25 Films To Watch For A Hit Of Girl Power
By Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore – published
There’s nothing better than watching a film and seeing a powerful female figure or the camaraderie amongst women supporting each other take centre stage. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favourite films featuring the strong female characters we love, and the storylines that continue to inspire us.
1. Wicked (2024)
At its core, Wicked celebrates the importance of female friendships, resilience and defying expectations (and gravity). The movie follows the characters Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, as they fulfil their own destinies. With an empowering story and powerhouse performances, what’s not to love?
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga starring Anya Taylor-Joy is a fierce movie spotlighting a female warrior’s rise in a challenging post-apocalyptic world. As a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, the film explores Furiosa’s storied past, showcasing her determination, brilliant problem-solving and relentless fight for survival in a gruelling male-dominated world.
Stream the movie on Max.
3. Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
A breathtaking film based on a true story about the emotional journey of grit and determination of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Starring Daisy Ridley, the inspiring story highlights Ederle’s unwavering determination, strength and defiance of societal expectations of females in the 1920s—an era when women’s athletic achievements were almost always overlooked. If you’re looking for a tearjerker, Young Woman and the Sea is a true testament to female empowerment, the power of breaking boundaries and exceeding expectations.
Stream the movie on Disney+.
4. Damsel (2024)
Damsel is not your typical fairytale trope. The film tells a story of a young woman, Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) who is sacrificed to a fierce dragon under the guise of a royal marriage to a handsome prince. Recruited and duped by the royal family as a sacrifice to repay a royal debt, Princess Elodie fights her way to survival. This dark fantasy film challenges the outdated narratives, proving that princesses don’t need rescuing from a prince. This damsel is not in distress!
Stream the movie on Netflix.
Related article: 8 Netflix Actresses We’re Currently Obsessed With
5. The Woman King (2023)
Viola Davis is General Nanisca, the leader of the formidable fighting force called the Agojie. A celebration of the strength and power of women, The Woman King tells the story of a troop of female warriors who have chosen not to marry, and instead, have decided to dedicate their lives to protect their kingdom.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
6. Poor Things (2023)
Emma Stone plays Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life after receiving the transplant of a baby’s brain, who then leaves home and embarks on a journey of self discovery. For Poor Things, Stone is joined by actors Willem Dafoe and Ramy Youssef, with her Frankenstein-like mannerisms and performance as Bella Baxter garnering her a well-deserved Oscar in the 96th Academy Awards.
Stream the movie on Disney+.
7. Barbie (2023)
The sensational live-action Barbie film directed by Greta Gerwig starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling overtly addresses issues women face in the real world. The story begins with Barbie in the seemingly perfect Barbie Land, of which she eventually ventures out of, and subsequently enters the real world, where a new set of joys and perils abound.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
8. Little Women (2019)
Another film directed by Greta Gerwig, the 2019 Little Women movie is a remake of the classic coming-of-age novel, with Emma Watson, Soairse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen acting as the four March sisters. The story revolves around Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as each of them enter womanhood with different dreams, and make big decisions on love and life.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron may be easily brushed off as a dude-flick, but Theron’s character as Furiosa is empowering. In this post-apocalyptic action film, Furiosa is a handicapped soldier who was abducted as a child and serves under the movie’s antagonist, Immortan Joe, but eventually rebels against him for all the right reasons.
Stream the movie on Netflix.
10. Roma (2018)
Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this Oscar-winning film tells the poignant semi-autobiographical tale of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), an indigenous domestic worker, in the Roma neighbourhood of Mexico City in the 1970s. Shot in black-and-white, this compelling masterpiece was created as a love-letter to the women who raised him, and portrays beautifully what it means to be a resilient woman.
Stream the movie on Netflix.
11. Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Charlie’s Angels has always been an iconic film in 2000s cinema just because it shows us that action isn’t just for the boys—women can be heroes too. Fighting crime in high-style, it’s up to the angels to defeat the bad guys and save the day in a rescue mission.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
13. Miss Americana Taylor Swift (2020)
Tracking the life of music sensation Taylor Swift, the documentary underscores every pivotal moment including the personal struggles she’s had to overcome leading up to the career she’s paved today.
Stream the documentary on Netflix.
Related article: 2024 Was The Most Important Year For Female Pop
14. Sex and the City The Movie (2008)
Sex And The City has become a household name in pop-culture history and it has the right to be, for it is female empowerment at its finest. Following the lives of Carrie Bradshaw and her girl squad, the rom-com celebrates the power and dynamic friendship between strong, independent women.
Stream the movie on Google Play Movies & TV.
Related article: The Most Iconic ‘Sex And The City’ Episodes To Watch Again And Again
15. Pitch Perfect (2012)
If you’re in the mood to watch something light-hearted and comical, Pitch Perfect would be our pick for you. Packed with a whole lot of good tunes and girl power, watch on to find out how an unlikely group of girls band together in an acapella group to compete against their university’s all-male rival group at the national championships. If you can’t get enough of the Barden Bellas, get your binge on with the sequels Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017).
Stream the trilogy on Apple TV.
16. Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde is definitely one of the most heart-warming films to watch as it teaches us that it isn’t stupid to dream big. Watch aspiring lawyer Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) defy all stereotypes and stay true to herself as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery while attending Harvard Law School.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
17. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
In this film, award-winning actresses Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway give visibility to successful career women who have managed to carve a path for themselves in the face of trials and tribulations. Dramatic, sentimental and witty.
Stream the movie on Netflix.
18. Hidden Figures (2016)
You don’t need to be a space enthusiast to watch this Oscar-nominated film. Hidden Figures tells the inspiring story of three brilliant female mathematicians who shaped American history, and recounts the struggles African-American women faced while working at NASA in the 1960s.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
19. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Watch this smart and funny family satire as a reminder to keep your inner Olive—unconventional, goofy and brave—alive!
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
20. Wonder Woman (2017)
A female-led superhero movie starring Gal Gadot as an Amazonian warrior princess who fights for truth and justice with courage and strength. What’s not to love?
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
Related article: Ranking All The ‘Bridgerton’ Characters Based Off Their Red Flags
21. Frida (2002)
Frida Kahlo‘s thick unibrow and un-waxed upper lip has become an iconic feminist symbol. Watch her tumultuous life unfold in this biopic by Julie Taymor.
Stream the movie on Amazon Prime.
22. Lady Bird (2017)
Another Gerwig production, this charming coming-of-age comedy chronicles Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson’s senior year of high school. Wonderfully directed and portrayed, this teen movie navigates the ups and downs of female adolescence leading to adulthood.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
23. Julie and Julia (2009)
The film depicts lives of prolific cooking teacher, author, and TV personality Julia Child, and culinary author Julie Powell—separated by time but bonded by their shared passion for cooking. Watch as Powell (played by Amy Adams) embarks on a journey to prepare the recipes in Childs’ (played by Meryl Streep) cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, while Child conquers French cuisine with grit and determination.
Stream the movie on Netflix.
Related article: 9 Netflix Actresses We’re Currently Obsessed With
24. The Favourite (2018)
The Favourite features themes of powerplay, manipulation and womanhood—a period masterpiece that boasts powerful performances from Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
25. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Based on the true story of a woman’s journey of self-discovery and the triumph of the human spirit, Erin Brockovich is an empowering, inspiring and feel-good legal drama you don’t want to miss.
Stream the movie on Apple TV.
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