As the niece of the legendary and Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts has had a head start on her acting career. In her teenage years, however, she showed that she was more than just a name performer by giving performances that were both fantastic and humorous. Emma Roberts has appeared in a wide variety of films and television series, from adolescent comedies to generic rom-coms to becoming a standout Scream Queen in her own right. Find out where to watch the top-rated Emma Roberts movies and TV shows, and see which ones made the list.
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Maybe I Do (2023)
Despite its best intentions, this classic romantic comedy is about as bland as it gets. Still, it’s worth seeing for the incredible ensemble of actors that play pivotal roles in this multigenerational web of intrigue, including Roberts, Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and many more.
Wild Child (2008)
When Emma Roberts’ character, a spoilt rich kid, is sent to an English boarding school, she finally meets her match. It’s a good adolescent comedy with some timeless chuckles and foreshadowing of Roberts’ eventual Chanel Oberlin performance.
Grand Champion (2002)
In one of her first film roles, Roberts played the sister of a small boy who desperately wants to prevent Bruce Willis, the villain of the piece, from killing his treasured calf, Hokey.
We’re the Millers (2013)
This absurdly exaggerated comedy follows a fictitious family as they band together to assist Jason Sudeikis in retrieving his stolen property and funds from Mexico. Jennifer Aniston, Will Poulter, and especially Roberts provide standout performances in an otherwise routine film.
Little Italy (2018)
This film is Hayden Christensen’s first appearance in a role that is quite different from his Star Wars roles. Despite the movie’s unexpected lack of sophistication, I couldn’t help but laugh at the contemporary, irreverent take on the Romeo and Juliet storyline presented by the dueling pizzerias owned by Christensen and Emma Roberts.
Valentine’s Day (2010)
Roberts, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Kathy Bates, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Queen Latifah, and a plethora of other Hollywood A-listers are why you’re here. This film is a little too drawn out in its depiction of the lives of numerous individuals on this romantic weekend, but the performances are excellent.
Aquamarine (2006)
In this peculiar riff on the plot of “The Little Mermaid,” Roberts plays the best friend of a mermaid who falls in love with a lifeguard and wants to prove to her father that genuine love exists. Nothing really noteworthy occurs, but Roberts, JoJo, and Sara Paxton are entertainingly silly and endearing anyway.
Nancy Drew (2007)
This film version of the popular book series falls short of the high standards set by the source material. Roberts is a perfect fit for the role of the titular juvenile investigator, but the rest of the actors and the mystery are disappointing.
The Hunt (2020)
In this violent thriller, 12 complete strangers awake in an unfamiliar environment without any recollection of the events leading up to their arrival there. People start hunting them for kicks, which leads to some terrific and shockingly humorous acting from Roberts and others like Hilary Swank.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
This comedy-drama about a teenage guy who checks himself into a clinic to receive therapy for his mental health is unexpectedly excellent. As a result of his interactions with the other patients, including Roberts, hilarious and touching scenes unfold.
Blow (2001)
Stars like Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz shine in this dramatic retelling of the true tale of drug king George Jung, who ruled in the 1970s. The stakes are great, and the plot is intriguing, yet the novel itself is not without flaws.
Palo Alto (2013)
Roberts appears in this R-rated adolescent drama about privileged children whose parents don’t seem to mind if they get into mischief. It’s intensely dramatic and emotionally resonant, but it also doesn’t hold back from showing the darker, more realistic side of defiant adolescence.
About Fate (2022)
Margot, played by Emma Roberts, is a zany but charming bride-to-be who meets a guy who is also going to tie the knot and realizes they are destined to be together. The strong chemistry between Thomas Mann and Roberts keeps this well-rounded romantic comedy entertaining.
Nerve (2016)
Time and again, Emma Roberts has shown her ability to carry a suspenseful thriller as the film’s protagonist. Roberts finds herself being encouraged to undertake terrible activities in order to win a creepy internet game that encourages children to do ever harsher dares.
Paradise Hills (2019)
A group of women under the leadership of Roberts who learn a terrible truth about their idyllic island community and decide to leave are the protagonists of this dystopian future movie. The results are inconsistent, but generally, it’s a safe bet. Great acting from Roberts, Awkwafina, and others makes this picture worth seeing.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
In this terrifying film, Roberts plays a teacher who attempts to save two girls who are trapped in a haunted building. Despite its somewhat plodding pace, the film’s spooky effects are undeniably stunning, and it successfully sidesteps genre conventions in favor of a few real shocks.
Unfabulous (2004-2007)
This is the show that made Emma Roberts a household name. Addie Singer, a middle schooler who finds herself in embarrassing predicaments and turns to songwriting as an outlet, is the protagonist of a live-action Nickelodeon series starring this actress. Roberts’ star quality shines out in this episode, and there’s a good reason why it inspired many of the other works included here.
Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
In this great romantic comedy that aims to transcend the genre’s conventions, Emma Roberts plays a more supporting role. In their prominent roles as a couple facing an inevitable divorce, Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg steal the show.
Who We Are Now (2017)
Because it’s so unlike anything else she’s done before, this is one of Emma Roberts’ finest performances and films. Roberts steals the show as the convicted man’s lone hope in this straight drama about his second chance, which lacks the comedic elements of her previous roles.
American Horror Story (2013–2019)
Emma Roberts’s acting chops were on full display over the course of many seasons of this groundbreaking horror anthology series. She was able to portray a frightened young woman to the more evil figures, as well as other roles. In 1984, she had the opportunity to showcase her Scream Queens chops once again, and she absolutely nailed it for the first part of the season.
Scream Queens (2015-2016)
Look no further than the two seasons of Scream Queens if you want to witness Emma Roberts at the height of her comic abilities. Despite starring names like Jamie Lee Curtis and Lea Michele, this humorous horror slasher show about a mystery murderer is all Roberts. Chanel Oberlin, the spoiled, affluent sorority girl who doesn’t give a hoot about the murderer, is her strongest part to date and a living meme that dominates every scene she’s in.
Scream 4 (2011)
This fourth installment in the acclaimed slasher series has one of the greatest performances by Emma Roberts and successfully subverts audience expectations. The narrative is both scary and shocking, and she handles both with finesse. There are even some humorous moments that equal anything else she’s done in her career.
