Whether she’s a geek-chic queen or the girl next door, you might recognizeEmma Stonefrom classic crowd-pleasing favorites such asEasy A,Crazy, Stupid, Love,orThe Amazing Spider-Manfilms. She’s funny, she’s energizing, she’s gorgeous, and she’s incredibly talented on the screen. Her whip-smart humor doesn’t just prove itself onscreen either; it’s simply part of who she is. “In the past, making a movie … I’ve been told that I’m hindering the process by bringing up an opinion or an idea,” she tellsRolling Stone. “There have been times when I’ve improvised, they’ve laughed at my joke and then given it to my male co-star,” highlighting the continued divisiveness between good quality comedy opportunities and gender and thedifficulty of being a woman in Hollywood.
At just 35, Stone’s most notable accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, she was the world’s highest-paid actress and was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
With an active career spanning nearly two decades, having made her television debut as Laurie Partridge on the VH1 talent competition reality showIn Search of the New Partridge Familyin 2004, Stone has proved herself worthy of her reputation as one of Hollywood’s favorite funny women. These are our favorite roles in which Emma Stone has had audiences gripping their tummies in giggles, whether she was the butt of the joke or its executor.
Update August 08, 2025: This article has been updated by Samuel Cormier following Stone’s latest comedic role in Poor Things, which is generating a lot of awards buzz.
10Battle of the Sexes (2017) — Billie Jean King
This film,based on the life of the athlete Billie Jean King, is an entertaining dramedy depicting the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, the most-watched televised sports event of all time. When Bobby claims he can beat any woman in a tennis match, King agrees to play him, on her own terms. Billie Jean’s relationship with love interest Marilyn Barnett emphasizes King’s grappling with her sexuality, which Stone depicts very naturally.
What Makes Her Great
The sweatbands, the mullet hairstyle, and giant glasses give one the impression that they’re in for a good chuckle at Stone. While the Academy didn’t go for her understated performance inBattle of the Sexes, it’s an excellent one nonetheless. Not a traditional laugh-out-loud comedy, the film is certainly more of a dramedy, but it still earns a spot on this list.Battle of the Sexesis available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
Related:Best Emma Stone Movies, Ranked
9The House Bunny (2008) — Natalie
As a dorky sorority sister whom Anna Faris’s former Playboy Bunny takes under her wing, Stone is seen, once again, donning her big-glasses nerdy side, while she also channels that fan-favorite girl-next-door energy of hers (perhaps a lean towards her role as Gwen Stacey inThe Amazing Spider-Manfilms).
It would be easy for Emma Stone to become lost among a sea of hilarious women in this stellar line-up, consisting of Faris, Kat Dennings, and Kiely Williams, but Stone holds her place as the awkward, attractive girl inThe House Bunny. She’s funny and relatable here, and there is also abeloved makeover montageset to Avril Lavigne’s hitGirlfriend, in which Anna Faris declares, “dressing sexy’s all about skimplifying,” and “the eyes are the nipples of the face.“The House Bunnyis available to stream on Netflix.
8Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) — Allison Vandermeersh
In this comedic re-imaginedadaptation of Dickens’A Christmas Carol, Stone plays Allison, the ex-girlfriend of Connor (Matthew McConaughey). She returns from the past to guide the womanizer he has become on the first stage of his romantic journey. She is Connor’s first girlfriend, a dorky and hot-tempered alternative girl whom Connor often goes back to when things went wrong with his long-time love, Jenny (Jennifer Garner).
Spotted in a perm and an acid-washed jacket, Stone is the terrifyingly manic ex-girlfriend we’d all love to avoid, but her small role inGhosts of Girlfriends Pastdrives the narrative forward with hilarious zest and humor as she reveals the objectifying ways of McConaughey’s character and shows him how he needs to change to prove his realized love for the angelic Jennifer Garner. This was an early role for Stone following her breakout inSuperbad, and even in a minor role she not only stood out but it was clear filmmakers were trying to find places for her.Ghosts of Girlfriends Pastis available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
Superbadis a famous comedy where two high school seniors try to lose their virginity. Seth (Jonah Hill), in particular, is interested in a popular girl called Jules, played by Emma Stone. While not the main character, she is central to the story. She invites the boys to her party and asks them to buy alcohol despite being underage, prompting their encounter with the police and the unforgettable McLovin fake ID gag.
While Stone had appeared in TV shows before,Superbadwas her true breakthrough role. Alongside great performances by Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, Stone was one of many standout performances and helped make Superbad both a classic comedy and one that would launch the careers of many now high-profile actors. Her Jules is the perfect encapsulation of Seth’s fantasy of an ideal cool girl but also shows shades of personality outside her prescribed high school role, and a lot of that is due to the incredible layers Stone brings to the role. Not only was Stone’s first movie one of the most defining movies of the 2000s, but it was clear to anyone watching the movie that she was going to be a star.Superbadis available to stream on DirecTV, or to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
Related:The Curse Ending, Explained
6Zombieland (2009) - Wichita
InZombieland, Stone is cast as Wichita, Columbus’s love interest (Jesse Eisenberg). Stone plays a con artist, alongside Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who steals Columbus' and Tallahassee’s (Woody Harrelson’s) guns and their car before ultimately taking them hostage and agreeing to a truce in the name of survival.
Alongside a pre-The Social NetworkJesse Eisenberg, Stone’s sharp sarcasm contributes to this wickedly funny zombie movie, a template for the Americanzom-com at its best. Having already proved herself as a comedy connoisseur by now, her role as Wichita only complemented her efforts further and proved her ability to display superb onscreen chemistry with other comedic acting talent. She would reprise her role in Zombieland: Double Tap, where she would be an Academy Award-winning star alongside her returning cast members who had all become Academy Award nominees.Zombielandis available to stream on Tubi TV
5La La Land (2017) — Mia Dolan
La La Landisa musical about an actress and a jazz pianistwho fall in love in Los Angeles. Stone plays Mia Dolan, a barista and down-on-her-luck actress, whose life seems to kick down relentlessly until she meets Seb. In a classic tale of ‘the one that got away,’ she furthers the on-screen chemistry she shared with Ryan Gosling inCrazy, Stupid, Love. In this film, Stone delivers one of her most powerful performances to date – albeit not all that comedic but more a romantic comedy.
La La Land was truly a career-defining movie for Stone. While he was beloved in a wide variety of films, this movie took her to a new level. Fans also had to discover Stone’s beautiful singing voice, which she trained for months. All this effort earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and many more. Stone’s character Mia has the ability to make audiences laugh, but also cry, in this incredibly complex and memorable character.StreamLa La Landon Netflix.
4The Favourite (2018) — Abigail Masham
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, thisdeliciously wicked and funnydramedy features Stone alongside Rachel Weiss and Olivia Colman in the early 18th century. England is at war with the French, and a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne; her close friend, Lady Sarah, governs the country while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. A new servant, Abigail (Stone), arrives. One night, she witnesses her cousin Sarah (Rachel Weisz), the Queen’s most trusted adviser, having sex with the Queen and sets out to seduce the Queen herself by any means necessary.
WhenThe Favouritehit cinemas in 2018, it was a major swerve many audiences and critics did not expect. On the surface, it felt like a normal period piece costume drama, but this was a trojan horse to hide a kinky, sex-filled, dark comedy. Stone is exceptional in playing elegant, cold, and charming. This was certainly a major change of pace to the previous comedy films Stone had done, where she was presented as a reliable everywoman, but it was a bold creative risk that paid off.The Favourite is available to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
3Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) — Hannah Weaver
InCrazy, Stupid, Love, Stone plays Hannah, a sweet yet strong-willed law school graduate who refuses charmer Jacob (Ryan Gosling)’s advances for a one-night-stand. But when her boyfriend offers her a job as a lawyer at his firm when she is expecting a marriage proposal, she goes back to Jacob, but instead of having sex, they spend the night chatting and slowly fall in love.
With her constant sarcasm, energy, and clumsiness, Stone gives her character the realness of an everyday kind of girl that all can relate to which became her comedic persona.Crazy, Stupid, Loveis Stone and Gosling’s first project together from a long list and an unforgettable account of their unmatched chemistry. Stone grapples with Gosling’s smooth-talking ladies' man, whom she encourages to take his shirt off in this movie andexposes his hot “photoshopped” body– for which a grateful nation thanks her.Crazy, Stupid, Loveis available to stream on TNT and truTV, or to rent on Apple TV, Prime, and Vudu.
2Poor Things (2023) — Bella Baxter
Read Our Review
Acting alongside a star-studded cast of the likes of Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, and Mark Ruffalo,Poor Thingssees Stone playing the role of a young woman in the Victorian era. Revived by a mad scientist after her suicide, she finds herself uninhibited from her previous concerns and discovers the endless possibilities of the world and the path to self-fulfillment. Stone’s latest role confirms the track that she has been on for the past few years: the actress has been growing confident in more complex roles.
Stone is a perfect choice for this role of a young woman traveling the world and discovering herself.Poor Thingsis an absurdist comedy, and Stone gives one of the best performances of her career, truly going all out in both terms of physicality and wit, as she has a lot of fun at the beginning of the movie playing the more naive, childish persona and then evolving into a more sardonic wit. She shines in this unique film that is also a feast for the eyes thanks to outstanding cinematography, luxurious period costumes, and the most beautiful cities in the world as backdrops. There is a strong possibility Stone could score another Oscar nomination for her role and could possibly be the winner asshe has already won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musicaland the Critic’s Choice Awards.Poor Thingsis currently playing in theaters.
1Easy A (2010) — Olive Penderghast
InEasy A, a modern retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne’sThe Scarlet Letterthat pays homage to John Hughes' iconic 80s teen movies,Olive Penderghast pretends to lose her virginity to a gay classmate at a party and quickly becomes the talk of the school. Rather than clear up the confusion, Olive toys with her newfound reputation and dons a red A on her chest.
Easy Ashowcases Emma with her finest ‘everygirl’ charm as a comedic schemer as she rattles off whip-smart dialogue with the comedic timing of a veteran. As Stone’sfirst lead role in a movie, she harnesses the opportunity to deliver a sensationally entertaining performance. She makes the movie her own with her enigmatic talent and infectious likability. Her iconic role as Olive Penderghast proved Stone to be an absolute sensation. Superbad might have put her on the map, but it was Easy A that made her a movie star and one whose career has spanned genres and she is now an Academy Award winner. many, this is likely the first role they think of first.Easy Ais available to stream on DirecTV.
