I am a movie girl. I love rewatching childhood favorites,, discovering new psychological thrillers, and binging comedies with friends. So, as you can probably guess, there are many scenes which are engraved in my memory (most of which are from the Shrek franchise) and never fail to hype me up. In honor of International Women’s Day, I have created a list of some of the most inspiring movie scenes from some of my favorite movies.
Elizabeth and Will – “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”
By the third movie in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, Elizabeth Swan (played by Kiera Knightley) has established herself as a sassy, tough, and dedicated female lead. I especially like this scene because Elizabeth, once a damsel in distress, is sword-fighting alongside her love. Not only does this scene show how Elizabeth and Will are the ultimate dynamic duo, but it also inspires me to pick up sword fighting so maybe one day I too can make defeating evil pirates look this easy.
If you’ve read or seen “The Help,” then you will immediately grin when thinking about this scene. Here Mindy gives her ex-boss a “special pie” to fight against her consistent classist and racist treatment of all the maids in the neighborhood. Nothing quite says strong woman like fighting for your rights even when it could put your life in danger.
I’m not sure a list of badass female movie scenes could be complete without a feature from “Mulan.” I love how throughout this whole movie Mulan stays true to herself, prioritizes the well-being and honor of her family, and eventually becomes a successful warrior despite her so-called limitations of being a woman. Mulan’s training scene, in particular, is a wonderful motivator for all girls — you too are capable of being strong and tough!
Cardboard Cutout Scene – “Dodgeball”
Kate from “Dodgeball” is an iconic female character: she is openly bisexual, an amazing athlete, a successful accountant, and so much more. My personal favorite scene with Kate is when she flings a dodgeball at the cardboard cutout of White Goodman and decapitates him. Classic. Bonus points because she joins the Average Joes to beat Goodman after he tried to seduce her.
Damsels of Destruction – “Shrek 3”
The classic spy scene gets a fairytale makeover in this badass montage of various Disney princesses breaking into the castle after Prince Charming and his evil henchmen take over the city of Far Far Away. Shoutout to the creators of Shrek 3 for making a scene where for once, the damsels in distress are the ones saving the day.
Training Montage – “Million Dollar Baby”
Yet another training montage (you can’t convince me this isn’t the most inspiring way to portray an athlete), this boxing scene from “Million Dollar Baby,” starring Hilary Swank, is as badass as a movie scene can be. I love how Swank’s character, Maggie, persists mentally and physically even when no one believes in her. Mental toughness is a huge part of being an athlete, and Swank does an amazing job of showing viewers how strong a female athlete can be.
Whether you are inspired by powerful words, impactful music, or a classic training montage, the women of Hollywood have you covered. I love watching women fight back on the screen because it reminds me to do so in my own life. This Women’s Day, remember to respect yourself, fight against sexist remarks, and if you are a man, call your mom or sister and tell her how much she means to you.