Happy International Women’s Day and Week! This day and the whole of this week marks the celebration of women. Regardless of how you identify, this is a day to celebrate the women in your life. So, however you might be celebrating International Women’s Day (because you should!), a great way to celebrate is to watch films that have female leads. Below are some of my favourite films that have female leads that if you haven’t watched them you should, and if you have, watch them again! These films are great to watch anytime, but especially on International Women’s Day and indeed this week too. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
1. Legally Blonde
What a classic. Elle Woods thinks she has it all – all she wants is to be Mrs Warner Huntingdon III. But this doesn’t go to plan. So, Elle does everything she can to get into Harvard to be with Warner, to win the guy back. Spoiler alert (just because this movie came out in 2001) she realises that self-love, female friendships and respect for others (including other women) is much more important.
2. Hidden Figures
This movie which is based on a true story, follows three mathematicians (Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Katherine G. Johnson) who worked at NASA in the early 1960s, to help launch the first American astronaut into orbit. Not only is this film inspiring, it’s also historic, since it shines a light on the continual struggle that these women faced.
3. Little Women
Set during the Civil War, this film focuses on the challenges that women faced during the 19th Century every day. This empowering film sends the message to its viewers that women should live by their own rules.
4. He Named Me Malala
This documentary focuses on Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani student that was purposefully shot by a member of the Taliban because she advocated that girls should have the right to be educated. Malala survived this attack, achieved great things, was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize, and is well-known around the world for voicing her advocacy for women’s rights.
5. Frida
Frida investigates the life of Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist, who is regarded still today as one of the best female artists. This film is set in Mexico City and explores the romance between Frida and her husband Diego Rivera, while revealing Frida’s personality and establishing how she became such a renowned artist.
6. Queen of Katwe
Based on a true story, this film follows Phiona who lives in a slum in Kampala. Phiona’s life changes when she meets Robert Katende, who teaches children to play chess. Phiona’s fascination with chess leads her to become a top player and her subsequent success leads to her bright future and escape from poverty.
7. Annihilation
This film follows Lena (a biologist and ex-soldier) who joins an unconventional mission to find out what happened to her husband inside ‘Area X’. This ‘Area X’ is a continuously expanding unknown phenomenon that spreads throughout America. Once Lena and her team of women enter ‘Area X’, they discover mutated landscapes and animals, which appear beautiful but also extremely dangerous, which subsequently endangers their lives.
8. Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman, A.K.A Diana, is raised on a secluded island away from the rest of the world. Everything is normal to Diana, until one day she meets an American pilot who tells Diana of the war that’s happening in the rest of the world. Diana believes it is her duty to stop this war and leaves her home, for the first time, fighting along men to end the war, ultimately discovering herself, destiny and power.
9. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
This film (inspired by the video-game character) follows Lara on her quest that involves traversing the earth in an attempt to save the world.
10. Charlie’s Angels (The 2000 version or any of the later ones – they’re all great!)
In the 2000 film, three women (Natalie, Dylan and Alex) are ‘Angels’ who work as private investigators for an unknown millionaire Charlie Townsend. These three women work together on their missions, fighting the baddies and being epic role models at the same time.
11. Salt
When Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer, is accused of being a Russian spy, her whole life is turned upside down. Salt now must live as fugitive, relying on her years of training whilst attempting to prove her innocence, which also seems to make her more guilty.
12. Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) is forced to confront her history and the broken relationships that she left behind in her past. Fighting with her sister, to help the fate of the world and many women, proves it is a definite one to watch for some inspirational badass women!