In early 19th century England, a young woman named Emma Woodhouse is beautiful, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition. She lives with her hypochondriac father in the village of Highbury and prides herself on being a skilled matchmaker. Although she is determined not to marry, Emma is excited about pairing off her new friend, Harriet Smith, a sweet but unsophisticated girl of unknown parentage, with the vicar, Mr. Elton. Emma's meddling and her own conflicts with societal expectations create a web of misunderstandings. Through her matchmaking schemes, she affects the romantic lives of those in her small community, often misreading the signs and disregarding the true feelings of others in her overconfident endeavors.

As Emma's plans for Harriet's love life go awry, she finds herself challenged by the dashing and unconventional Mr. Knightley, whose critiques of her behavior begin to open her eyes to her own naivety and errors in judgment. Mr. Knightley emerges as her sparring partner, and his reprimands introduce a tension that hints at deeper feelings. Meanwhile, Emma remains oblivious to her own romantic inclinations and stubbornly clings to her belief in her matchmaking talents, despite evidence to the contrary. Her focus on social class and connections, as well as her overestimation of her own influence, leads her to misinterpret the relationships developing around her, setting the stage for a series of comedic and romantic consequences.