Because who doesn’t love a badass female?
1. Mulan (1998)
As an Asian, I couldn’t resist… What can I say, Disney knows their stuff. Iconic songs aside, the plot pushes Mulan, a girl dressed as a male soldier in China into the spotlight, conveying her as an intelligent young woman who literally saves her country and her family’s honour (yass multitasking) with her amazing strategic ideas.
I’m not that hopeful about the upcoming live-action film, but this one is legendary.
2. Salt (2010)
I have to say, as an Angelina Jolie fan, I’m biased. But you have to admit, all the action scenes in this movie are amazingly choreographed. Evelyn Salt is portrayed as a smart, cunning, and resourceful woman who defies people’s expectations.
It’s a bit of an intense movie, but it is so worth it.
3. Wonder Woman (2017)
Can I get a “duh”? This ground-breaking superhero movie directed by Patty Jenkins (another fierce female) was a complete game-changer. A hidden island full of gorgeous, powerful, skilled women? Sign me up. Honestly, if this movie doesn’t inspire you to do more with your life, I don’t know what will.
4. Hidden Figures (2016)
Women of colour in cutting-edge STEM fields in the 1960s? How could this not be inspiring? With a stellar cast and a thought-provoking plot based on the lives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, this film shows the struggle women went (and still go) through as members of the STEM community who were continuously overlooked.
5. The Entire Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
Sure, the movie is mainly about Harry Potter, but without Hermione, would any of it have actually, successfully happened? I think not. The epitome of “strong female’, Hermione Granger is the best and the brightest, a leader and a friend. Basically, Gryffindor would have nothing if it weren’t for her.
6. Brave (2012)
Pixar rarely lets us down, and Brave was no exception. Merida is a headstrong, passionate and ambitious princess who also just happens to be perhaps the world’s best archer (sorry, Hawkeye). The movie follows her journey of turmoil after a witch’s spell turns her world upside down. Merida inspires us to follow our hearts and break tradition when necessary, and that message transcends generations.
7. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
There’s a reason a whole bunch of people dressed as Rey for Comic-Con, Halloween, just for fun... Rey showed old and new generations of Star Wars fans that women did not need the help of men to succeed by fending for herself and having confidence in her abilities. Your heart will race, but in the best way ever.
8. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)
Screw what the “hardcore” Ghostbusters fans said. This remake starring 4 brilliant women is funny, heart-warming, and action-packed which makes it perfect for a girl’s night in. Chris Hemsworth is just there for us to look at, a full-on reversal of conventional Hollywood movies. So who ya gonna call?
9. Legally Blonde Trilogy (2001-2020)
Yep, you read that right. A third movie is coming! Elle Woods shows us that you can have it all: fabulous fashion, awesome friends, a magnificent career, and a partner who understands you. A passionate woman who works hard at everything she does, Elle is someone we should all look up to.
10. The Help (2011)
With an almost all-female cast, this story hits hard on the real-life experiences of maids during the civil rights era in Mississippi. Women form relationships across racial lines, and each character serves a purpose to show different aspects of life as a woman in the 1960s. There’s a new lesson to be learnt through this movie every time.
Unfortunately, there are more films in Hollywood where the woman is the side-character, but times are definitely changing. With more woman-run, woman-centred movies coming up, the future is indeed… Female.
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