An Updated Ranking of the Best Performances So Far From Emma Stone

Like I’ve previously said when talking about her, in a relatively short period of time, Emma Stone has become a real star. Two Academy Awards (for La La Land and Poor Things), alongside a host of winning performances, have made her one of the most likable A-listers in Hollywood. Plus, her propensity to get weird with Yorgos Lanthimos (which I discussed here with the both of them) just makes her even cooler in my book. With Stone having already been in theaters earlier this year with Ari Aster‘s Eddington (reviewed here) and now this weekend with Bugonia, it’s high time to take another look at her best work to date.

Back at the Telluride Film Festival (here), I had this to say about Stone in Bugonia:

Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone have rarely been better. In fact, this is Plemons’ best work, though Stone is only not at that level due to the masterclass that was Poor Things. Plemons gives his conspiracy nut a soul, even if it’s a wildly misguided one. There’s a familiarity to him that’s meant to be disturbing, and it is. His cruelty, as well as his humanity, pair nicely with the wild eyes Plemons gives to Teddy. As for Stone, she makes Michelle cool as a cucumber at almost all times, so when she makes the CEO on high alert, we perk up as well. It’s spectacular work from them both. 

Below, you can find my newest Stone list. For me, it has got to be Poor Things at the top, though Easy A and La La Land are next in line. Easy A especially is arguably her most underrated work at this point, as it proved early on that she was a star. Looking at my picks, you can see that she’s worked with a host of interesting filmmakers as well, which shows just how appealing she is for storytellers to partner with. Your mileage may vary, but my picks below represent how I see Stone, who is among the most interesting actresses in the business, especially when she’s being zany with Lanthimos. That leads to where Bugonia winds up on the list. Take a look next to see exactly where, as well as if Eddington manages to make an appearance or not…

Here now is my ranking of the best performances from Emma Stone so far, updated to include Bugonia. Behold:

Honorable Mention: The Amazing Spider-Man. Cruella, Magic in the Moonlight, Superbad, and Zombieland

10. Irrational Man

9. Crazy, Stupid, Love

8. Birdman

7. Kinds of Kindness

6. Battle of the Sexes

5. The Favourite

4. Bugonia

3. Easy A

2. La La Land

1. Poor Things

What are your favorite performances from Emma Stone? Let us know!