WOMEN WE LOVE: Emma Stone

Earlier this week, Emma Stone was nominated for her fourth Academy Award for her performance in the movie Poor Things, which she also co-produced, making her the first woman ever nominated for Best Actress and Best Picture in the same year. This follows her second Golden Globe Award a few weeks ago for the same role, not to mention her nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series for "The Curse" in the same year. To celebrate her success, we wanted to revisit some of the great works from her filmography to see just how far she has come!

Superbad (2007)

Superbad was Stone's feature film debut following a string of television appearances. Though she plays a supporting role in this movie, her character is integral to the plot. Her character, Jules, invites the main characters Seth and Evan (played by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, respectively) to a house party. This sets off the crazy chain of events for the plot. The movie is hilarious, and despite not starring in a main role, Stone adds depth to the comedy. Stone's film debut was a successful one. The movie is highly regarded, and it is widely considered among the best teen comedies of the 2000s. Available on VOD/Digital.

The House Bunny (2008)

In this quirky comedy, Emma plays Natalie, the president of an unpopular college sorority who accepts the help of shunned Playboy bunny Shelley (played by Anna Faris) to makeover her and her sorority sisters and turn their house into the place to be on their school's campus. This role exemplifies Stone's signature quirky acting style and should be on anyone's Emma Stone watch list if you want to see her at her comedic best! Stream on Netflix.

Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland saw a genre shift for Stone. This movie is an apocalyptic comedy where Stone stars as a survivor of a zombie apocalypse. Her character, known as "Wichita", is a con artist who has scammed her way into acquiring money and weapons. She and her sister, played by Abigail Breslin, make their way across the country in search of a supposedly zombie-free zone. Stone and Breslin’s characters eventually meet Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), two fellow survivors heading west. The group grows close as they head on their journey, kill zombies, and, oddly enough, meet Bill Murray. Stream on Tubi.

Easy A (2010)

Easy A was Stone's first leading role in a film. In it, she plays a teenage girl named Olive who gets wrapped up in a web of lies regarding her virginity. She leans into her new promiscuous reputation when her friend and the school’s religious advocate, played by Aly Michalka and Amanda Bynes, team up against her to spread rumors. Stone narrates via webcam as she follows the tale of her struggles within school society, reconnection with her former crush (played by Penn Badgley), and reclaims her own right to privacy regarding her relationships. The movie was partially inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel The Scarlet Letter, with Olive even donning a red “A” after rumors of her scandalous behavior circulate. The movie is fun and light in the ways you would expect from a teen comedy while tackling a more mature plotline. Available on VOD/Digital.

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

Crazy Stupid Love is one of the most iconic rom-coms of the 2010s. The movie stars Emma Stone alongside Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, and Julianne Moore. Stone’s character is Carell and Moore’’s daughter, and she is a love interest for Gosling. Crazy Stupid Love brilliantly executes an intertwining narrative plot full of twists as the characters form connections with each other. The reveal scene is hilarious and chaotic, the cast has great chemistry, and they are all fantastic in their roles. Every rom-com fan should add this to their watch list if they haven’t seen it already. Beware of spoilers in the post below if you haven’t seen the movie, but otherwise enjoy the funny confusion of the reveal scene! Available on VOD/Digital.

The Help (2011)

The Help was our first real look at Emma Stone in a more dramatic role. In it, she plays an aspiring writer in 1960s Mississippi, who enlists the help of her and friends' Black maids (played by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer) to write a book about their experiences working in white households. Emma plays her role with her signature quirkiness but adds more layers and depth, giving us a taste of her true capabilities. The subject matter of the movie has been debated in the years since its release, but the performances remain outstanding. Stream on Hulu.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Of course Stone has also been in a superhero movie. She can do everything! In The Amazing Spider-Man, Stone portrays Gwen Stacy, and has widely received praise for this role despite the often mixed reviews of the movie. Gwen Stacy is the love interest for Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, and their chemistry is powerful. Their performances together are typically what fans cite as the best parts of the movie. Though obviously more screen time is devoted to the titular character, Stone’s character helps drive the plot. Gwen’s father is the police captain who is vocally against Spider-Man, and she creates the antidote that Spider-Man eventually uses to save the city. Stream on Disney+.

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

The offbeat dramedy Birdman marked a new era in Emma Stone's career, and it lead to her first ever Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actress). The film is about a washed-up comic book movie actor (Michael Keaton) who tries to make an ambitious career comeback with a Broadway play. Emma plays his daughter, Sam, who he hires to be his production assistant after spending time in rehab for drug addiction. The role definitely paid off. Stream on Max.

La La Land (2016)

La La Land further proves that Stone can truly master every genre. She shines in this musical romance with Ryan Gosling. As we already learned from Crazy Stupid Love, Stone and Gosling work perfectly together as an on-screen couple. This movie sees them in a more bittersweet relationship as the pair navigate their romantic feelings while struggling to achieve their creative dreams. The musical received an astounding number of award nominations, and Stone was highly praised by critics, leading to her first Academy Award for Best Actress. La La Land is considered among the greatest romantic musicals ever. Stone stepped out of her comfort zone to sing in this movie, and it paid off beautifully. Stream on Netflix.

Poor Things (2023)

It is finally time to talk about Poor Things! As mentioned before, Stone earned her second Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture and fourth Oscar nomination for her role in this movie. Poor Things is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray. Stone stars as a Victorian Era woman who is essentially reborn by the act of an unconventional scientist. She then goes into her new life uninhibited by the norms of her society. She and Mark Ruffalo's character Duncan indulge in a hedonistic journey. We'll leave the rest for you to see if this fantastical steampunk sci-fi movie is up your alley. This movie is Stone as you've never seen her before, and it speaks to her complexity as an actress. Poor Things is currently in theaters.

Emma Stone has proven herself to be a versatile actress. She has found success in various genres and is constantly growing within her craft. Her movies are entertaining on the first, third, and even tenth watch. It's been wonderful to see how her career has progressed, and we know she will continue to shine!