WOMEN WE LOVE: Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart is a well-established actress and figure in pop culture. She is back on the big screen in Love Lies Bleeding, and her recent Rolling Stones cover has garnered lots of media attention, for better or worse. The media has often unfairly criticized her, but we love her artistry and appreciate how authentically herself she has been. 

Let's take a quick look back at her career highlights to see how she got where she is today!

1. Panic Room (2002)

Her first major role was playing Jodie Foster’s daughter in Panic Room at only the age of 12. The pair scramble to their new home’s panic room after the house is broken into. This thriller is suspenseful, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. The home invasion plot is worrisome enough, but the tension is elevated since the intruders not only know where the characters are hiding but are also intending to break into the safe room. The film is guided by its limited scope of location and the resilience of Foster’s character. Though the focus is on Foster, Stewart’s performance sells the tension of the drama and the heart of the mother-daughter pair. Her believability in her role contributed to the success of the film. Stream on Pluto TV.

2. Zathura (2005)

Stewart starred alongside Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, and Dax Shepard in this science-fiction adventure movie. Stewart’s character Lisa is taken along for the ride as her brothers unknowingly send their family home into outer space after playing an old game. The movie has a similar feel to Jumanji, which makes sense considering both films are based on novels by Chris Van Allsburg. The family must deal with aliens, robots, and strained sibling relationships as they work to finish the game. Stewart's character is believably emotional and caring toward her brothers but reluctant to show it in order to maintain the stereotypical cool teen girl posture. Zathura is a fun family movie, and Stewart provides a great performance. Available on VOD/Digital.

3. The Twilight Saga (2008-2012)

The five films of the Twilight Saga are perhaps what Stewart is best known for. The romance-fantasy franchise is based on four novels by Stephenie Meyer and is considered an iconic piece of 2000s pop culture. Stewart’s Bella Swan is the center of this world of vampires, werewolves, and teenage angst. Her performance alongside Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner made all of them into household names. Together, the movies grossed over $5 billion. That’s a success by any metric! The series is well-beloved by fans to this day, even though it has now been over 10 years since the premiere of the final movie, Breaking Dawn - Part 2. Stream on Hulu.

4. The Runaways (2010)

Stewart portrayed rock legend Joan Jett in this biopic about the all-female '70s rock band, The Runaways. She starred with Dakota Fanning, who portrayed Cherie Currie, and the film depicts the formation of the band, their fight to be taken seriously as young women in the rock scene, and the interpersonal struggles within the band. There is a focus on Jett and Currie’s relationship and lives, with the film eventually showing the band dissolve and Jett’s solo career taking off. Due to the rock ’n’ roll nature of the film, it was a mature role for Stewart that she handled perfectly. Available on VOD/Digital.

5. Snow White and The Huntsman (2012)

Snow White and The Huntsman is a darker take on the classic Snow White story you may be familiar with. The film was based on the Brothers Grimm’s version of the fairy tale and features a stellar cast of Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, and Sam Claflin. The film still follows the traditional plot, but this film shines with its passionate performances and lavish costuming. Stewart’s Snow White is an excellent foil to Theron’s Queen Ravenna, and the suspense of the fantasy plot is riveting. We all love a more adult take on a childhood classic, especially when it delivers as well as this one. Stream on Starz.

6. Charlie’s Angels (2019)

In this continuation of the iconic 2000 movie of the same name based on the iconic '70s TV series, Stewart brings new life to a beloved franchise. She welcomed the story back onto the big screen with Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska filling out the trio. The action-comedy directed by Elizabeth Banks has the same fashion-forward glitz and glam that the original was celebrated for and inserts a modern appreciation of female power. Action is a male-dominated genre, so it is always wonderful to see strong, smart women centered in an action story. The movie is fun, energetic, and allows Stewart to expertly explore humor on-screen. Stream on Starz.

7. Happiest Season (2020)

This movie is peak rom-com. There’s Christmas festivities, family dysfunction, and lovely LGBT+ representation. Stewart and Mackenzie Davis portray girlfriends who are spending the holiday season with Davis’s character’s conservative family. The film was written and directed by Clea DuVall, who was notably in the cult classic lesbian film, But I’m a Cheerleader. Happiest Season provides a great blend of tension and romance. Stewart’s performance is light and charismatic, as you would expect from a rom-com, but still handles the serious tones of the film with class. The movie manages to give reasonable development plots to all of the major characters, and it is a brilliant showcase of the cast’s range. Stream on Hulu.

8. Spencer (2021)

Spencer is an intense speculative drama about the beloved Princess Diana which earned Stewart her first Oscar nomination. The film takes place over the course of three days in December 1991. We are given a close look into Diana’s evaluation of her life among royals and loveless marriage. The film is not all encompassing of Diana’s life due to the focus on a select few days, but it provides a full view of circumstances and emotions. Stewart’s performance is brilliant, and she does justice to such a highly regarded figure. There is a wide breadth of content available regarding the British royals, but Spencer has a unique, intimate perspective. Stream on Hulu.

9. Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Stewart’s latest film is a 1980s thriller romance in which she portrays a gym manager with a family linked to crime. The film follows her romance with a bodybuilder played by Katy O’Brian. The movie is messy, the characters are unstable, and both of those statements are compliments. The unhinged nature of the characters adds to the mystery and intrigue of the plot. It is a fascinating depiction of devotion, queer love, and violence that makes it an exciting new addition to the crime-thriller genre. This role is unlike anything else in Stewart’s filmography, and it proves how impressive her range is. She is a phenomenal actress, and this film is a highlight. In theaters now.

Stewart is an icon on and off the screen. She stars in an upcoming road trip comedy with Michael Cera called Sacramento, but until then you can probably expect to find us rewatching The Twilight Saga for the tenth time...