An Updated Ranking of the Best Performances From Kristen Stewart

As I’ve said previously, Kristen Stewart is an actress who only in the last few years has begun to properly get her flowers. A performer who once was just seen as the star of the Twilight franchise has, much like Robert Pattinson, consistently sought out daring filmmakers, edgy material, and made it her business to be challenged. In fact, it has already resulted in an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She’s also now become a filmmaker (which I spoke to her about here), adding to her bonafides. With a new film about to hit theaters with The Wrong Girls, what better time is there to do a new ranking of Stewart’s best work?

In my mixed review of The Wrong Girls (here), I said the following about Stewart:

Alia Shawkat and Kristen Stewart are the highlights here, with Stewart really having a blast playing a stoner. She’s able to mix the smart and the stupid in a way that almost overcomes the narrative missteps. Whether it’s mourning a buffet closing, quitting when things get hard, or verbally jousting with everyone, it’s a high quality comedic performance.

For me, her best performance is in Spencer. When I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival that year, I raved about it here, calling for her to win awards for the role:

Kristen Stewart deserves to win the Oscar for Best Actress, full stop. Disappearing into the role of Diana, there isn’t a moment in Spencer where you’re seeing Stewart. It’s only the Princess of Wales. It certainly doesn’t hurt that some of the paparazzi elements and external pressures laid at Diana’s feet resemble things the actress has gone through, but it’s still a performance for the ages. Tightly wound but full of personality, she shows you why this human being captured the imagination of so many. Especially in one particular sequence, she makes the woman truly come alive.

Below, you’ll see how I stack Stewart’s work, to date. Both of the aforementioned movies are mentioned, alongside a few titles I might be more partial to than most. So, you’ll see Clouds of Sils Maria, Into the Wild, and Personal Shopper, to be sure, but you’ll also find my list contains Adventureland, Camp X-Ray, and Welcome to the Rileys. What else do I cite? Where does The Wrong Girls land? Well, you’re about to find out…

Here are what I consider to be Kristen Stewart’s best performances, so far…

Honorable Mention: Equals, Fierce People, JT Leroy, The Runaways, Seberg, and The Wrong Girls

10. In the Land of Women

9. Café Society

8. Into the Wild

7. Clouds of Sils Maria

6. Welcome to the Rileys

5. Camp X-Ray

4. Adventureland

3. Love Lies Bleeding

2. Personal Shopper

1. Spencer

What is your favorite performance from Kristen Stewart? Let us know!