed a place to go,” Fox explained. “The film gave me permission to be unhinged, even in between takes. That was very cathartic for me.”

Playing Jennifer Check—a high-school girl who becomes a literal man-eater after being sacrificed by a rock band—resonated with Fox on a deeper level. She said she related to Jennifer’s story of being used for someone else’s gain, mirroring her own experience of being objectified and misunderstood by Hollywood at the height of her fame. “Before she becomes a monster, she’s just a teenage girl who gets sacrificed for somebody else’s gain,” Fox said. “That very much resonated because that’s kind of how I came into this industry. I was 19 when I made my first big movie, and I felt like that was reflecting back these energies that existed inside of myself.”

Looking back now, Fox described Jennifer’s Body as “healing,” admitting that the pain and confusion she carried at the time ultimately fueled the rawness of her performance. “If I had been able to warn myself or give myself advice, I don’t think you would’ve gotten the performance that you got,” she said.

Director Karyn Kusama also spoke about Fox’s experience, noting how the actress was often dismissed despite her intelligence and sharp sense of humor. “She was clearly attacked and mistrusted for not just staying in her place,” Kusama said, adding that the role allowed Fox to channel something powerful and long suppressed.

Meanwhile, screenwriter Diablo Cody has confirmed that a follow-up to Jennifer’s Body is in development, describing it as “fun and crazy like the first film.” The film’s legacy has grown exponentially over the years, now hailed as a feminist cult classic that was far ahead of its time, celebrated for its biting humor, queer undertones, and subversive commentary on fame and exploitation.