A Level In Badass: Top Ten Female-Centric Films
International Women’s Day is a day for showing your love and appreciation to all the wom*n in your life!
To help celebrate, I’ve compiled a list of the top ten female-centric movies and television shows for your enjoyment!
Let’s count it down…
- Charmed (1998 – 2006)
If you haven’t seen this yet, you are truly missing out. The series ran for 8 years and captured the hearts of women all over the world with its empowering story about sisterhood and magic. All four sisters had their own strengths and weaknesses, but no matter what, they could rely on one another to vanquish their demons.
Image: IMdB
It has been reported that there may be a possible reboot in the works! Stay tuned.
- Nikita (2010 – 2014)
Nikita is a CW series based on a French film of the same name that follows the story of a government assassin gone rogue. Over its three year run, Nikita gave us some of the most vulnerable, yet completely badass women whose skills and relationships were never overshadowed by their male counterparts.
Image: IMdB
Fun fact: Maggie Q, who plays the title character, was the second Asian-American actress to be the lead in an American television show.
- Thelma & Louise (1991)
Speaking of badass women…
Image: IMdB
The IMdB synopsis for this film is this: “An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a ’66 Thunderbird.”
Need I say more?
- Superhero master post: Agent Carter (2015), Supergirl (2015) and Jessica Jones (2015)
In a world full of male superheroes, these three unstoppable women come to me speaking words of wisdom: girls can be heroes too.
First up: Peggy Carter. The OG badass. Agent Carter follows on from Captain America: The First Avenger and proves that Peggy Carter doesn’t need a man to be the literal best human. This show is supremely underrated and if Hayley Atwell’s face doesn’t make you wanna watch, then I don’t know what will.
Image: Azrael Coladilla
Next up: Supergirl aka Kara Danvers aka the cutest cinnamon roll in the entire universe. Supergirl is, on the surface, a light and fluffy superhero show and in many ways, that’s true. But it also delivers one of the greatest sister bonds to hit television and teaches us that girl power is sometimes all it takes.
Finally, Jessica Jones. The best thing about this show is that it subverts every notion of what it means to be a hero: Jessica is withdrawn, angry, suffering from PTSD and a raging alcoholic. Even when she expressly says that she’s not a hero, she is one. She teaches us that it’s okay to be damaged, because you are still strong.
- Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Arguably Julia Robert’s best movie, in my opinion. This is the kind of movie that will make you question your entire life – who are you? Where are you going? Why is Kirsten Dunst so supremely annoying in this film?
Image: IMdB
Just kidding! She gets better at the end, I promise.
If you haven’t had a feminist awakening yet, Mona Lisa Smile is the film for you!
- Sex and the City (1998 – 2004)
Ah, a true classic. The reason that all your friends keep saying: “No, I’m the Carrie!”
And who wouldn’t want to be Carrie Bradshaw? She is fabulous and she has fabulous friends that never judge her because they’re doing the same crazy shit. Break out the cosmos, ladies; it’s time for a binge watch!
Image: HBO India
- Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)
This series truly was groundbreaking. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore’s relationship is one of the most pure, uncompromising, beautiful things to be shown on television and I am in no way surprised that Netflix decided that we’ve been waiting long enough and gave us an 8th season!
Image: LaRa InSide, Flickr
- Orange Is The New Black (2013 – present)
This series gives us one of the most diverse casts acting within one of the most compelling narratives. Orange Is The New Black is not afraid to push the envelope – it constantly evaluates the norms of society and questions the way that women of colour, trans* women, bisexual women and lesbian women are portrayed on screen and seen in real life.
Image: IMdB
- Legally Blonde (2001)
Becoming Elle Woods is my real-life goal. Every time I don’t want to study (or do anything ever), I think to myself: “What would Elle Woods do?”
Well, I know what she’d do. She would work her butt off to get what she wants and once she’s finished conquering the world, she’d go and get her nails painted an obscenely bright pink and OWN IT.
Image: IMdB
WWEWD is my life motto, and it should be yours too.
- Mean Girls (2004)
This is the movie that you play whenever you’re hanging out with the girls because you want to forget about all the stresses happening in life. The best thing about this movie is that no one in the English-speaking world hates this movie. It’s the most quotable and relatable film of our generation and we have Tina Fey to thank for it. Women behind the scenes are just as important as the women in front of the camera.
Image: Chelsea Lynn, Flickr
I know I’ve finished my list, but I’m going to give a shout out to The Colour Purple (1985) because it too is a masterpiece. Celie Johnson’s struggle is profound. Profound in the sense that it created a woman that is so inspiring and so powerful despite her immense suffering. You should watch this film, even though it will make you cry.
Without further ado, here’s to all the babes who celebrated today! May you feel as beautiful and badass as the women I’ve just mentioned. You deserve it.
If you think I’ve missed anything, let me know in the comments!
Featured image: flickr, The Game, no changes made.
