Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Emma. (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Emma. (2020) movie poster

Emma. is a 2020 comedy drama directed by Autumn de Wilde, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse, Gemma Whelan and Myra McFadyen. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $25.9 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It earned 5 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the Critics' Choice 2021. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$25.9M
award nominations
5
Loading streaming availability…
Emma. (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 4m (124 min)
Director
Autumn de Wilde
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Emma. About?

The premise of Emma. without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 19th-century England, the vivacious Emma Woodhouse enjoys meddling in the romantic lives of her friends and neighbors. Possessing a confident, if often misguided, belief in her matchmaking abilities, she frequently inserts herself into their affairs, leading to humorous misunderstandings and unexpected complications. Her own romantic journey is challenged as she confronts the consequences of her actions and learns valuable lessons about love and self-awareness.

Emma. Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female protagonist
  • declaration of love
  • horse and carriage
  • woman wears a wedding dress
  • farmer
  • marriage proposal
  • practicing a dance
  • ball the dance
  • apology
  • secret marriage engagement
  • rejecting a marriage proposal
  • f rated
+38 more
  • triple f rated
  • title directed by female
  • character name as title
  • one word title
  • matchmaker
  • taking off shoes
  • taking off someone's shoes
  • servant
  • meddler
  • matchmaking
  • sleep
  • lantern
  • greenhouse
  • touching a flower to one's lips
  • prologue
  • talking through a door
  • friendship
  • father daughter relationship
  • governess
  • horse
  • church
  • church bell
  • uncle nephew relationship
  • heir
  • food
  • man kisses a woman's hand
  • horseback riding
  • candle
  • sleeping in a chair
  • fireplace
  • newspaper
  • nightgown
  • woman wears a nightgown
  • yorkshire england
  • letter
  • gossip
  • portrait painting
  • whispering
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Emma. Cast & Characters

Anya Taylor-Joy leads the cast as Emma Woodhouse, with Gemma Whelan as Miss Taylor, Mrs. Weston and Myra McFadyen as Mrs. Bates. Directed by Autumn de Wilde; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Emma.

· 14 more
From the director

More from Autumn de Wilde

More films directed by Autumn de Wilde: The Postman Dreams 2 and Six by Sondheim.

Full filmography
Ratings

Emma. Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Emma. 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (70).

82 /100

Emma. Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Emma delivers an engaging period adaptation anchored by vivid design and lively pacing. The film’s bright color palette and dynamic editing frequently draw positive attention, underscoring the director’s faithful homage to Austen’s style. Performances by the lead and supporting cast offer credible emotional engagement despite some reservations about character nuance. Narrative familiarity and occasional uneven depth temper the experience. On balance, Emma stands as a polished, entertaining rendition with modest narrative limitations.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Emma excels in its visual presentation. The film is consistently praised for its richly composed shots, meticulous production design, and bright color palette that reinforce the period setting. The editing maintains a brisk rhythm that complements the direction. Overall, the visual execution demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship throughout.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character depth and emotion, Emma benefits from focused performances. Anya Taylor-Joy’s lead portrayal is often highlighted for its clarity and energy, while supporting roles provide lively interactions. Some criticism arises regarding a lack of subtlety in secondary characterizations, but the chemistry among the principal cast sustains engagement. In sum, the film delivers credible emotional resonance anchored by strong lead work.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, Emma presents a familiar narrative with varied reception. The adaptation’s brisk pacing and inventive scene re-envisioning earn praise for keeping the plot moving. Nonetheless, several viewers note that the screenplay occasionally sacrifices Austen’s nuanced wit and coherent character motivation. While engaging in parts, the storyline can feel uneven in depth. Overall, the plot achieves consistent momentum but falls short of full narrative cohesion.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When it comes to sensory experience, Emma offers a cohesive audio-visual atmosphere. The soundtrack of acapella arrangements and period-inspired hymns supports the stylized visual design, while sound design remains clear and balanced. The film’s decorative arts and costume work unify the sensory presentation. Overall, the melding of music, color, and design creates a distinct and harmonious period canvas.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of rewatch factor, Emma provides repeat value through its charm and stylistic touches. Viewers who appreciate costume detail and rapid dialogue report enjoyment on subsequent viewings. Others, however, find the emotional undercurrent less compelling, which may limit long-term appeal. While not universally compelling for every audience, the film’s playful tone and production qualities encourage multiple viewings for fans of the genre.

Plot

Emma. Plot Summary

What happens in Emma. from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

After the marriage of her governess, Miss Taylor, who becomes Mrs. Weston, Emma Woodhouse (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) finds herself seeking a new companion. She chooses Harriet Smith (portrayed by Mia Goth), a girl slightly younger than herself, whom Emma believes to be the unacknowledged daughter of a gentleman due to her mysterious parentage. Harriet’s education has been taken care of, but unbeknownst to Emma, complications are about to unfold.

Full summary

The whole story of Emma., scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Emma. Box Office & Budget

Emma. grossed $25.9 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 2.6 times what it cost. $10.1 million came from the US and Canada and $15.9 million (61%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$25.9M

2.6× its budget

US & Canada
$10.1M
International
$15.9M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 39% Rest of the world 61%
Awards

Emma. Awards & Nominations

Emma. earned 5 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the Critics' Choice 2021. The 5 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the Critics' Choice 2021.

5 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Emma. Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 1 trailer and 7 clips.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip Miss Taylor’s Wedding | Extended Preview
  • Clip Mr. Knightley Proposes
  • Clip Emma Rejects Mr. Elton
  • Clip Emma Is Immediately Entranced by Churchill
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Emma.?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What title does Miss Taylor trade for Mrs. Weston?

Seen Emma.?

FAQ

Emma. FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Emma., each answered in a sentence.

How long is Emma.?

Emma. runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).

When was Emma. released?

Emma. was released on February 21, 2020.

Who directed Emma.?

Emma. was directed by Autumn de Wilde.

More films by Autumn de Wilde

Who is in the cast of Emma.?

Emma. stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse, Gemma Whelan as Miss Taylor, Mrs. Weston and Myra McFadyen as Mrs. Bates, among 18 credited actors.

How much did Emma. make at the box office?

Emma. grossed $25.9 million worldwide ($10.1 million domestic, $15.9 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Emma. rated?

Emma. has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Was Emma. nominated for any awards?

Emma. received 5 nominations across 3 ceremonies.

Does Emma. have a post-credit scene?

No. Emma. has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app