Sometimes, movie night is for Bridget Jones’ Diary, for Sleepless in Seatle, for Pride and Prejudice. Sometimes it’s for slasher flicks, for serious, cerebral dramas, or for things that aren’t movies at all (like marathoning Project Runway). But sometimes, all we want is fast-paced, high-octane action with heart—and if the action is led by a lady, then all the better! Here are a few of our choices for action movies with unapologetically awesome female protagonists.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Pacific Rim is about giant robots battling giant monsters, and in that area, it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. But it’s also probably the most heartwarming film on this list, and that’s largely due to our protagonists—Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), and of course, the inimitable Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi). The film begins with Raleigh’s side of the story, but don’t be fooled; it really follows Mako’s journey and her quest for revenge. Mako’s quiet fury and her relationship with her copilot Raleigh are the movie’s heart. (The wildly fun battles are just the cherry on top.)
Hanna (2011)
Funnily enough, Hanna was directed by the acclaimed Joe Wright, director of the stunning 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. But a Jane Austen period drama this most certainly is not. Hannatells the story of a frighteningly efficient assassin who just happens to be a fifteen-year-old girl, played brilliantly by Saoirse Ronan. A CIA director named Marissa (Cate Blanchett) is intent on hunting Hanna down, but Hanna, raised in the wilderness and trained by her ex-CIA father, might just be hunting Marissa, too. Don’t miss out on a showdown between Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett!
Edge of Tomorrow (2011)
Put simply, Edge of Tomorrow is about time travel, the alien apocalypse, military technology that just might exist in the near future, and about Emily Blunt at her coolest. A noncombatant American officer named William Cage (Tom Cruise) finds himself at the very center of a battle for Earth and discovers he has the uncanny power to jump backwards in time every time he’s killed. Partnering with the legendary soldier Rita Vrataski (Blunt), the Angel of Verdun, he has to somehow use this power to end the war and save the world. Based on the Japanese manga All You Need is Kill, this movie is nonstop action, nonstop fun, and Emily Blunt kicking nonstop butt.
Aliens (1986)
Aliens is a classic, it’s horror is a classic, and Sigourney Weaver’s determined, decisive Ellen Ripley is arguably the most classic action heroine of all. The sequel to Ridley Scott’s terrifying Alien, Aliensis just as exciting, but with an extra dose of action, fun, and drama. Ripley isn’t just a heroine, she’s a survivor—she’s seen hell once and now it’s staring her in the face again. This time, however, she has a child to protect. Watch Alien, grip your couch in terror, then make some popcorn and enjoy the thrills of Aliens.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kill Bill is unexplainable. It’s a western, it’s a samurai movie, it’s fun, operatic, and gritty. The Bride, played iconically by Uma Thurman in a yellow jumpsuit and accompanied by a glistening katana, is the deadliest woman in the world, and she’s just about to get married and start a new life when her former lover, Bill, decides to ruin things for her. From then on, the Bride will stop at nothing to—guess what—kill Bill. But probably the most iconic scene in this movie is a duel between the Bride, bloody, battered, and barely standing up, and the poised, pristine O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu as one of the most beloved villains in film history.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
You’ve read about its six Oscars. You’ve seen Charlize Theron in all her furious glory, and you know of the one-armed sniper Furiosa and her teeth-gritted partnership with weary survivor Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy). We don’t really have to explain any further why Fury Road is a must-watch, but if you need any more convincing, know that Fury Road also features Nicholas Hoult in a softhearted, subtle love story, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley fighting for freedom, and a biker gang of hardcore old ladies. Go see it.