Best Female Empowerment Movies
While it may have been a man’s world once, it is now run by women. Women are changing the world every day. They are engineers, pilots, presidents, prime ministers, teachers, preachers, doctors, scientists, and even amazing warriors. They have a trace and a presence in every field. History started to take note of a few female names that were hugely impactful. Similarly, cinema itself honored them by celebrating them. Watching movies that have a feminist agenda is inspiring not only for fellow women but for all genders equally.
In fact, there is no shortage when it comes to strong female characters in movies. Even if the protagonist is a male, it’s easy to spot that one female character who has the power to change the course of events or make her opinion known.
To think of it, female characters have undergone a huge transformation in cinematography. The prototypical picture of women being the indistinguishable background noise in the grand scheme of things and being the cheerleaders of men’s achievements is slowly, but surely, taking a back seat to this transformed newly born female leader. Without further ado, here are a few movies that will make you fall in love with being a woman…
10
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Erin Brockovich was released in 2000, and directed by Steven Soderbergh, grossing $256.3 million at the box office. It is a retelling of the true story of legal assistant Erin Brockovich (played by Julia Roberts), who makes the dangerous discovery: a company is using a toxic matter that pollutes water in order to optimize its profits. The polluted water resulted in hundreds of people falling sick, developing cancer and other major health issues.
Erin wholeheartedly adopts the case and seeks justice and compensation for the concerned families. Even though she works under the supervision of a lawyer, she does most of the work herself. She gathers evidence, negotiates with the company representatives, and even memorizes all the names of the affected people.
Her incredible work ethic, her relentlessness in the face of adversity, and her fierceness in defending the victims against the company’s corruption are very inspiring. It leaves you with a deep sense of respect toward any woman who puts as much of herself into such noble causes and into perfecting her job in general. This movie easily reintroduced the concept of the value of a “working woman” and removed the stereotype that it’s always better if a man does it.
9
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The Devil Wears Prada was released in 2006 and directed by David Frankel. It is now known as one of the classics. If you haven’t seen it, then surely, you’ve heard of it at one point. It tells the story of a young journalist working for one of the city’s biggest fashion magazine editors.
Miranda, the aforementioned editor, is depicted as a strong woman, who achieved her success through hard work, shrewdness, and intelligence. She is ruthless when it comes to work. Everyone starts acting differently when she sets foot at the company, as if her mere presence sets everyone right. The respect that she commands through her personality, does not, however, come without a price. She is targeted by many competitors who will not stop until they see her downfall.
Even as we see her stumble at one point in the movie, Miranda (Meryl Streep) picks herself up and dusts herself off. She finds a way to turn the enemy’s plot against them. Of course, she does this with the help of her loyal assistants. Even though she takes things to an extreme sometimes, this character will never cease to inspire female power.
8
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde (2001) is another American classic, directed by Robert Luketic. It tells the story of a rich, apparently spoiled, blonde sorority girl named Elle Woods (played by Reese Witherspoon) who is dumped by the love of her life and told that she is shallow and not smart enough. The breakup is only a reminder of the well-spread stereotype of “dumb blonde”.
As a reaction to her ex’s insults, she decides to apply to Harvard Law. The movie depicts this young woman’s journey in discovering her skills, and rebuilding her self-esteem. The movie is upgraded from a story of “getting back at an ex”, to a story of ultimate female success. It teaches that self-discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence are all stepping stones for anyone, including women to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
7
Gone Girl (2014)
The 2014 thriller/mystery Gone Girl is yet another movie to watch if you want to see the wonders that women are capable of. It stars Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck and tells the story of a couple, Nick and Amy Dune whose marriage is undergoing a crisis. Upon discovering his infidelity, Amy does not rage into a huge fight as expected. Instead, she mysteriously disappears and frames her husband for her alleged murder.
This movie shows a side of women that has always been taken for granted. It shows that a woman’s only weapon is not her tears and that she can be as cunning as a man can be. In this movie, the wife punishes her husband’s infidelity by putting him through a difficult ordeal. The part to be condoned here is not the crime of framing someone for murder, but the part where we admit that women can be dangerous as well and that maybe, “all is fair in love and war” is not just a saying.
Amy is a woman, unlike what is generally assumed, who is led by her brain instead of her emotions. She is an inspiration when it comes to controlling emotions and maintaining balance.
6
Enola Holmes (2020)
Released in 2020, Enola Holmes is a mystery/crime movie that draws from the literary legacy of Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This legacy depicts an impressive male detective who brilliantly unravels the truth in various complicated crime scenarios. By creating a female substitute, the movie is building a woman’s perspective on resolving crimes and reestablishing the female presence in professions of “high intellectual vigor.”
Enola, the young sister of Sherlock, was able to resolve a complicated murder mystery. This feminist tone increases in Enola Holmes 2 as they introduce the true story of Sarah Chapman, one of the most important figures in the Matchgirls Strike. Reviving the story of a female political activist is very entertaining as well as educational.
In more ways than one, the movie calls for the feminization of only-male legacies and professions. The movie does not have only one inspirational female character, but two: Enola, the detective, and Sarah Chapman, the union activist.
5
Wonder Woman (2017)
Superpowers were for the longest time reserved for men; theaters were filled with Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and countless other superhero legacies that simply don’t include women. Wonder Woman is one movie in which men can, finally, sit on the bench and watch how it is done by women.
It depicts the story of a spectacular superhero named Diana (played by Gal Gadot)—princess of Themyscira and the Amazons, daughter of Queen Hippolyta and the King of the Gods, Zeus. Her care for humanity and her efforts to save it from the looming threat of the dark forces is very telling of her strong sense of ethics, and her immeasurable compassion. She is a hero in the true sense of the word, not just through her natural force and magical abilities but through her strong understanding of right and wrong and her willingness to defend a good cause
4
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 American drama movie, directed by Mike Newell. The movie is set in the 1950s and follows the story of a revolutionary arts professor teaching at an all-girls private school. She realizes that most of her students comply with the dictates of society. They are only taking art classes to appear educated and sophisticated, but their number one priority remains to get married. As soon as they tie the knot, they plan on being stay-at-home moms, fully devoted to making their houses a home.
Like a tornado that hits a silent town, Professor Catherine Ann Watson, (played by the talented Julia Roberts) walks into these girls’ lives with the intention of freeing them from the societal restrictions that hinder them from pursuing a career or following their individual dreams. She sheds light on the importance of having an ambition, a vision, and a true passion that is separate from marriage. She represents a wake-up call for all the women who still abide by society at the expense of their happiness.
3
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures (2016) is a biographical drama movie that is based on an inspiring, true story. It follows a group of African-American mathematicians who helped construct what is now known as NASA. This movie is special because it does not deal with feminist issues alone but with gender issues as well. It shapes a strong, independent, and talented image of Black women.
Being female was hard enough during the 1960s, but being female and Black was a true challenge that this group of women managed to survive. The cast was absolutely amazing and perfectly portrayed the characters, staring, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Kristen Dunst. This movie is a historical dive into the amazing accomplishments of incredibly talented and driven women.
2
Women Talking (2022)
Women Talking was an astounding success. Based on Miriam Toews’s 2018 novel of the same name, the film tackles the story of a group of women in a religious colony who were drugged and raped by the men of their village.
The events of the movie happen after the abuse and depict how women came together to decide their upcoming fate. They form a council to discuss the possibilities in front of them. Some voted for staying and fighting for their rights or leaving the village altogether. It matters little what the decision was; the inspiring part was how they reclaimed agency over their own lives by deciding their future.
This movie tries to break the silence around abused women and give them the assurance that being abused does not mean loss of power. The message that was communicated clearly indicates that power will always reside in women if they decide not to give it away.
1
Freedom Writers (2007)
American drama Freedom Writers (2007) was written and directed by Richard LaGravenese. It tells the story of a young teacher who begins teaching a class of troubled teenagers in a racially divided city in Los Angeles. Hilary Swank plays the role of the real-life teacher at Long Beach’s Wilson High, Erin Gruwell, who was adamant in her quest to bring her students out of their lives of crime and drugs.
She fought their destructive gang culture and gave her students a safe space to voice their personal difficulties and ordeals. Thanks to her devotion, she was able to touch many lives and restore hope for the future in many of her students. This movie proves, again and again, that women are like alchemists; they have the power to change lives and transform any negative situation into a positive one.
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