Maika Monroe

Maika Monroe is an American actress and former professional kiteboarder. She is best known for her lead role in the horror film It Follows (2014), which made her a modern scream queen, and for starring opposite Nicolas Cage in the 2024 horror hit Longlegs. Her performances often anchor indie horror and thriller films with a grounded, naturalistic intensity. Monroe also played Patricia Whitmore in the blockbuster sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). As of 2026, she continues to build a reputation as one of the most compelling genre actors working today, with upcoming projects including adaptations of Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him and the horror film Blood Covenant. [edit]

Monroe grew up in Santa Barbara, California, where her father Jack Buckley worked in construction and her mother Dixie Monroe was a sign language interpreter. At 13, she started kiteboarding, following her father who was also a kiteboarder. She quickly became a top-ranked competitor and moved to Cabarete, Dominican Republic at 17 to train full-time, finishing high school online. She placed second in the International Red Bull Air Competition. While training, she sent audition tapes to casting agents for years with little response. In 2011, she got a call to audition for the role of Zac Efron's love interest in At Any Price (2012). She landed the part, and her acting career began. [edit]

Monroe made her film debut in 2012 as Cadence Farrow in At Any Price. A bit part in Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring followed in 2013. Then came 2014, her breakthrough year. She starred as Anna in the thriller The Guest and as Jay Height in It Follows. The latter premiered at Sundance and became a massive indie horror hit, earning Monroe several Best Actress awards. In 2016, she landed her first studio tentpole role as Patricia Whitmore in Independence Day: Resurgence. Subsequent years brought a string of genre films: Greta (2018), Villains (2019), Watcher (2022), and Significant Other (2022). In 2024, she starred as FBI Agent Lee Harker in Longlegs, opposite Nicolas Cage, a major critical and commercial success. In 2026, she leads the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him and the horror film Blood Covenant. [edit]

Monroe is widely regarded as a scream queen and indie horror darling. Critics praise her naturalistic, grounded performances that bring emotional depth to genre fare. She is often described as having made a seamless transition from professional athlete to actress. Her social media presence is authentic and low-key, with a modest but engaged following. Fans appreciate her down-to-earth persona and her willingness to take on challenging, unconventional roles. She has no official fandom name. [edit]

Maika Monroe is currently evaluated by the iFANN Global Fame Engine as holding no placement within the published rankings, meaning she does not occupy a position in the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This status reflects her standing as a highly respected genre actor rather than a figure with mass-market celebrity metrics that trigger a ranked listing. Her career trajectory, anchored by performances in *It Follows* and recent work in *Longlegs*, has secured her a dedicated presence within horror cinema without generating the viral volume required for a specific numerical rank. The absence of a formal ranking indicates a stable, niche prominence where audience engagement is driven by filmography rather than global fame cycles. Regarding her fanbase, there is no documented name for Maika Monroe's supporters. Unlike pop icons who cultivate organized groups with distinct identifiers, Monroe's audience remains organic and decentralized, typical of character actors in the indie and horror sectors. Her social media following on Instagram, which numbers around 329,000, represents general public interest rather than a structured movement. No official campaigns, charity drives, or fan-funded projects have been recorded, nor are there specific rituals or inside jokes that define her community. The connection between the actress and her admirers is built on appreciation for her naturalistic acting style and her willingness to tackle unconventional roles, rather than on shared lore or organized fandom activities.[edit]

Monroe changed her first name at age seven, rejecting the name Dillon after her mother had considered Maika during pregnancy. She completed her high school education online while residing in the Dominican Republic, a detail often overlooked given her later rise in Hollywood. Her father, Jack Buckley, was also a professional kiteboarder, setting the stage for her own athletic background before she transitioned to acting. In a 2016 interview, she expressed a belief in extraterrestrial visitation, stating, "I think there has to be something else out there. Hopefully they're nice." Early in her career, she appeared in a commercial for Purina Dog Food, an oddity that contrasts with her current serious dramatic roles. Recent developments have added new layers to her professional narrative without becoming folklore. In June 2024, it was confirmed that Monroe began dating Dalton Gomez, formerly married to Ariana Grande, a relationship that garnered media attention but remained a standard celebrity news item. By August 2026, reports indicated that filming for *It Follows 2* had resumed after significant delays, reuniting fans with the franchise. Additionally, trailers for *Victorian Psycho* released that same month showcased her performance as a governess described as "bloodthirsty" and "brilliant," further cementing her reputation in Gothic horror. She is also set to star in the drama *Reminders of Him* in 2026, continuing her streak of high-profile genre work.[edit]

Monroe's mother, Dixie Monroe, worked as a sign language interpreter. Her father, Jack Buckley, worked in construction and was a kiteboarder. She has no publicly known siblings. As of 2026, she is dating real estate agent Dalton Gomez and lives in Los Angeles. She has no children. [edit]

Monroe has collaborated with directors like David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), Oz Perkins (Longlegs), and Nacho Vigalondo. She starred opposite Dan Stevens in The Guest, Nicolas Cage in Longlegs, and Zac Efron in At Any Price. She dated Stranger Things actor Joe Keery from 2017 to 2022, and currently dates real estate agent Dalton Gomez. [edit]

Monroe dated actor Liam Hemsworth in 2015 after meeting on the set of Independence Day: Resurgence. In 2016, she had a brief relationship with actor Boyd Holbrook. From 2017 to 2022, she was in a long-term relationship with Stranger Things star Joe Keery. Since 2023, she has been dating Dalton Gomez, a real estate agent who was previously married to Ariana Grande. As of 2026, they are still together with no public marriage or engagement announcement. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Maika Monroe's net worth stands at $5 Million as of 2026. This valuation is derived primarily from her acting salaries across independent and studio productions. While her work in indie films typically commands fees ranging between $50,000 and $500,000 per project, her role in the blockbuster sequel *Independence Day: Resurgence* likely generated significantly higher compensation. Potential backend participation from the critical and commercial success of *It Follows* and the 2024 hit *Longlegs* may contribute to this total. Commercial appearances, including her early work with Purina Dog Food, represent additional income streams. No major real estate holdings or business ventures outside of entertainment are publicly documented.[edit]

Monroe has won several awards for her performance in It Follows, including Best Actress at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Fright Meter Awards, and the Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival. She also received a Women in Film and Television International WIFTS Award. She has been nominated by the AFI Awards, Chicago Film Critics Association, and National Society of Film Critics. [edit]