Emma Stone’s 10 Best Films, According To Letterboxd

Emma Stone made her film debut with a supporting role in the 2007 teen comedy Superbad. Since then, she’s received critical acclaim, won countless prestigious awards and become one of the most versatile actresses working in Hollywood. From comedy and drama to singing and dancing, the Academy Award winner has proven she can do it all.

Stone most recently played the titular role in Disney’s Cruella, a live-action villain origin story for the 101 Dalmatians antagonist. This role earned Stone nominations at the Golden Globes and People’s Choice Awards. But with such a varied filmography, which titles are Stone’s most revered? And which one ranks highest on Letterboxd?

10 Battle of the Sexes (2017) – 3.30

Stone followed  her Academy Award-winning role in La La Land by playing tennis legend Bille Jean King in the sports drama Battle of the Sexes. The film centered around the 1973 tennis match between King, ranked first in the world, and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs, played by Steve Carell. The Battle of the Sexes match became one of the most watched televised sports events ever.

Both tennis stars were fighting their own personal battles off the court, Billie Jean coming to terms with her sexuality and Bobby hoping to relive his glory days. For her layered performance, Stone earned Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards nominations.

9 Easy A (2010) – 3.42

Will Gluck’s 2010 teen comedy Easy A was Stone’s big break, the young actress skyrocketing to fame after her lead role as Olive Penderghast. Partially inspired by The Scarlet Letter, the film follows clean-cut Olive as she lies about her promiscuity and uses the school’s rumor mill to improve the social statuses of herself and others. Things don’t go quite as planned and Olive is forced to reevaluate her new reputation.

Featuring an impressive supporting cast with the likes of Stanley Tucci and Lisa Kudrow, Easy A has become a classic comedy for young millennials. In fact, the film is one of Tucci’s best. For her role as Olive, Stone earned a Golden Globe nomination and won both a Teen Choice Award and MTV Movie Award.

8 Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) – 3.54

The romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love is the first of three films Stone made with Ryan Gosling, and their on-screen chemistry is undeniable. The film follows Steve Carrell’s Cal Weaver, a family man whose life falls apart when his wife admits to cheating and asks for a divorce. Stone plays Hannah Weaver, Cal’s daughter who starts dating Gosling’s Jacob Palmer.

Things get complicated when everyone finds out Jacob is the player who’s teaching Cal how to successfully pick up women. A film with witty dialogue, great twists and a plot so messy and entangled even soap operas are jealous, Crazy, Stupid, Love is a great romantic comedy and one of Stone’s best films.

7 Cruella (2021) – 3.54

Stone is currently competing for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her performance in Cruella. The live-action prequel to 101 Dalamtians follows Estella, a grifter and aspiring fashion designer, as she heads down the path to transform into the villainous Cruella de Vil.

Featuring fierce fashion and a fantastic supporting cast, Craig Gillespie’s take on the character became a hit and a sequel is already in the works with Stone returning. Cruella sets the stage for an interesting exploration of one of Disney’s most powerful villains.

6 Zombieland (2009) – 3.55

Zombieland follows the nervous Columbus as he meets three strangers while trying to survive a world overrun by zombies. He encounters the fearless Tallahassee first, Columbus learning how to defend himself and fight back from his new ally. Stone plays Wichita, a con artist traveling with her sister, Little Rock, and after stealing Tallahassee’s car, the pairs eventually strike up a truce.

Stone stands out in every scene, Wichita’s fiery determination and biting sarcasm right up her alley. Paired up with Abigail Breslin as her sister, the two bounce off each other with ease and are believable as siblings trying to survive the end of the world.

5 The Help (2011) – 3.76

The Help, Tate Taylor’s adaption of the 2009 Kathryn Stockett novel, follows an aspiring journalist and her relationship with two black maids in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Stone plays Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, the young white woman who tries to write a book from the point of view of the maids and ends up exposing the racism they face.

Feelings about The Help have shifted over the last few years, many criticisng it as a white-savior film and pointing out historical inaccuracies and harmful stereotypes. Viola Davis earned an Oscar nomination for the film but says she regrets taking the role of Aibileen Clark, one of the two maids Skeeter befriends.

4 Superbad (2007) – 3.84

Greg Mottola’s comedy Superbad centers around two co-dependent high school students whose plan to secure alcohol for a party goes up in flames. A relatable comedy about being a teen, Superbad has become a classic since its 2007 release.

Superbad marks Stone’s feature film debut and her work alongside Jonah Hill and Michael Cera proves she can keep up with her comedic costars. As Jules, Seth’s partner in home economics and the party’s host, Stone manages to shine with her little screen time. Jules becomes Seth’s love interest and likes him for who he is, no changes required.

3 Birdman (2014) – 3.92

Stone earned the first Academy Award nomination in her career for her work in the Best Picture-winning Birdman. Michael Keaton’s Riggan Thomson is a fading actor attempting a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. Known for his role as the titular superhero, Riggan’s journey to rebuilding his career and reconnecting with loved ones proves difficult.

As Riggan’s recovering drug addict daughter Sam, Stone plays against type and her performance earned critical praise. Along with the Academy Award nomination, she earned nominations at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Birdman won the Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture SAG Award. Along with the Best Picture Academy Award, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film won 3 more Oscars.

2 La La Land (2016) – 3.93

For her lead role in Damien Chazelle’s romantic musical drama La La Land, Stone seemingly won every award under the sun. Playing Mia Dolan, an aspiring actress who tries to balance romance with success, won Stone an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award. Mia has become one of Stone’s most memorable roles.

Leading La La Land helped prove her range and cemented Stone as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. In her third film with Ryan Gosling, the two feel on par with other dynamic on-screen duos like Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant or Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

1 The Favourite (2018) – 4.03

For her role as Abigail Hill in Yorgos Lanthimos’s 18th century-set black comedy The Favourite, Stone earned her second Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination. When Abigail arrives at the palace of Queen Anne, a rivalry sparks between her and her cousin Sarah Churchill, the queen’s current adviser and lover. Deliciously dubious, the two cousins will stop at nothing until one successfully becomes Queen Anne’s favorite.

Alongside Rachel Weisz and Olivia Coleman, who won the Best Actress Oscar, Stone thrives in the dark comedic beast that is The Favourite. The film received critical praise, earning multiple BAFTAs and Critics’ Choice Awards as well as numerous nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. It’s no surprise this artsy and darkly humorous period piece tops Stone’s Letterboxd rankings.

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