The Top 10 Emma Stone Movies, Ranked
The red-headed Oscar winner we can't get enough of!
Emma Stone, who got her start in theater productions as a child, is now the owner of two Oscars for Best Actress — one for her role in La La Land (2016), and one for her role in Poor Things (2023) — two movies that earned her critical acclaim.
The 35-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona born actress is known for her outgoing, comedic personality, so it’s hard to believe that as a child, she suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks. And yet, the cure she found was none other than acting, finding it helped center her and focus on the present moment.
“All of my big feelings are productive,” Stone said to NPR of channeling her anxiety into her craft.
“And presence is required, so it’s like a meditation because anxiety lives solely in the past or the future – either future tripping or past tripping – things you can’t control on either side. And acting requires you to be so present, to listen, to be looking at the other person, to be living in the experience and living in your body, and that was the huge gift of it to me and remains the huge gift of it to me to this day.”
At around 12, she proposed the idea of homeschooling to her parents so she could focus more on acting. By 15, she was giving them a presentation on why she should head to LA in time for pilot season to make the jump from youth theater to professional acting.
One of her first major film roles was in the 2007 comedy film Superbad, followed by her first major leading role in Easy A (2013). Since then, Emma Stone has expanded beyond comedy and has acted in some of the most revered movies of the last 15 years.
Here, take a look at our ranking of the 10 best Emma Stone movies of her career.
Top 10 Emma Stone movies, ranked
10. Cruella (2021)
Emma Stone takes on the famed role of Cruella de Vil, bringing to life the origin story of the renowned villain. Poor and orphaned, Estella, as she was born, creates a life for herself in the streets of London alongside companions Jasper and Horace, the trio getting by as thieves.
With youthful dreams of becoming a fashion designer, Estella finds herself presented with the opportunity to enter the world of glamour she’s spent her life dreaming of.
As she becomes further entrenched in the glitzy world she always imagined for herself, the people apart of it, specifically, Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), a fashion legend, reveal things about themselves and the past that set Estella on a journey toward becoming the Cruella we know — and fear!
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9. The Help (2011)
Emma Stone stars as Skeeter Phelan, a recent college graduate who has dreams of becoming a writer in the midst of civil rights era Mississippi. Struck with inspiration, Skeeter comes up with an idea for a book, in which she will interview the Black housemaids in her community.
The first to participate is a woman named Aibileen (Viola Davis), but when the climate of their community shifts, more women come forward to share their stories and experiences caring for Jackson’s most affluent.
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8. Birdman (2014)
Michael Keaton stars as a washed up actor Riggan Thomson, who once found fame for his role in a series of superhero blockbusters. Looking to revive his career, he makes an ambitious leap into the world of Broadway, producing and starring in his on-stage endeavor.
As the feat proves to be more difficult than initially anticipated, Riggan finds himself having to deal with diva co-stars, his relationship with his daughter (Stone) and the stress of critics and reviews.
7. Zombieland (2009)
When a virus turns a majority of the human race into zombies, a ragtag crew find themselves working together to make their way toward an alleged safe haven in a Los Angeles amusement park.
A part of this crew are conniving sister Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and travel companions Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg).
6. Battle of the Sexes (2017)
Battle of the Sexes stars Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carrell as Bobby Riggs as they partake in one of the most watched tennis matches in history.
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Meanwhile, behind closed doors and away from the public eye, the accomplished tennis players were each going head to head with their own personal issues.
5. The Favourite (2018)
Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) aids the ill Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) in her governing efforts during the 18th century in which England and France are at war. When Lady Sarah’s cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives in search of a job, what Lady Sarah doesn’t expect is for her to take her place.
4. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Emma Stone movies
Steve Carrell leads this cast as Cal, a man who discovers that his wife is having an affair. Having been in a committed relationship for decades, Cal is a stranger to the modern dating scene and enlists the help of Jacob (Ryan Gosling) to show him the ropes.
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Emma Stone stars as Hannah, Cal’s daughter and Jacob’s eventual love interest.
3. Easy A (2010) Emma Stone movies
Emma Stone led Easy A as Olive, a high school girl who tells a white lie to her friend about a sexual endeavor that didn’t happen. Before she knows it, the lie has spread throughout her school and she’s built and unsavory reputation for herself.
To make the best of the situation, Olive uses her reputation to her advantage, allowing boys at her school with little luck in the romance department to lie about being with her in exchange for things that benefit her. However, the ruse soon tumbles out of her control.
2. La La Land (2016) Emma Stone movies
Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz pianist, both wish to pursue their career goals on a grander scale, with Mia becoming a professional actress and Sebastian opening his own jazz club. The duo navigate their love affair while dealing with the complications of real life.
For her role in the film, Emma Stone won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
1. Poor Things (2023) Emma Stone movies
Emma Stone took home the Academy Award at this year’s ceremony for Best Actress in this Frankenstein-esque film. The actress played the part of Bella Baxter, a woman who committed suicide and was brought back to life via a brain transplant. Her mind quickly develops and she soon seeks out what the world has to offer.
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