This collection of female-centric movies highlights the incredible journeys of women who, despite the barriers imposed by society, managed to leave indelible marks in history and culture. These films take you through powerful storytelling, providing audiences with profound insight and inspiration. They celebrate the enduring spirit of women who dared to defy limitations and claim their rightful place in the world. Each film not only showcases the triumphs and resilience of these women but also serves as a testament to their courage and tenacity. Whether you’re looking for historical biopics, dramatic retellings, or heartwarming stories of personal growth, these movies offer something for everyone and remind us of the significant contributions women have made throughout history. Join us as we explore these cinematic masterpieces that honor the strength, perseverance, and legacy of remarkable women.
Hidden Figures (2016)
This 2016 American historical drama was based on the book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win The Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. The story follows the real-life story of three African-American mathematicians named Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who worked at NASA in the early 60’s. Despite the major racial segregation still in progress at the time, It was with their dedication that the NASA space program was successful in their early space flights against the USSR.
This movie is a very true depiction of women, specifically African-American women in STEM, in a time where it was even hard for a white woman to advance in the very male-dominated field of STEM. It’s the retelling of the struggles, challenges, and roadblocks that these women had to endure in order to be able to prove themselves more than capable in scientific fields despite the constant racism and segregation that worked against them. Katherine Johsnon later became NASA’s first female African-American engineer and in 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
IMDB: 7.8/10
Julie & Julia (2009)
This biographical comedy depicts the lives of culinary chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) & published author Julie Powell (Amy Adams). The movie is based on two books, My Life in France by Julia Child & Alex Prud’homme, and a memoir Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes,1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell. The movie jumps back and forth between Julia’s life in Paris in the 1950’s, and Julie’s life in New York City in 2002. The movie premises around Julie’s life with an unpleasant life at a call center, she decides to attempt to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s 1961 book Mastering the Art of French Cooking and post them on her blog, which eventually gains her recognition as an author. The other plotline revolves around Julia’s life in Paris with her diplomat husband as she learns the ins and outs of french cuisine and works on her masterwork book of cooking.
The movie has very light hearted and joyous themes while shifting between two different stories. The journeys of these two women in two different worlds is very inspirational to the audience and the difference in the lifestyle of these two women in two different decades and times, showcases the difference in cultural norms, political issues, and women’s role in home and society in different decades.
IMDB: 7/10
Erin Brockovich (2000)
A very interesting legal thriller that showcases another true court case. Erin Brockovich is the true story of a woman by the same name who started a legal case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company on the accounts of groundwater contamination of the town of Hinkley, California. The story follows the single mother Erin, played by Julia Roberts, as she struggles to find a job and support her children, eventually managing to find a paid position in a legal office as a secretary. After studying a file in which PG&E is offering to buy a house for a resident of the town in addition to covering the numerous medical bills of the resident, she starts to suspect things are not right and decides to start investigating and eventually start a lawsuit against the company.
This inspiring woman single handedly led a lawsuit against this multi million dollar corporation and fought for justice for the entire town of Hinkley, California. Despite being a single mother, extreme financial hardship, and lack of a law degree, this seems like an impossible task, but she did it and was the only reason that justice was served.
IMDB: 7.4/10
Persepolis (2007)
This French autobiographical drama is based on the graphic novel by the same name by Marjane Satrapi about her life story of growing up in Iran during a revolution, a war, immigration and her journey of self discovery. The story follows a young Marjane living a normal life with her parents in Tehran, Iran in 1979 at the brink of the Islamic Revolution. The hardships that follow set by the tyrant regime including a strict moral dress code for women, limiting free speech and the loss of personal rights along with the Iran-Iraq war, shape Marjane’s personality as she develops into a young adult and moves to Austria for education.
The life story of famous author Marjane Satrapi has strong themes of feminism, religion vs. modernity, self-discovery, and strong political criticism. The movie takes us on a journey of multiple different worlds as Marjane is growing up from the strict laws of her country that reduces her access to western media, living through a war and understanding its consequences as a young adult, to the underground nightlife of Vienna in the 80’s, heavy metal culture, and homelessness and xenophobia, and all the while has a critical look of Iran’s constantly changing cultural norms set by the ideologies of the government and the culture of fighting back as a woman.
IMDB: 8/10
Frida (2002)
This biographical drama follows the story of Frida Kahlo, Mexican artist and painter and her private and professional life. After suffering a traumatic accident on a bus, Frida (Salma Hayek) takes on painting and as soon as she gains her ability to walk, she takes her paintings to Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), famous muralist and demands an honest critique. Falling in love with her and her paintings, Rivera praises her as they get into a dysfunctional relationship.
The story follows Frida and Diego’s relationship through her professional work through the ages. The movie focuses on both aspects of her professional work and personal life equally and does a very nice job of showing how they affected each other. All the while, the movie alose explores the artistic culture of Mexico and the shifting political ideologies and norms through the ages and the effect she has on both through her art.
IMDB: 7.3/10
Jackie (2016)
This historical drama follows the story of Jacqueline Kennedy (Nataie Portman) and her life as the First Lady of the United States during the presidency of her husband John F. Kennedy, and her immediate life following his assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963.
Jackie Kennedy was a private woman and mostly lived a private life away from the media during her term as the First Lady, however the few public personas she cultivated during her term specially through her televised tour of the White House, created a strong, elegant, and calm personality which Natalie Portman manages to portray beautifully. Although most dialogue is imaginary, the personal life of Jackie Kennedy after the assassination and her plans of the funeral were mostly accurate and depicts her strong personality even more.
IMDB: 6.6/10
Evita (1996)
Another movie following women in politics, Evita is the biographical musical drama that follows the story of Eva Perón, Juan Perón’s wife and First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. The movie follows Eva (Madonna) who comes from a low class and poor family and has now moved to Buenos Aires aspiring to become an actress. Climbing the social ladder quickly using her feminine charms and political connection in times of uncertainty, she eventually meets Juan Perón at a ball and begins her career in politics.
Although a musical, the movie does a good job of providing Eva’s life with positive and negative feedback. Her actions through the film are constant;y judged by herself and the narrator (Antonio Banderas) who is highly critical of her governing and doesn’t find her worthy. Regardless of her husband’s authoritarian rule of Argentina, during her short time as the First Lady, Evita became a champion for the poor working class community of Argentina. She established the Eva Perón foundation which provided social help including housing, healthcare, and scholarships for disadvantaged citizens.
IMDB: 6.3/10
Changeling (2008)
Changeling is a mystery drama that follows the events leading up to the discovery of Wineville Chicken Coop murders. Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) is a single mother living with her son in a neighborhood in Los Angeles in 1928. Her life changes when she returns home one day to find her son missing. After searching for her son for about six months, LAPD, desperate to achieve success and change their perspective of a corrupt and incompetent department, reunite her with her son at a press conference. However, not long after Chrisitne claims the boy is not her son and proves it with dental records but she is later waved off by the police commissioner and is pressured to take the boy home
The unbelievable story of Christine Collins is a shameful stain on this country’s history and the LAPD. After being accused of being insane and thrown in the mental institution, Collins witnessed other women with somewhat similar situations who got in trouble with the police and were being punished by being kept by her while being completely sane. Her story of fighting the police after she got released and her search for her son is truly inspiring and is a piece of modern history about police authority and brutality in a time that it could not be stopped or controlled, only fought with.
IMDB: 7.7/10
Big Eyes (2014)
Big eyes is a biographical drama starring Amy Adams as Margaret Keane, American artist and painter. The story follows a single mother in San Francisco who meets Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz) during an outdoor show, and soon they get married. Soon after, Margaret’s paintings and artwork start to get more attention. Walter uses this opportunity to broaden this success and gain a large amount of wealth off her work, and even label it as his. This pattern continued for years until Margaret escaped to Hawaii with her daughter, where she received word that Walter will only give her a divorce if she signs over the rights to the paintings to him, making him the owner of the artwork.
This dramatic biography is infuriating, Christoph Waltz does an absolutely amazing job of recreating the sneaky personality of Walter Keane. The movie focuses on how Margaret had been overshadowed, isolated or in some cases, even forgotten because of her husband and how her work and her place in the spotlight was stolen from her by a cheat who didn’t have enough talent to create something of his own.
IMDB: 7/10
Respect (2021)
This biographical drama follows the life journey of Aretha Franklin (Jennifer Hudson) or the “Queen of Soul”. Respect explores Arethas’ transformation from singing at her father’s church choir to becoming a global superstar and tackles the issues of faith, identity, family and fame.
The movie dives into Aretha’s personal life including her relationship with her father and the hardships she faced as a black woman artist. This is a story of how she took control over her voice and work, and even the title is a nod to her hit song Respect that became a feminist anthem and a symbol of the civil rights and women’s movements of the 60’s.
IMDB: 6.6/10
