Women empowerment movies are popular for a good reason. We all deserve to be celebrated, and the best way to do that is through the media.
The movies below are by no means a comprehensive list, but they’re great places to start to deep dive into with some inspiring films relating situations, events, and stories where female leads and fights against sexual harassment, double standards, and for representation of women.
So when you feel the need to escape, watching a movie can help take you out of your daily life and into a different one. These are women empowerment movies that portray women in influential roles who break out of traditional uses for their gender by doing things such as running for president or creating businesses.
They also explore topics like women’s rights and the social changes women have achieved through generations.
Movies are not the only way to get inspiration, but they can be very uplifting and are great ways to enjoy your time with your family or friends while watching a story that will make you feel empowered.
The Iron Lady (2011)
This film takes a look at the life of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first woman prime minister of England in 1979. Meryl Streep plays Thatcher and beautifully brings her powerful and inspiring female character to life.
Some notable scenes are when she is making her speech about why she wants to be elected as prime minister and interviewed by Jeremy Paxman. The film discusses the many years of hard work Thatcher had put into the country to create a different way for people to live.
Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
This film is based on a book written by an unidentified French writer in the 17th century. The novel examines the relationships of influential people who are all scheming and seducing their way to power. The film uses several actresses to play the roles of these characters and three different directors as well. This is an excellent example of how women have had a significant role in society since the 1700s, despite what many people think.
Mulan (1998)
This is a Disney movie that features a character named Mulan who tries to break the rules of her social class to join the army in place of her father. The film shows how Mulan is willing to do anything for the ones she loves and gives a different perspective on what it means for Chinese women to marry. It can teach a lot about respecting yourself and those around you, as well as breaking out of gender stereotypes.
Oranges and Sunshine (2010)
This movie is based on a true story about children taken from their families in the 1950s to work in British homes. One of the main characters is Margaret Humphreys, who fights for the rights of these children to go back to their original families.
The film shows how Margaret goes against what everyone else believes is right to bring attention to her cause and save these children. This is an excellent movie about the struggles that society faced and how one woman could fight for these rights.
Hidden figures
This movie was directed by Theodore Melfi and is based on three African American women working at NASA during the Space Race. The film follows Katherine G Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan through their journey from the colored bathrooms to helping launch a man into space.
They are strong black women who prove themselves when racism held them back from many opportunities.
Allice walker: Beauty in truth
A retelling of Alice Walker’s life story, Beauty in truth focuses on the black American walker and her journey through life as an activist. It shows her struggles with civil rights and feminism during the 70’s when she stood out as a strong black woman.
Girl Rising
Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Chloë Grace Moretz, and others star in this inspirational movie, following the lives of girls all over the world. It is a documentary following how education can empower women and girls to make their own choices in life. The movie was nominated for an Oscar award in 2013.
Regression
Regression, inspired by real-life events, is a story of an emotionally disturbed man falsely accused of sexually abusing his daughter. The movie follows his struggles through the court system without a lawyer and ultimately questions how justice can prevail. The movie stars Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson as the two main characters.
Hot pursuit
A fun take on the action genre, Hot Pursuit stars Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon as two women on the run from a gangster, who end up jumping into each other’s vehicles after having their cars explode. The two teams up to survive from a real-life villain.
The Help (2011)
This film is based on a novel by Kathryn Stockett and follows three women as they work in their southern homes. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan works as a maid and goes against the customs of her time to tell others what she knows about discrimination in her town. While this movie is fictional, it still focuses on the way women were treated in the 1960s and 1970s and how one woman stood up against them.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
This film is a comedy that stars Robin Williams as a father who dresses up as his mother to go into his kids’ house to help out with their mother while she is away. The film has many funny moments and teaches your family or friends an important lesson about impressing those around you without being an overbearing person.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
In this film, a British agent named Alec Leamas gets sent to East Germany under an assumed name and is stuck there for 17 years. While his job is to spy on the people in power, he falls in love with a German woman named Mathilde.
This film is an excellent example of how women have been portrayed throughout films and television throughout time. It shows a realistic view of how this man would have been treated in his time period even though a woman is the main love interest.
Push (2009)
This film is based on the novel by Sapphire and portrays life in Harlem in its early stages. A young African American woman named Precious has to deal with several teenage pregnancies and domestic violence issues while also attempting to break out of her social class. This film also includes the social problems of the period and teaches you how to think about these issues in a realistic manner.
The Color Purple (1985)
Based on the novel by Alice Walker, this film is about a young woman named Celie who goes through life with several hardships. The movie shows how these hardships changed her and how she could find love after everything that happened.
It is packed with female empowerment and teaches you about accepting those around you for who they are and helping them achieve their full potential.
This information on women empowerment movies with strong woman characters would not be complete without mentioning some of the fantastic roles women have played or film adaptation to real women and their Real-life stories.
While it is true that there are many other types of roles, it’s important to look back and see the types of characters that have sparked generations through films. This should inspire you to watch more movies with powerful females to help you learn about some of the great things they have done for society.
Women Empowerment Movies portray women as strong, independent individuals, revealing the female superhero inside who can achieve whatever they set their minds to. These movies are not only a celebration of the worth of women but also a celebration of how important it is to believe in oneself no matter the obstacles.
