The 20 most essential Emma Stone films

La La Land is arguably Stone’s biggest film to date and a highlight of her career. Damien Chazelle’s musical follows Mia, an actress, and Seb, a pianist. The pair fall in love but are torn between each other and following their own individual passions. Stone won her first Oscar for her leading role as Mia, which required her to sing, dance, and more. The film features unforgettable songs performed by her and co-star Ryan Gosling, including ‘City of Stars’ and ‘Audition (The Fools Who Dream)’. 

Before La La Land, Stone proved her incredible chemistry with Gosling in the star-studded rom-com Crazy, Stupid, Love . The film follows Cal (Steve Carell), whose wife asks him for a divorce. His new and younger friend, Jacob (Gosling), then helps him learn how to pick up women. Stone plays Hannah, Cal’s daughter and Jacob’s girlfriend. Cal is unaware that his daughter is dating Jacob, and the revelation is one of the film's funniest scenes.

Stone had one of her breakout roles in the high school comedy Easy A. In this modern-day take on The Scarlet Letter, she plays Olive, whose white lie about losing her virginity to a college student spreads across her school like wildfire. As her life begins to parallel the historical novel, she takes advantage of the rumor mill to raise her social status. Stone brilliantly shows off her comedic skills in this star-making performance that put her on the map.

Winning the Oscar for Best Picture, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is considered a modern-day masterpiece. Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a washed-up superhero actor who plans to make a big comeback by directing and starring in a Broadway production. Stone plays Riggan’s estranged daughter, Sam, who is a recovering drug addict and agrees to be his assistant. She received her first Oscar nomination for her supporting performance.

One of Stone’s many collaborations with director Yorgos Lanthimos includes the film Poor Things. Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist. With no memory of her previous life, Bella evolves from the intelligence of an infant and learns about the world around her, embracing her freedom. Weird and wacky, the role sees Stone pushing herself to the limit, which deservedly won her a second Oscar for Best Actress in 2024.

Cruella tells the origin story of one of Disney’s most despicable villains before she became the ‘devil’. Stone plays young Estella, determined to make it in the world of fashion in 1970s London. Down on her luck and with the world against her, her ambition turns into something volatile. Full of killer looks and costumes, the film reveals the humanity within Cruella’s persona, and Stone perfectly embodies both versions of the character.

One of Stone’s most notable early roles is in the zombie comedy Zombieland . The film follows a group of survivors as they try to survive the zombie apocalypse and reach safety. Stone plays Wichita, who is on the road with her younger sister, Little Rock, and stragglers Columbus and Tallahassee. She stars alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Abigail Breslin, who make for an incredible ensemble with strong comedic chemistry. A fun and gory good time.

Stone is part of an incredible acting ensemble in The Help , which is based on the novel of the same name. Stone plays Skeeter Phelan, an aspiring author who writes a book from the perspective of African-American maids in the 1960s, documenting the hardships they face. She is one of the only kind and empathetic white characters in the movie, acting alongside Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain also star.

Most audiences first saw Stone in her supporting role in the classic 2000s comedy Superbad. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera play two high school seniors who want to have the biggest night of their lives before going to separate colleges, but things don’t go to plan. Stone plays Jules, whom Hill’s character likes and is trying to sleep with in order to gain experience before he goes to college. It’s a ridiculous, crude, and over-the-top comedy that still garners laughs today. 

The Favourite marks Stone’s first collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos, which would be one of many to come. This period piece is set during the eighteenth century and follows Queen Anne, who falls sick. Stone plays Abigail, a servant who endears herself to the Queen and rises in the ranks, much to the disapproval of her friend Lady Sarah. With its deadpan and absurdist comedy, The Favourite is unlike any other period piece out there. Stone also earned another Oscar nomination for her role.

In 2012, Spider-Man got rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man , starring Andrew Garfield as the titular hero. It tells the origin of Peter Parker getting bitten by a radioactive spider and gaining superpowers. Stone plays Gwen Stacy, Peter’s love interest, and she shares electric chemistry with co-star Garfield. The pair even dated in real life for some time, making their on-screen love even more believable. The film also stars Sally Field, Rhys Ifans, and Denis Leary. 

The Croods is a prehistoric adventure from DreamWorks Animation. It follows the titular family, who are forced to leave the safety of their cave and venture out into the dangers of the evolving world. Stone provides the voice of Eep, the curious and adventurous daughter of the family, who wants to learn more about the world, much to her father, Grug, ’s dismay. The Croods is full of laughs, emotion, and vibrant visuals, and stars Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds. 

Bugonia marks the fourth collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos, cementing them as an iconic director-actor pairing. Stone plays Michelle, a powerful CEO who is kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. The film is darkly comedic and satirical, and Stone embraces its peculiarity alongside co-stars Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis. She even shaved her head for the role. 

Stone plays tennis great Billie Jean King in the biopic Battle of the Sexes. The film chronicles the 1973 tennis match between King, the world number one, and Bobby Riggs, a former champion. Both deal with their own personal issues off the court, such as King’s sexuality and Riggs’s gambling demons. Stone and Steve Carell, who plays Riggs, make for a terrific pair in this engaging true story for both fans of the sport and admirers of these two actors.

From Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster, Eddington is a Western-thriller set during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the small titular town, a standoff between a sheriff and mayor sparks political and social chaos. Stone plays Louise Cross, an emotionally unstable woman married to the town’s sheriff, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Eddington uniquely explores the turmoil of the pandemic and the divisiveness it caused. It also stars Pedro Pascal and Austin Butler. 

Friends with Benefits is a rom-com starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. They play friends who decide to take their relationship to the next level by adding sex without commitment. However, this only leads to more complications. Stone only appears in one scene as Kayla, who comedically breaks up with Timberlake’s character and has a John Mayer obsession. Despite only having a small cameo, Stone steals the scene completely and leaves her mark.

After the success of Poor Things, Stone collaborated with Yorgos Lanthimos once again in Kinds of Kindness . The film is an anthology that tells three separate stories, with Stone playing a different character in each one - Rita, Liz and Emily. The film features the offbeat tone that is now synonymous with Lanthimos, and while it is not the most popular of their collaborations, Stone still gets the chance to shine alongside Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley and Willem Dafoe.

Stone returned alongside Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds to voice Eep in the sequel The Croods: A New Age. The story sees the prehistoric family meet the Bettermans, another family who are more evolved. While the Bettermans are more technologically advanced and look down on the Croods, they end up joining forces. Eep gets a new female bestie, Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran), and continues her budding relationship with Guy. 

Stone reunited with Andrew Garfield for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 , where they returned as Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. When New York is put under siege by Oscorp, Peter must protect his loved ones and fight the powerful Electro, played by Jamie Foxx. Gwen plays a larger role in this film, as Stone and Garfield get the chance to build on their chemistry and share many sweet scenes together. The film also has a very emotional ending that leaves a lasting impact. 

The Rocker is a 2008 comedy film that is often regarded as an underrated treat that deserves a cult classic following. Rainn Wilson (The Office ) plays Robert, a failed musician who gets a second chance when he is asked to join his nephew’s high school rock band. Stone plays Amelia, a teenage member of the band. This was only Stone’s second film role, and she starred alongside a massive slew of A-listers like Christina Applegate, Bradley Cooper, and Jason Sudeikis.