Emma Stone is one of the most versatile actors currently working, but her sci-fi seriesManiacis overshadowed by her other successes.Emma Stone’s best moviestend to be drastically different from each other as she rarely takes on the same type of project twice despite sometimes playing similar characters. She often plays confident and quirky women, from her career breaks inEasy AandSuperbadto her more recent success withPoor Things. Stone has appeared in relatively few sci-fi productions, but whilePoor Thingsreceived the most attention, she is also excellent inManiac.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s sci-fi movies and TV shows have been hit-and-miss, with some major successes likeBlack Mirrorand other forgettable creations. Thebest sci-fi movies on Netflixare older classics and newer movies with experimental genre mixes, with the cyberpunk short story seriesLove, Death + Robotsbeing a great example.Unfortunately, Netflix does not always treat sci-fi welland has a habit of canceling promising series, leaving cliffhangers likeThe OA’s ambiguous ending. That said,Maniac’s ending is rounded off well, and it is one of Netflix’s best sci-fi shows.
Why Emma Stone’s Maniac Is One Of Netflix’s Best Sci-Fi Shows
Maniac’s Blend Of Genres Make It A Sci-Fi Success
Maniacstars Jonah Hill alongside Stone and is about two strangers who connect while taking part in a pharmaceutical trial. The experiment is designed to heal its 12 participants from various past traumas, including mental illness, by taking them through a series of elaborate hallucinatory worlds. The acting from all the cast members is excellent, with Stone being especially compelling as a guilt-ridden woman with a personality disorder.
Maniac’s blend of genres is integral to the story, which blurs the line between fantasy and reality.
The visuals are also exciting, yet while sci-fi can risk being more style than substance,Maniac’s story is moving and the series holds an 85% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Maniac’s blend of genres is integral to the story, which blurs the line between fantasy and reality through hallucinations.
The series is a surrealist psychological drama, and its black comedy moments suit Stone’s casting well, as her characters often have a comedic side. This genre-mixing elevatesManiac, which could have been yet another sinister human experiment-themed show in another director’s hands.The weird world ofManiacleaves several questions unanswered, andwhile it is unlikely that there will be aManiac 2, it is not impossible as Stone has appeared in sequels before.
Another Great Emma Stone Sci-Fi Is Available On Streaming
Poor Things & Maniac Show That Emma Stone Should Appear In More Sci-Fi
While Stone’s performance inManiacis stellar, it has been forgotten in the aftermath ofPoor Things, — also available to stream via Prime Video — where she plays Bella Baxter, an adult woman with the brain of her unborn child. The movie follows Bella as she grows into her adult body and discovers herself through sex and adventures around the world.Poor Thingshas some shocking scenesand was extremely controversial, with some reviewers feeling that the idea of Bella having a child’s brain temporarily was inappropriate. That said, the movie won multiple awards and has a 93% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
8 Underrated Sci-Fi Movies On Netflix You’ll Wish You Watched Sooner
These 8 sci-fi movies currently available to stream on Netflix are entirely underrated, making them the perfect hidden gems for any sci-fi fan.
The sci-fi genre is often dominated by particular female archetypes, from warriors to scientists, which are roles that Stone does not often tend to play. Instead, Stone’s talent for comedic timing and clear love of portraying more complex characters is an asset to the sci-fi genre.Poor Thingsis thought to be Stone’s best performance yet, with her character exploring dimensions not shown onscreen before. That said, while Annie inManiacis slightly more conventional than Bella Baxter,Maniacdepicts the same character in multiple settings, showcasing Stone’s versatility and potential in sci-fi.
