Grrrl Power! 20 Movies That Showed Women Could Do Anything (of Course)

Women have been knocking down doors and breaking glass ceilings for decades now in the movie, ready to overcome whatever obstacles arrive; in 'Proud Mary,' for example, Taraji P. Henson plays a hitwoman who faces her biggest challenge yet: motherhood. Let's revisit some of the most powerful women in film.

Mary (Taraji P. Henson) lives life on her own terms. Working for an organized crime family, she's become the most feared assassin in Boston. Then she crosses paths with a young boy who turns her life upside down. Can she survive the challenge of motherhood?

'Suffragette,’ starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Romola Garai as women fighting – and suffering – for women’s rights, reflected all the violence, drama and history of the movement in turn-of-the-century Britain. In fact, it was written and directed by two women: Abi Morgan (‘The Iron Lady’ screenplay) and relative newcomer Sarah Gavron.

Sally Field starred as the textile worker who fought for the right to unionize in this story based on the experiences of Crystal Lee Sutton, a N.C. woman whose unionizing efforts succeeded in 1974. "It is not necessary I be remembered as anything, but I would like to be remembered as a woman who deeply cared for the working poor and the poor people of the U.S. and the world," she told the ‘Burlington Times.’ (That scene with the sign? Yep, really happened.)

Jane Fonda came up with the idea for this office-broad comedy, in which she and her two coworkers get back at their sexist, backstabbing jerk of a boss. Sure, it featured lots of laughs and that classic Dolly Parton song, but it had a lot to say about how women were treated as they increasingly entered the workforce during the 1980s second wave of feminism.

There are many biopics that could easily make this list but we’re including this one, for which Julia Roberts won an Oscar playing the formally untrained legal assistant who discovered an energy company was hiding a cancer-causing secret. The real-life Brockovich is currently fighting to stop drinking water fluoridation.

Sure, on the surface, this is just another sci-fi action movie – right? Many pro- and anti-feminist types have analyzed Ellen Ripley – her take on motherhood, her ability to handle a weapon, her wearing of THOSE PANTIES. In the end though, we just sit back and admire her pure badassery and know we could never follow in her gravity boots.

Ridley Scott (who directed ‘Alien’) also helmed this tale of two women who, like the ‘Suffragette’ ladies, refuse to be dominated by men – they’re just living oppressed in the modern-day South instead of 19^th century England. It made its point… in the guise of a rowdy female-buddy road movie.

This blaxploitation flick established Pam Grier as an icon of the genre. It was noteworthy in that it portrayed a black woman in a successful career (nursing) who healed the wounds of the injured at the same time she inflicted them on the bad guys to avenge her sister. Coffy didn’t shy away from her sexuality – she used it to her advantage. 

Sure, it's a guy in the movie’s title. But this movie is all about Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa, who is, well, furious that evil Immortan Joe is holding what’s left of humanity hostage, including his beautiful young “breeders.” Nothing will stop her from rescuing them – not a missing arm, Max Rockatansky, or a dozen enemy forces in the endless desert.

In this sequel, the first time you see the now-ripped Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) she’s doing chin-ups on her hospital bed. She’s a little bit crazy, a lotta hostile, and hell-bent on leading the resistance against the company creating evil robots using whatever weaponry she can get her hands on.  

This true story tells the tale of Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was 13. Rather than let this ruin her life and her dreams, she hit the waves almost before her body had totally healed and went on to turn pro. If there’s ever a role model to show your daughters, it’s this young woman. 

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was really a thing in the 1940s-‘50s, created during wartime when so many men were overseas. Dottie (Geena Davis) and sister Kit (Lori Petty) are two tough players who their own dreams after fighting expectations -- and each other -- to reach the World Series.

Artist Frida Kahlo endured pain throughout her life, both from a terrible accident early on and in her relationship with artist Diego Rivera, but managed to turn it into astoundingly successful career. And did you know she was an active communist?

Yes, it’s about four women and their love relationships… but we also admire portrayals of women who rely on their strong, successful friends to get them through hard times. And who doesn’t love the rage-fueled Angela Bassett monologue so memorable, it has its own entry in the Urban Dictionary?

This movie shed light on the fight for female equality abroad at the same time it showed a young British Indian woman’s battle against her old-school parents to play soccer, wear shorts, hang out and play sports with the boys.

Just because it’s the apocalypse doesn’t mean women can’t stand up for what they believe. Katniss first reluctantly, then wholeheartedly, takes on the leadership of the resistance against the Capitol, fighting for the “little guy” with the laser focus she uses in her archery. Team Peeta or Team Gale… who cares when you’re saving the world?

Quentin Tarantino described ‘Kill Bill’ as a “feminist statement” when it was released, and if ever there was a heroine to admire it’s the Bride. Though grieving from the loss of her child she remains resolute, resourceful and revenge bound – she’ll stop at nothing to take out everyone on her death wish list. 

Retired Marine pilot Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez) is an experienced warrior who sticks to the rules. But that doesn't mean she lacks compassion for her fellow man; she is more than ready to spring into selfless action when called upon to do so in behalf of the heroic Jake (Sam Worthington) and a very worthy cause.

In 'The Force Awakens,' Rey (Daisy Ridley) was introduced as a fearless warrior. In 'The Last Jedi,' though, Rey recognizes that she is very much in need of further training. That does not dampen her zeal to help her friends and to stand firm against evil - an inspiring example for everyone.

Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) is well-respected at home, but when an outsider crashes into the sea nearby, she is quick to help him and then leaps at the chance to stop the great war that is raging. She adapts her fantastic fighting skills as Wonder Woman and proves brave and fearless as she accepts her true destiny.