10 Best Emma Stone Movies, Ranked (#1 Is Still Basically Perfect)

No matter which way you look at it, Emma Stone is one of the best, most respected, and most accomplished actors in all of Hollywood. She began her film career with a fun supporting part in 2007’s Superbad, one of the best comedies of its time. She became the breakout star of a very talented movie, landing roles in everything from blockbuster franchises to critically-acclaimed indie projects to Oscar winning films.

From romantic comedies to trippy sci-fi movies to heavy emotional dramas to musicals, Emma Stone is as versatile as it gets on the big screen. Her career has spanned some of the most impressive performances you’ll find anywhere, so picking out her greatest films is a difficult task. Just looking at her filmography showcases an actor who is among the best around.

Quality movies like Zombieland, The Amazing Spider-Man, Battle of the Sexes, and Kinds of Kindness don’t quite make the cut, even though they would for the careers of many other actors. That’s telling of how stellar Emma Stone has been since her big screen debut nearly two decades ago.

Stone’s best movies include projects for which she won major awards, some that were up for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and some that involved her doing everything from singing to shaving her head bald. All throughout it, Stone has remained as consistent as they come.

10

Cruella (2021)

Disney’s string of live-action remakes has been a mixed bag at best, yet Cruella is a bit different. Instead of retelling 101 Dalmatians, it’s actually an origin story for the animated film’s villain, Cruella de Vil, who had previously been played on the big screen by the legendary Glenn Close. Stone stepped into the titular role and delivered one of her best performances.

One of the first movies to get a major release after the pandemic, it struggled a bit commercially but was well-received. Stone embodied the character, walking the fine line of playing someone we want to root for while also knowing she’s a villain we must grow to detest. She landed a Golden Globe nomination for her efforts.

9

Superbad (2007)

Not many actors get to debut in a great film such as Superbad but Emma Stone isn’t just any actor. The iconic teen comedy follows two best friends who concoct a plan to get drinks for a party so they can hook up with the girls they like before leaving for college. While it’s Jonah Hill and Michael Cera’s film, Stone has a solid supporting role as Jules, whom Hill’s character is romantically interested in.

Jules isn’t a big part and we’ve certainly seen better from Stone over the years. Still, this is a hugely important piece of her fantastic career, as you can see the early makings of a future star in her handful of scenes. On top of that, Superbad was also a hit with critics and at the box office, while holding up as a staple of its era, making sure everyone knew who Stone was.

8

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

One of the best modern romantic comedies is Crazy, Stupid, Love. The movie focuses on a series of love stories that are interconnected, with the main one involving Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) trying to find himself after his wife (Julianne Moore) cheats on him. He gets help from handsome womanizer Jacob (Ryan Gosling), who himself falls for Hannah (Stone).

Crazy, Stupid, Love was heavily praised for everything from its tremendous cast to its witty dialogue. However, the reason everyone remembers it so fondly is that it features one of the best plot twists in a non-thriller, which directly involves Stone’s character. This marked the first collaboration between Stone and Gosling, who went on to do three movies together.

7

The Help (2011)

As noted, many of Stone’s movies have been heavily praised and up for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The first of her films to earn that honor was The Help. Based on the novel of the same name, it tells the story of a young white journalist who writes a book from the perspective of two Black maids she befriends, exposing the discrimination and racism that they face.

Stone plays Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, the journalist at the center of it all. The film was beloved by critics and scored major nominations. While Octavia Spencer won an Oscar and Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain were nominated, Stone didn’t get nods at the Oscars or Golden Globes. That said, this was still a clear indication that she was ready to take the next big step into dramatic roles.

6

Bugonia (2025)

The partnership between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos has been fruitful for both the actor and the director. They’re known to make weird movies that are well-received, yet Bugonia is their most accessible project. It centers on Michelle Fuller (Stone), a major CEO of a pharmaceutical company who gets abducted by two men who believe she’s actually an alien.

Most of the movie just has these three characters conversing, yet it’s incredibly engaging. Stone, along with her co-star Jesse Plemons, received nominations at the Actor Awards and the Golden Globes. Stone was also up for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, which was her fifth acting nod.

5

Easy A (2010)

While her supporting parts in Superbad and Crazy, Stupid, Love are probably her most famous romantic comedy roles, Emma Stone got the chance to lead her own teen comedy and delivered in spades. In Easy A, the young actor shot into stardom with a great lead performance as Olive in this film that was inspired by The Scarlet Letter.

To help her gay friend, Olive agrees to fake a story that they hooked up, which starts a rumor mill that leads to her having a reputation as the school tramp. The film is hilarious and features a great cast that includes Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, and more.

4

Birdman (2014)

Emma Stone has been nominated for five Academy Awards for her acting over the years and it all started with Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). The movie took home the Oscar for Best Picture (among several other accolades) and tells the story of a faded Hollywood actor who attempts to make a comeback by crafting and starring in a Broadway play.

That man is played by Michael Keaton and his daughter Sam is portrayed by Stone. Their relationship is tumultuous, especially since Sam is in recovery from a drug addiction. Stone steals the show in every scene, even as she works opposite veterans like Keaton and Edward Norton.

3

The Favourite (2018)

The Favourite marked the first time that Stone and Lanthimos worked together and it was a great look at their penchant for making interesting projects. Set in early 18th-century Great Britain, the movie centers on the relationship between Queen Anne and two cousins, Sarah and Abigail, who fight for her affection.

Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are fantastic as Abigail and Sarah, respectively, to the point where both were nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Olivia Colman, who plays Anne, won for Best Actress, showing just how good every performance in the film truly is.

2

Poor Things (2023)

The biggest and most notable collaboration between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone came with 2023’s Poor Things. A unique take on the Frankenstein story, the plot centers on Bella Baxter (Stone), a woman who took her own life but gets resurrected with the brain of a fetus.

That premise sets the stage for what might be Stone’s greatest performance yet. She manages to play someone with the mind of a child well, balancing her innocence with her impulsiveness. Stone took home her second Academy Award for her performance, while also winning at the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs.

1

La La Land (2016)

Original SR Image bu Yailin Chacon.

Emma Stone won her first Academy Award for La La Land and it was well-deserved. The film marked her third and best collaboration with Ryan Gosling, where they play two people who fall in love in Los Angeles. He plays aspiring jazz musician Sebastian and she plays hopeful actor Mia.

The chemistry between Stone and Gosling is at its best here. They make sure each scene is electric, while the musical numbers are filled with whimsy and charm. Add in a heavily emotional ending and La La Land stands as one of the best films of the 2010s, as well as the best of Emma Stone’s tremendous career.