Emmanuelle, or Emanuelle, is the lead character in a series of French soft core pornographic movies based on a character created by Emmanuelle Arsan in the novel The Joys of a Woman . The character first appeared in a movie called Io, Emmanuelle in 1969 and was played by Erika Blanc. The character was recreated in Emmanuelle in 1974, played by actress Sylvia Kristel, who is probably the actress best identified with the role. In subsequent films, Kristel alternated with Laura Gemser in the role. The Gemser films were in Italian, and in those the character's name was spelt "Emanuelle" (suggesting that these films might not be "official"). The films were spoofed in 1978, when the last Carry On film, Emmannuelle, which starred actress Suzanne Danielle, with Kenneth Williams.

Numerous other films and even a science fiction cable TV series carrying the Emmanuelle title starring Krista Allen have been produced, but most of these have little or no connection to Arsan's character.

Emmanuelle was followed by:

• Emmanuelle nera (1975)
• Emmanuelle 2 (1975)
• Forever Emmanuelle (1975)
• Tokyo Emmanuelle (1975)
• Emmanuelle nera orient reportage (1976)
• La Spiaggia del desiderio (1976)
• Emmanuelle in Bangkok (1976)
• Emmanuelle Goes Japanese (1976)
• Emmanuelle on Taboo Island (1976)
• Emmanuelle in Tokyo (1976)
• Emmanuelle Goes Greek (1976)
• Emmanuelle Black and White (1976)
• A Young Emmanuelle (1976)
• Emmanuelle 77 (1976)
• Emmanuelle in America (1977)
• Good-bye, Emmanuelle (1977)
• Emmanuelle e gli ultimi cannibali (1977)
• Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle (1977)
• The Daughter of Emmanuelle (1978)
• Emmanuelle The Seductress (1978)
• L'Infermiera di campagna (1978)
• Mavri Emmanouella (1979)
• Kasımpaşalı Emmanuelle (1979)
• Emmanuelle in Soho (1981)
• Brown Emmanuelle (1982)
• Emmanuelle Exposed (1982)
• Violenza in un carcere femminile (1982)
• Emmanuelle fuga dall'inferno (1983)
• Emmanuelle 4 (1984)
• Emmanuelle Goes to Cannes (1985)
• Emmanuelle V (1987)
• Emmanuelle 6 (1988)
• Emmanuelle's Secret (1992)
• Emmanuelle au 7ème ciel (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Secret (1992)
• Emmanuelle's Revenge (1992)
• Emmanuelle's Perfume (1992)
• Emmanuelle's Magic (1992)
• Emmanuelle's Love (1993)
• Emmanuelle in Venice (1993)
• Emmanuelle Forever (1993)
• Seoul Emmanuelle (1993)
• (1994)
• (1994)
• (1994)
• (1994)
• (1994)
• (1994)
• Emmanuelle in Space (2000)
• (2000)
• (2000)
• (2000)
• (2000)
• (2000)
• (2000)
• The Joys of Emmanuelle, Parts 1-3 (2001)
• Emmanuelle 2000 (2001)
• Emmanuelle in Rio (2003)
• (2004)