Emma Stone has built one of the most varied film careers of her generation, moving comfortably between comedy, romance, drama, musicals, animation, period stories, fantasy, and darker contemporary films. For anyone searching for emma stone movies, her filmography offers plenty of places to start.

Stone made her feature-film debut in Superbad in 2007 before becoming a leading actor with Easy A in 2010. She subsequently appeared in major films including The Help, Crazy, Stupid, Love., The Amazing Spider-Man, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), La La Land, The Favourite, Cruella, Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, Eddington, and Bugonia. Her performances have also brought major recognition from the Academy Awards, including wins for La La Land and Poor Things.

This guide explores the most important Emma Stone films, explains what makes different parts of her filmography distinctive, and offers a practical starting point depending on the kind of movie you want to watch.

Key Takeaways

• Emma Stone’s feature-film career began with Superbad in 2007.
• Easy A established her as a leading performer and remains an important early film in her career.
• Her filmography ranges from comedy and romance to musicals, animation, crime, fantasy, and psychological drama.
• La La Land earned Stone the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mia.
• Poor Things brought her a second Best Actress Oscar and also marked an important expansion of her work as a producer.
• Her more recent films include Kinds of Kindness, Eddington, and Bugonia, reflecting her continued interest in distinctive, director-driven projects.

Emma Stone Biography

Stone was born in Arizona and began performing at a young age through Phoenix’s Valley Youth Theatre. She later moved to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue acting. Her early television work preceded her feature-film debut in Superbad.

Emma Stone Movies: A Complete Film Guide

1. Superbad (2007)

Superbad marked Emma Stone’s feature-film debut. She played Jules, a high-school student at the center of the film’s social world.

The movie is a coming-of-age comedy following two friends trying to make the most of their final days before graduation. Although Stone’s role was relatively small compared with some of her later leading parts, Superbad is an important starting point for anyone tracing her film career.

It also placed her alongside a young ensemble that included Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

2. Zombieland (2009)

Stone took on a more prominent role in Zombieland, a horror comedy directed by Ruben Fleischer.

She played Wichita, a resourceful survivor navigating a zombie-filled United States. The film combined action, comedy, and horror, giving Stone an opportunity to move beyond conventional romantic or high-school roles.

Zombieland also demonstrated her ability to deliver comedy while maintaining a more independent, confident screen presence.

3. Easy A (2010)

For many viewers, Easy A is the film that truly established Emma Stone as a leading star.

Stone plays Olive Penderghast, a high-school student whose harmless lie about her romantic life spirals into a much larger social controversy. The film loosely draws inspiration from The Scarlet Letter while placing its story in a modern American high school.

What makes Easy A particularly important in the context of Emma Stone movies is that it puts her at the center of the story. Her comic timing, dialogue delivery, and ability to carry a film became major parts of her public screen identity.

4. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love. introduced Stone to a sophisticated romantic comedy ensemble featuring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Stone herself.

Stone plays Hannah, a young woman whose romantic life becomes unexpectedly complicated. Her chemistry with Gosling became one of the film’s most memorable elements.

The movie is useful for viewers who want to see Stone in a lighter adult comedy rather than a high-school setting.

5. The Help (2011)

In The Help, Stone played Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, an aspiring writer in 1960s Mississippi.

The film explores race, class, domestic work, and social expectations through several interconnected characters. Stone’s performance places her within a large ensemble that includes Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jessica Chastain.

For viewers interested in Emma Stone movies with a historical setting and dramatic themes, The Help is one of the key films to consider.

6. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Stone entered the superhero genre with The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb.

She played Gwen Stacy opposite Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker. Their relationship became one of the central elements of the film.

Stone returned as Gwen in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014. These films represent a significant phase of her mainstream career and introduced her to a much larger global audience.

7. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Birdman represented a significant shift toward more ambitious dramatic material.

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film follows a former superhero actor attempting to mount a Broadway production. Stone plays Sam Thomson, the daughter and assistant of Michael Keaton’s character.

Her performance earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film itself won Best Picture, making it an important milestone in Stone’s progression from mainstream comedy and romance into acclaimed dramatic cinema.

8. La La Land (2016)

La La Land is arguably the defining film of Emma Stone’s career.

Directed by Damien Chazelle, the musical follows aspiring actress Mia Dolan and jazz musician Sebastian Wilder, played by Ryan Gosling, as they pursue their ambitions in Los Angeles.

Stone’s performance required acting, singing, dancing, and emotional range. The role earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 89th Academy Awards.

The movie is an especially good starting point for anyone searching for Emma Stone movies because it combines several elements associated with her career: comedy, romance, music, drama, and ambitious filmmaking.

9. The Favourite (2018)

The Favourite took Stone into historical comedy-drama.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film is set in early 18th-century England and centers on the complicated relationship between Queen Anne and two women competing for influence at court.

Stone plays Abigail Masham alongside Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz. Her performance earned another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

The movie also began an important creative relationship between Stone and Lanthimos that continued into later films.

10. Cruella (2021)

In Cruella, Stone takes on the title role in a film that reimagines the early life of the character associated with Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.

She plays Estella, an aspiring fashion designer whose ambition gradually leads toward the identity of Cruella de Vil.

The film combines crime-comedy elements with elaborate fashion design and a period setting. It is one of the more accessible choices for viewers looking for a visually driven Emma Stone movie with a strong mainstream appeal.

11. Poor Things (2023)

Poor Things represents one of the boldest performances in Stone’s filmography.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and based on Alasdair Gray’s novel, the film follows Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life by the unconventional scientist Godwin Baxter.

Stone’s performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 96th Academy Awards. She was also among the producers of the film, which received a Best Picture nomination.

The role is dramatically different from Olive in Easy A or Mia in La La Land. Bella’s journey allows Stone to portray a character experiencing the world with a distinctive sense of discovery and independence.

12. Kinds of Kindness (2024)

Stone reunited with Yorgos Lanthimos for Kinds of Kindness, an anthology-style film built around three interconnected stories.

She appears in multiple roles alongside Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, and other members of the ensemble.

Unlike more conventional Hollywood productions, the movie is deliberately unusual in tone and structure. It is therefore particularly suited to viewers who want to explore Stone’s more experimental work.

13. Eddington (2025)

Stone appeared in Ari Aster’s Eddington, a contemporary ensemble film featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, and other actors.

Stone plays Louise Cross in the film. Its inclusion in her filmography demonstrates her continued movement toward projects led by distinctive directors and ensemble casts.

14. Bugonia (2025)

Bugonia brought Stone back into a leading role with Yorgos Lanthimos. She plays Michelle alongside Jesse Plemons.

The film also continued Stone’s involvement behind the camera as a producer. It was subsequently recognized at the 98th Academy Awards, where Stone received a Best Actress nomination for her performance and a Best Picture nomination as a producer.

For readers exploring the latest stage of Stone’s career, Bugonia is an important title to include.

Emma Stone Movies by Genre

Different parts of Stone’s filmography suit different viewing preferences.

This range is one reason Stone’s filmography is useful for both casual viewers and people interested in following an actor’s career development.

Which Emma Stone Movie Should You Watch First?

The right starting point depends on what you want from the movie.

For a funny introduction: Easy A

Start with Easy A if you want sharp comedy, a fast-moving story, and one of Stone’s most recognizable early leading performances.

For romance and music: La La Land

Choose La La Land if you want a romantic musical with a strong emphasis on performance and visual storytelling.

For historical drama: The Help

The Help offers a more traditional ensemble drama and places Stone in a period setting.

For superhero action: The Amazing Spider-Man

If you prefer action and comic-book storytelling, Stone’s portrayal of Gwen Stacy makes the two Amazing Spider-Man films natural choices.

For ambitious modern cinema: Poor Things

Poor Things is the choice for viewers looking for something more unconventional, visually distinctive, and performance-focused.

For experimental filmmaking: Kinds of Kindness

This film is better suited to viewers who enjoy unusual narrative structures and challenging dramatic material.

Emma Stone’s Career Evolution

Looking across Emma Stone movies chronologically reveals a clear expansion in the kinds of characters and films she has taken on.

Her early career was heavily associated with comedy. Superbad, Zombieland, and Easy A helped establish her timing and screen presence.

She then moved into larger ensemble dramas and romantic films, including The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love. Her work in The Amazing Spider-Man placed her within a major franchise.

The next phase involved increasingly acclaimed projects. Birdman, La La Land, and The Favourite demonstrated her ability to work with directors pursuing very different cinematic styles.

More recently, Stone has increasingly combined acting with producing. Poor Things and Bugonia are particularly notable examples of this expanded role. IMDb currently lists her as both an actress and producer, while the Academy records her producer credit on Poor Things and Bugonia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Emma Stone’s first movie?

Emma Stone’s feature-film debut was Superbad in 2007, in which she played Jules.

What is Emma Stone’s most famous movie?

La La Land is among her most widely recognized films and earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Other major titles include Easy A, The Help, Cruella, and Poor Things.

How many Oscars has Emma Stone won?

Emma Stone has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: one for La La Land and another for Poor Things.

Is Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-Man?

Yes. Stone plays Gwen Stacy in both The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

What movie did Emma Stone win her first Oscar for?

She won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for La La Land at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.

Did Emma Stone win an Oscar for Poor Things?

Yes. Stone won Best Actress for Poor Things at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.

What are Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos movies?

Their major collaborations include The Favourite, Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, and Bugonia. Stone also worked as a producer on Poor Things and Bugonia.

What are the best Emma Stone movies for a first-time viewer?

A practical introduction is Easy A for comedy, La La Land for romance and music, The Help for drama, Cruella for mainstream entertainment, and Poor Things for more unconventional filmmaking.

Conclusion

Emma Stone’s filmography goes well beyond a collection of popular titles. Her career traces a progression from youthful comedy in Superbad and Easy A to major studio productions, acclaimed dramas, musicals, historical films, fantasy, and increasingly unconventional projects.

For newcomers, Easy A provides an accessible introduction to her early leading work, while La La Land captures one of her most celebrated performances. The Help, Birdman, The Favourite, Cruella, and Poor Things reveal different sides of her range, while Kinds of Kindness and Bugonia show her continued interest in distinctive contemporary filmmaking.

Taken together, these emma stone movies provide a useful map of her evolution as both a performer and producer. Her two Best Actress Oscars—for La La Land and Poor Things—mark major milestones, but the broader filmography is what makes her career particularly interesting to explore.