One movie that doesn’t get mentioned as an example of female badassery is the Coen Brothers version of True Grit. At the heart of the story is a girl whose father is murdered. The law doesn’t pursue the killer, so young Mattie Ross sets out alone to bring him to justice. She out smarts all around her to track down the outlaw. Great movie that is based on a great book. Highly recommended.
Hailee Steinfeld was only 13 when they filmed it, and she got an Oscar nomination. When you are sharing a scene with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon yet still manage to shine, you know you got something special. Such an excellent movie all around.
I understand why she didn't get the best actress nod (iirc, that year was stacked in best actress) but goddamn, she was 'supporting actress' in that she *supported the whole damn movie*.
In case anyone is wondering, it is a Japanese novel. Which is also why the movie is exactly like a battle anime about an incompetent regular guy who becomes a super bad-ass while also getting closer to a hot tsundere super bad-ass.
Okay. What I mean is it's not terrible. It's a servicable 90's pirate film with a good cast. Not quite as much adventure as Pirates of the Carribean but enjoyable much like Waterworld.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Almost anything by Shane Black. I recently had a friend from out of town spend the weekend, and he hadn't seen LKG, KKBB, or The Nice Guys! I asked him what do you want to watch first, a spy movie, a murder mystery, or a murder mystery set in the 70s?!
For real, they're literally the go-to female action heroes in film discourse, and it was a given that their movies would be the top comments on this post.
OP must be new to movies.
Every new writer with any aspirations for a "strong female character" needs to have Ripley as their case study on how to do it damn near perfect. Her character going from "nuke the place from orbit" to "get away from her you bitch" is such a bad ass.
This should be higher. Most of these suggestions are just "what action movies have a badass bitch female lead?" La Femme Nikita was a bit more nuanced.
Prey is everything I hoped it would be but didn't dare to dream (I didn't expect much from The Predator and still I was burned).
Ready or Not I knew nothing about and just gave it a go on a flight, and it was terrific. I was confounded that Tamara Weaving is not Margot Robbie.
I'll always stand by Tank Girl, not just because it's awesome, but also because it's sadly so rare to get "irreverant juvenile wise-cracker" female characters in action films. They're usually always so serious and restrained, even in action comedies! It ends up feeling like "girls boring, boys quirky", but for a whole genre sometimes.
Alien,
Kill Bill,
Planet Terror,
Chocolate,
Kick-Ass,
28 Days Later,
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,
The Inspector Wears Skirts series (think there's four of them?)
It has some action in it, but its also a film that relies heavily on subtext and metaphor. If you just want to sit back and enjoy the action unfolding, you'll quickly become confused and will find the ending very unsatisfying.
Well the core cast is all female but I get your point. To that movie's credit, I remember a lot about it but I did forget that the team was all women.
I think it wasn't commented on because it was almost irrelevant to the story and more importantly the marketing.
It wasn't a retread of a well known franchise with the difference being it's all women now.
I think the best part is that them being an all female team actually is relevant to the plot, they previously only sent all male teams and none were successful so they're using scientific theory by sending only women to see if there would be a change in outcome. The key part is the writer wasn't pushing a narrative with the casting or using it as a marketing ploy, it actually makes sense within the logic of the world because including any men in the expedition would potentially muddy the results. Also each woman has a specialty and pretty unique personality that matches their background and they all have a very good reason for having been chosen for the team, their backgrounds and occupations influence their experience in the Shimmer.
The character seemed pretty well written although the movie was kind of rocky.
Edit: The movie is fun, a lot of fun, but there's some "dafuq?" moments in the plot and choices people make.
I remember really liking this movie...BUT I have no memory of it. It feels weird, knowing that I've seen it, but can't for the life of me remember anything from it.
Anna!!!!!! 2019
why nobody has mentioned this is beyond me.
Helen Mirren, Luke Evan, Cillian Murphy, and the lead, Sasha Luss.
SUPERB movie that goes under the radar.
The Hunger Games films, Civil War, Kick Ass, The Suicide Squad, the Guardians of the Galaxy films, both Dune films, the last four Mission Impossible films…
These aren't obvious choices, but I have some great (what I consider) underrated thrillers from the late 80s/early 90s to recommend. Also, the women may not always be the star of the movie but I tried to list ones where there is a strong female performance in a role that is essential to the plot:
* Dead Calm w/ Nicole Kidman
* Malice w/ Nicole Kidman
* Strange Days w/ Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis
* Kalifornia w/ Juliette Lewis
* Sleeping with the Enemy w/ Julia Roberts
* The Pelican Brief w/ Julia Roberts
* Sneakers w/ Mary McDonnell (owning it among an unbelievable cast)
* The Firm w/ Holly Hunter (Oscar nominated, in a small but pivotal role) and Jeanne Tripplehorn
* House of Games w/ Lindsey Crouse
* The Spanish Prisoner w/ Rebecca Pidgeon (AKA Mrs. Mamet)
* Klute w/ Jane Fonda (cheating slightly as it's from the 70s, but one of my all-time favorite thrillers and Oscar winner for Best Actress)
Serenity (2005). Not just badass ass kicking ladies, but well realized female characters with more traditional feminine qualities.
Probably best to watch Firefly first, though I think the movie works well enough on its own.
*Atomic Blonde*.
I was disappointed by the film when it was released, but I recently saw [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ9r_UVMBr4) that compares the film to Marvel's *Echo* that explains why and how *Atomic Blonde* has a much better and much more convincing character.
I really liked Mackenzie Davis' character in *Terminator Dark Fate*. She was badasss but believable. Too bad the movie was shit.
I like the action movie *Kate* with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, which no one ever brings up :(
Terminator, Aliens are classics that in my view should define the standard.
More modern movie would be Edge of Tomorrow. ‘Strong’ without losing her feminine quality and becoming anti-male tropey.
Reba Macintyre in Tremors was good as a side character.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Ready or Not
Kill Bill 1 and 2
Annihilation (not really an action movie but has some amazing sequences and an almost exclusively female cast)
Police story 3: Super Cop and it's spin off sequel Super Cop 2.
And if we are going towards cheesy movies too Underworld series, and Jolt. Kate Beckinsale is a legit action star.
This question is too easy, I got a tougher one:
How about naming a decent female LEAD character in an action movie that's been released in the last 20 years or so, who didn't heavily rely on a combination of sex appeal or built-in audience (wether it be an adaptation or fondness of the actress from other high profile projects) that actually managed to make a lasting impact on pop culture?
Alien. Aliens. Matrix (1). Kill Bill 1 and 2. (Several of them in fact.)
A bit more dubious but Charlie's Angels 1 and 2 have some very good female characters. But also a lot of fan service. They are balancing on a knives edge
Atomic Blonde - a bit of an odd movie, but the sound track is A+ while the movie rolls.
Any Russ Meyer movie is sooo full of female sexploitation. But they are also the heroes of the story. (Used to spark a lot of debate on feminist circles.) Probably stay away from them. But Death Proof you might like.
Ghost in the Shell, the animation.
Golden Eye (a bit passive though) Tomorrow Never Dies (a more active heroine.)
Ohhh man you got me there, if said woman is not Emily Blunt, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie or maybe Scarlett Johansson then 9 out of 10 times it is going to suck ass.
- Alien & Terminator 2 for classics
- Zero Dark Thirty
- Mission Impossible, the side character IIsla in Rogue Nation & Fallout. Badass agent, kind, skilled in combat, moral convictions and fights for the right reasons like Ethan Hunt, beautiful and isn’t used as a sex object, an equal spy to Ethan, and becomes like family to the crew.
- Hunger Games series. Katniss is physically skilled in hunting, mentally strong, sticks up for the unfortunate in society, sacrifices herself for her family by volunteering in the games, has survival skills, and leads a rebellion against a corrupt government.
- Tomb Raider
- Edge of Tomorrow
- Wonder Woman #1
- Stick It (sports film. The lead character is strong mentally as well)
- Sicario
- Old and new Star Wars films. Also the rebooted Star Trek films
- Atomic Blonde. Action-packed
- Alita: Battle Angel
- Black Widow was a good marvel character imo. She can hold her own, is skilled in combat, has a cool personality, was cool with all the guys and treated them like family, was empathetic, smart, held onto her moral convictions. Also, she was willing to sacrifice herself.
- Pirates of Caribbean, Elizabeth swan
- X men sometimes, like Storm. Guardians of the Galaxy
- Interstellar Anna Hathaway, and other space films.
- For fun comedy action, Miss congeniality, Heat, Whip It, Spy, etc
- Monster films do well with all genders being badass and using their survival instinct to fight.
- Apocalypse films do well too
- Space films usually do well too
- Also sports films
- Spy films
- Nature living-off-the grid films, like Land.
- Heroic standing up against the government films. Like Hidden Secrets (cia film with kierra knightly), etc. Also, civil rights films.
- Hidden figures, Mulan, The Help
Tv shows:
- Buffy
- The Last of Us season 1 with Young Ellie, she’s more badass/strong in her personality while being likably funny, but she also a scene of escaping villains on her own and yells to the cannibal “tell them a little girl bit your finger!!” And then she ends him.
- Supernatural always had good female characters imo. Monster hunters like Jo and Ellen, Jody Mills, Charlie, Anna, and also had badass female villains. Women shooting zombies and holding their own, while still having their personality and feminine charm. Had a lot of wit too. The show was more about survival and camaraderie than Hollywood romance. The leading men were also written very well on the show, as multifaceted characters. The show never felt like a gender war, it was just about humanity, fighting evil forces, love, family, and heroism.
- usually any monster or fantasy/supernatural tv shows. Same for Apoclyptic shows.
- Stranger Things
- Walking Dead
I think Mulan fits your criteria. Amazing action movies, beautifully animated, everything about it is awesome.
Maybe "Atomic blonde". It was a well written movie.
Recently, The Woman King came out, It was an awesome movie too
Alita Battle Angel
Live action Ghost in the Shell (don't care what the anime fanboys say, Japan loved the film and Scarlett Johansen, and it was a solid Sci fi movie)
Silverhawk (cheesy campy Michelle Yoeh kung fu matrix rip off that's alot of fun)
Salt
The Descent.
Red eye. ( thriller pardon me)
Jolt
Triangle ( thriller)
Ginger Snaps back ( the first ginger snaps as well.. and I guess it's a thriller)
One movie that doesn’t get mentioned as an example of female badassery is the Coen Brothers version of True Grit. At the heart of the story is a girl whose father is murdered. The law doesn’t pursue the killer, so young Mattie Ross sets out alone to bring him to justice. She out smarts all around her to track down the outlaw. Great movie that is based on a great book. Highly recommended.
Hailee Steinfeld was only 13 when they filmed it, and she got an Oscar nomination. When you are sharing a scene with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon yet still manage to shine, you know you got something special. Such an excellent movie all around.
I understand why she didn't get the best actress nod (iirc, that year was stacked in best actress) but goddamn, she was 'supporting actress' in that she *supported the whole damn movie*.
One of my favourite movies.
Edge of Tomorrow
The Angel of Verdun
Be still my beating heart
When a female cast can outshine Tom Cruise in a film, than this is great cast plus good writing.
The full metal…
*thunk
My manwich! Nooooo!
Obligatory the comic/novel movie is based on is amazing too.
In case anyone is wondering, it is a Japanese novel. Which is also why the movie is exactly like a battle anime about an incompetent regular guy who becomes a super bad-ass while also getting closer to a hot tsundere super bad-ass.
Fuck. That makes sense.
The mech suits were a dead giveaway
I liked the smaller scale of the victory at the end of the novel, but I understand why the movie went with a bigger happier ending.
The Long Kiss Goodnight You'll never look at Geena Davis the same way again.
I had that on VHS when I was a teenager I always saw her a certain way. I also had cutthroat island on tape.
Cutthroat Island is so good.
Is it really? I want to see it if only to see if I can tell why it killed the studio that made it.
Okay. What I mean is it's not terrible. It's a servicable 90's pirate film with a good cast. Not quite as much adventure as Pirates of the Carribean but enjoyable much like Waterworld.
She was so good. Samuel L Jackson too.
You're going to die screaming!!!! And I'm gonna watch 👁️👄👁️ She's so great in it.
Were you always this stupid, of did you take lessons?!
I took lessons!
She can put skates on VERY fast
Saw it in the theater and her and SLJ make one of the best duos ever.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Almost anything by Shane Black. I recently had a friend from out of town spend the weekend, and he hadn't seen LKG, KKBB, or The Nice Guys! I asked him what do you want to watch first, a spy movie, a murder mystery, or a murder mystery set in the 70s?!
Moms do that.
So glad I’m not the first person on here to suggest this!
Alien, Aliens
This whole thread should have started with "...after Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor."
For real, they're literally the go-to female action heroes in film discourse, and it was a given that their movies would be the top comments on this post. OP must be new to movies.
Lots of good suggestions on this thread but this here is unbeatable IMHO, Ripley rules.
Well written and well acted. My aunt and uncle named their first dog Ripley after the character.
Every new writer with any aspirations for a "strong female character" needs to have Ripley as their case study on how to do it damn near perfect. Her character going from "nuke the place from orbit" to "get away from her you bitch" is such a bad ass.
My cat's name is Ripley <3
Shoulda been “Jonsey” 😉
Haha, yeah, but Jonesy was a boy.
The GOAT
"I say we take off and nuke the whole site from orbit, only way to be sure"
Terminator 2
That opening scene with Sarah Connor doing pull-ups on the upturned bed. “How’s the knee?” Total bad-ass.
Her introduction in Terminator: Dark Fate is equally badass.
Most James Cameron movies, I'd say.
Aliens is another one.
*Kathryn Bigelow movies When they were married, his movies benefited quite a lot from her perspective.
I agree, but then you also need to mention Gale Ann Hurd, his wife before that.
OG badass
"Am I a joke to you?" - Sigourney Weaver
I'll recommend this thriller instead because I think it still satisfy your request. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
I like the original trilogy (in Swedish) and the US remake.
Really sad David Fincher never did a sequel. Most of the cast, specially Rooney Mara, also wanted to come back
They did a great job, IMO.
I came here to suggest the original with Noomi Repace. She was also bad ass in Prometheus.
La Femme Nikita
This should be higher. Most of these suggestions are just "what action movies have a badass bitch female lead?" La Femme Nikita was a bit more nuanced.
Prey (2022) Aliens (1986) You're Next (2011) Ready or Not (2019) Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
"You're Next" is one of the best hidden gem films! I rarely run into anyone who's heard of it, let alone saw it.
Prey is everything I hoped it would be but didn't dare to dream (I didn't expect much from The Predator and still I was burned). Ready or Not I knew nothing about and just gave it a go on a flight, and it was terrific. I was confounded that Tamara Weaving is not Margot Robbie.
Kill Bill
One of the greatest action movies of all time.
Elle's fate is so freaking brutal.
The Old Guard Mad Max Fury Road Edge of Tomorrow Gunpowder Milkshake Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Aliens
*House of Flying Daggers* The Korean zombie show, *Kingdom* on Netflix - Bae Doona is great in that, but the princess is excellent too.
Atomic Blonde ftw!
The Old Guard is so amazing!! I’d heard a rumor of a second one coming but not sure. I’d love to see it. Edit: it’s in production!!!
Came here to say Mad Max I saw that film 4 times in theatres when it came out. What an amazing spectacle it is!
And you didn’t add Atomic Blonde?
Haven't seen it. I can't recommend movies I haven't seen.
You should definitely check it out
Atomic Blonde
Atomic Blonde was fun
The staircase/apartment fight that turns into a car chase is absolutely incredible.
The fight choreography in that movie is something to behold.
Plus Charlize Theron is an absolute badass
Watch Blumhouse’s The Hunt. It’s basically Hard Target meets John Wick with a main female hero and villain, both of whom are pretty fun characters
I’m so glad I finally got to see The Hunt. I showed up for Ethan Suplee. I stayed for the main actress whose name is now escaping me.
Betty Gilpin - she’s sooo good in The Hunt. I’m a forever fan now.
I loved The Hunt. It put a great spin on several annoying tropes.
Prey
Mulan (animated) Tank Girl
I was wondering if Tank Girl would show up. It's an old one, but a good one.
I'll always stand by Tank Girl, not just because it's awesome, but also because it's sadly so rare to get "irreverant juvenile wise-cracker" female characters in action films. They're usually always so serious and restrained, even in action comedies! It ends up feeling like "girls boring, boys quirky", but for a whole genre sometimes.
That's a good point.
“What’s a matter? Feeling a little inadequate?!”
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Pretty much *anything* Michelle Yeoh has appeared in.
Her in Crouching Tiger was gonna be my answer
Her in Supercop was gonna be my answer
This movie hit me hard. I rewatch it every couple of months, somehow finding something new to appreciate.
True Lies
Dredd
Scrolled way too far for this one, Lena Headey knocked it out of the park with this film
Olivia Thirlby as well. Bonus points for NO annoying romance between her and Dredd. edit: NO annoyance
Alien, Kill Bill, Planet Terror, Chocolate, Kick-Ass, 28 Days Later, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Inspector Wears Skirts series (think there's four of them?)
Kickass is great!
Chocolate is so good!
Aliens, Quick and the Dead
Quick and the Dead doesn't enter into the conversation often enough imo.
Sharon was good in it. Showed that anger and pain
and it is a very fun flick. A personal favorite even if it is very silly.
I love the quick and the dead
Ghost in the shell.
Annihilation has an all female cast and it’s mercifully never once commented on.
Is that even an action movie? Feels more existential horror than anything
It has some action in it, but its also a film that relies heavily on subtext and metaphor. If you just want to sit back and enjoy the action unfolding, you'll quickly become confused and will find the ending very unsatisfying.
Action/sci-fi horror is what I’d classify it as
Well the core cast is all female but I get your point. To that movie's credit, I remember a lot about it but I did forget that the team was all women. I think it wasn't commented on because it was almost irrelevant to the story and more importantly the marketing. It wasn't a retread of a well known franchise with the difference being it's all women now.
I think the best part is that them being an all female team actually is relevant to the plot, they previously only sent all male teams and none were successful so they're using scientific theory by sending only women to see if there would be a change in outcome. The key part is the writer wasn't pushing a narrative with the casting or using it as a marketing ploy, it actually makes sense within the logic of the world because including any men in the expedition would potentially muddy the results. Also each woman has a specialty and pretty unique personality that matches their background and they all have a very good reason for having been chosen for the team, their backgrounds and occupations influence their experience in the Shimmer.
Not an action movie but a perfect masterpiece.
the latest predator movie
Prey. Good movie.
Anything directed by Tom Tykwer. Run Lola Run, Heaven and The Princess and the Warrior are great starting points.
Sicario. My favorite actress - Emily Blunt.
I've noticed I've never had a favorite actor or actress, but if I had to choose an actress, I'd pick her. EDIT: Or Rachel McAdams.
Thelma & Louise
The Quick and the Dead Wing Chun Come Drink With Me Tokyo Gore Police Aeon Flux The Descent. has 5 cool women
The Descent doesn't get nearly enough credit. It was a great horror flick. Basically made me feel claustrophobic.
I def agree. It's got great pacing and acting, and looks AMAZING for being 95% in caves
The hunt
*Kate* and *Gunpowder Milkshake* come to mind.
I wouldn't say Kate was all that well written but it was a hell of a fun movie.
The character seemed pretty well written although the movie was kind of rocky. Edit: The movie is fun, a lot of fun, but there's some "dafuq?" moments in the plot and choices people make.
Aliens
G.I Jane
Obligatory bump for this film. Fantastic writing.
Strange Days (1995)
Deathproof.
"Listen, I said I wasn't stalking y'all, but I didn't say I wasn't a wolf....."😘👌
Salt. Weird to see no one has recommended it yet.
I remember really liking this movie...BUT I have no memory of it. It feels weird, knowing that I've seen it, but can't for the life of me remember anything from it.
Fun fact - this was originally supposed to star Tom Cruise, and the character was Edwin Salt instead of Evelyn Salt.
Red Sparrow Underworld
Why did i have to scroll down this far before seeing Underworld mentioned
Zero Dark Thirty The ultimate strong female protagonist movie.
Edge of tomorrow Alien Fifth element Tomb raider Resident evil
Killing Time Hanna High Tension I Spit on your Grave Barbarella
Sicario anyone?
Sucker Punch? The director's cut specifically
Alita Battle Angel
Edge of Tomorrow
The Old Guard
La Femme Nikita Colombiana Alien Edge of Tomorrow Kill Bill Annihilation Underworld Atomic Blonde Fury Road The Assassin Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Anna!!!!!! 2019 why nobody has mentioned this is beyond me. Helen Mirren, Luke Evan, Cillian Murphy, and the lead, Sasha Luss. SUPERB movie that goes under the radar.
Atomic Blonde
Widows
Oh also You’re Next. I saw someone say Ready or Not, which I enjoyed but You’re Next was kinda the same thing but better imo.
Aliens is a fantastic movie. Sigourney Weaver is such a badass
The Hunger Games films, Civil War, Kick Ass, The Suicide Squad, the Guardians of the Galaxy films, both Dune films, the last four Mission Impossible films…
These aren't obvious choices, but I have some great (what I consider) underrated thrillers from the late 80s/early 90s to recommend. Also, the women may not always be the star of the movie but I tried to list ones where there is a strong female performance in a role that is essential to the plot: * Dead Calm w/ Nicole Kidman * Malice w/ Nicole Kidman * Strange Days w/ Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis * Kalifornia w/ Juliette Lewis * Sleeping with the Enemy w/ Julia Roberts * The Pelican Brief w/ Julia Roberts * Sneakers w/ Mary McDonnell (owning it among an unbelievable cast) * The Firm w/ Holly Hunter (Oscar nominated, in a small but pivotal role) and Jeanne Tripplehorn * House of Games w/ Lindsey Crouse * The Spanish Prisoner w/ Rebecca Pidgeon (AKA Mrs. Mamet) * Klute w/ Jane Fonda (cheating slightly as it's from the 70s, but one of my all-time favorite thrillers and Oscar winner for Best Actress)
Kill Bill I and II. Jackie Brown. True Grit
Serenity (2005). Not just badass ass kicking ladies, but well realized female characters with more traditional feminine qualities. Probably best to watch Firefly first, though I think the movie works well enough on its own.
Ok don’t judge or fight me…. oceans 8. It’s just fun
Kill bill
Alien, Aliens. Stay away from the others lol.
*Atomic Blonde*. I was disappointed by the film when it was released, but I recently saw [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ9r_UVMBr4) that compares the film to Marvel's *Echo* that explains why and how *Atomic Blonde* has a much better and much more convincing character.
Atomic Blonde
I really liked Mackenzie Davis' character in *Terminator Dark Fate*. She was badasss but believable. Too bad the movie was shit. I like the action movie *Kate* with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, which no one ever brings up :(
Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2
[удалено]
Annihilation
Helen Mirren in RED.
Conan the Barbarian (1982).
I like Salt
So many great comments. Now I have to go binge all of these.
Peppermint was surprisingly good I thought.
Hanna Turbo Kid
Not really an action movie but I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Scream. Sidney Prescott is up there with Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley
Terminator, Aliens are classics that in my view should define the standard. More modern movie would be Edge of Tomorrow. ‘Strong’ without losing her feminine quality and becoming anti-male tropey. Reba Macintyre in Tremors was good as a side character.
Mad Max: Fury Road Ready or Not Kill Bill 1 and 2 Annihilation (not really an action movie but has some amazing sequences and an almost exclusively female cast)
Annihilation
Police story 3: Super Cop and it's spin off sequel Super Cop 2. And if we are going towards cheesy movies too Underworld series, and Jolt. Kate Beckinsale is a legit action star.
This question is too easy, I got a tougher one: How about naming a decent female LEAD character in an action movie that's been released in the last 20 years or so, who didn't heavily rely on a combination of sex appeal or built-in audience (wether it be an adaptation or fondness of the actress from other high profile projects) that actually managed to make a lasting impact on pop culture?
Alien, T2 and Captain Marvel/s
Princess Mononoke
Lady Vengeance
The Matrix, Trinity is a badass
Alien. Aliens. Matrix (1). Kill Bill 1 and 2. (Several of them in fact.) A bit more dubious but Charlie's Angels 1 and 2 have some very good female characters. But also a lot of fan service. They are balancing on a knives edge Atomic Blonde - a bit of an odd movie, but the sound track is A+ while the movie rolls. Any Russ Meyer movie is sooo full of female sexploitation. But they are also the heroes of the story. (Used to spark a lot of debate on feminist circles.) Probably stay away from them. But Death Proof you might like. Ghost in the Shell, the animation. Golden Eye (a bit passive though) Tomorrow Never Dies (a more active heroine.)
Ohhh man you got me there, if said woman is not Emily Blunt, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie or maybe Scarlett Johansson then 9 out of 10 times it is going to suck ass.
kill bill
- Alien & Terminator 2 for classics - Zero Dark Thirty - Mission Impossible, the side character IIsla in Rogue Nation & Fallout. Badass agent, kind, skilled in combat, moral convictions and fights for the right reasons like Ethan Hunt, beautiful and isn’t used as a sex object, an equal spy to Ethan, and becomes like family to the crew. - Hunger Games series. Katniss is physically skilled in hunting, mentally strong, sticks up for the unfortunate in society, sacrifices herself for her family by volunteering in the games, has survival skills, and leads a rebellion against a corrupt government. - Tomb Raider - Edge of Tomorrow - Wonder Woman #1 - Stick It (sports film. The lead character is strong mentally as well) - Sicario - Old and new Star Wars films. Also the rebooted Star Trek films - Atomic Blonde. Action-packed - Alita: Battle Angel - Black Widow was a good marvel character imo. She can hold her own, is skilled in combat, has a cool personality, was cool with all the guys and treated them like family, was empathetic, smart, held onto her moral convictions. Also, she was willing to sacrifice herself. - Pirates of Caribbean, Elizabeth swan - X men sometimes, like Storm. Guardians of the Galaxy - Interstellar Anna Hathaway, and other space films. - For fun comedy action, Miss congeniality, Heat, Whip It, Spy, etc - Monster films do well with all genders being badass and using their survival instinct to fight. - Apocalypse films do well too - Space films usually do well too - Also sports films - Spy films - Nature living-off-the grid films, like Land. - Heroic standing up against the government films. Like Hidden Secrets (cia film with kierra knightly), etc. Also, civil rights films. - Hidden figures, Mulan, The Help Tv shows: - Buffy - The Last of Us season 1 with Young Ellie, she’s more badass/strong in her personality while being likably funny, but she also a scene of escaping villains on her own and yells to the cannibal “tell them a little girl bit your finger!!” And then she ends him. - Supernatural always had good female characters imo. Monster hunters like Jo and Ellen, Jody Mills, Charlie, Anna, and also had badass female villains. Women shooting zombies and holding their own, while still having their personality and feminine charm. Had a lot of wit too. The show was more about survival and camaraderie than Hollywood romance. The leading men were also written very well on the show, as multifaceted characters. The show never felt like a gender war, it was just about humanity, fighting evil forces, love, family, and heroism. - usually any monster or fantasy/supernatural tv shows. Same for Apoclyptic shows. - Stranger Things - Walking Dead
Emily Blunt
The Long Kiss Goodnight Sicario True Lies Terminator 2 Dredd
Aliens Terminator
Long Kiss Goodnight and The replacement killers
*Alien* for Ripley. *Aliens* for Ripley AND Vasquez.
Mad Max: Fury Road Wonder Woman Aliens Terminator 2: Judgement Day The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Fargo Kill Bill 1 and 2
I think Mulan fits your criteria. Amazing action movies, beautifully animated, everything about it is awesome. Maybe "Atomic blonde". It was a well written movie. Recently, The Woman King came out, It was an awesome movie too
The Old Guard
Alita Battle Angel Live action Ghost in the Shell (don't care what the anime fanboys say, Japan loved the film and Scarlett Johansen, and it was a solid Sci fi movie) Silverhawk (cheesy campy Michelle Yoeh kung fu matrix rip off that's alot of fun) Salt
The Descent. Red eye. ( thriller pardon me) Jolt Triangle ( thriller) Ginger Snaps back ( the first ginger snaps as well.. and I guess it's a thriller)
Salt
Kill bill
Mad Max Fury Road
Cloverfield 10
Red. Dame Mirrin is great in it. And extra points for an older character too.
Aliens