Hollywood●0 min read●
The Best Feminist Movies You Need To Watch Right Now (Women’s Day Special)
Needless to say, March is known for being Women’s History Month – it is the best time to pick up your copy of The Second Sex – or end up hitting play on any of the best feminist movies made by, for, or even about women.
But just one reminder – this is not a definitive, set-in-stone list – rather, it is sort of a jump-off point.
We firmly believe that every year should be considered as the Year of the Woman – the emphasis here is on ‘should.’ The past few years haven’t been really great for feminists, with the global pandemic only adding to the BS that women have already been putting up with for decades (and centuries, for that matter).
Every corporate meeting makes us feel like the Joan of Arc preparing for a tragic battle. The state of the world is as such – and watching a feminist movie might not actually fix things. But it will definitely give you the boost you need to fight your daily battles.
After all, it was inspiring to watch powerful stories about powerful women – from the female characters in Hidden Figures to Norma Rae and Erin Brockovich; everyone reminded us that all our tales are equally important.
Even any good coming-of-age film can help us reconnect with our inner girl, giving us the courage to face the world fearlessly.
So, are you feeling some empowerment? Gossipment has compiled the best feminist moves available for streaming on different platforms (Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and more).
Let’s dive in, shall we?
The Best Feminist Movies You Need To Watch Right Now (Women’s Day Special)
There are multiple films about feminism featuring empowering female characters and tales of girl power. Watching these films is so important not just because they motivate, educate, and inspire but also because it is vital that we frequently celebrate stories of empowering women.
From romantic comedies and animated classics to biographical dramas, Gossipment presents the best feminist movies that you need to watch ASAP (if you haven’t already).
⁕⁕ Please Note: Most films in this list are written (or sometimes co-written) or/and directed by women, though we admit that in some cases, men do end up making good feminist movies all on their own ⁕⁕
1. Matilda (2022):
Director: Matthew Warchus.
Writers: Dennis Kelly (screenplay and stage musical), Tim Minchin (stage musical), and Roald Dahl (original novel).
Cast: Alisha Weir (Matilda), Emma Thompson (Agatha Trunchbull), Lashana Lynch (Miss Honey).
Matilda might be tiny, but she is a feminist hero nonetheless, specifically in Roald Dahl’s famous musical adaptation by Tim Minchin. In case you and your little one need a reminder about how sometimes being a little naughty is absolutely fine for changing the bad environment around you guys, then we can’t recommend this film enough.
IMDB Summary: “An adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical. Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.”
2. The Color Purple (1985):
Director: Steven Spielberg.
Writers: Menno Meyjes (screenplay) and Alice Walker (original novel).
Cast: Whoopi Goldberg (Celie Johnson), Danny Glover (Albert), and Oprah Winfrey (Sofia).
If you are a voracious reader, then you know that Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a Pultizer-winning novel. Based on Walker’s iconic novel, Steven Spielberg adapted the story into a film.
The protagonist, Celie, doesn’t have an easy life. To make matters worse, the story narrates Celie’s dark journey through much heartbreak and pain. One of the best feminist movies on his list, The Color Purple, is bursting with lessons in feminism and, more importantly, has a gratifying ending.
Also, if you feel like it, you can opt to see the recent film adaptation of the story’s Broadway musical starring the talented Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Taraji P. Henson. It’s so good, really!
IMDB Summary: “A tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry.”
3. Barbie (2023):
Director: Greta Gerwig.
Writers: Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.
Cast: Margot Robbie (Barbie), Ryan Gosling (Ken), and Issa Rae (Barbie).
Yes, Greta Gerwig did it yet again – the world is in awe! Take a bow, Greta!
In 1994, Mary Pipher wrote a feminist text with the title, ‘Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls.’ The text examines the impact of societal pressures on impressional young girls in America using different case studies from Pipher’s experience as a successful therapist.
Interestingly, the book inspired Gerwig, who picked a doll as her subject. The point? The doll represents all women out there, with Gerwig turning the subject into a meaningful and hilarious film for women everywhere.
Moreover, the film was responsible for making people return to the theaters last summer, sparking a viral celebration of girlhood.
IMDB Summary: “Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.”
4. Gone Girl (2014):
Director: David Fincher.
Writers: Gillian Flynn (screenplay and novel).
Cast: Ben Affleck (Nick Dunne), Rosamund Pike (Amy Dunne), and Neil Patrick Harris ( Desi Collings).
Gone Girl is an iconic film and undoubtedly one of the best feminist movies to watch before International Women’s Day 2024.
This one is for everyone who supports women’s rights and their wrongs at the same time. This one is also for everyone who will change forever by the legendary ‘cool girl’ monologue.
If you are exhausted with the world out there and currently feeling like doing something drastic, then this movie is for you! We hope that you can live vicariously through Gone Girl’s protagonist. After all, the film is a feminist catharsis – don’t confuse it with a feminist endorsement, instead.
IMDB Summary: “With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent.”
5. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023):
Director: Kelly Fremon Craig.
Writers: Kelly Fremon Craig (screenplay) and Judy Blume (original novel).
Cast: Abby Ryder Fortson
This Judy Blume classic is one of our favorite feminist films of all time. And when Kelly Freeman Craig directed an incredible adaptation of this classic, a coming-of-age film about religion and inspiring women rising against inspiring women, we had to watch it.
FYI, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a staple for young and old feminists everywhere.
IMDB Summary: “When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.”
6. Little Women (2019):
Director: Greta Gerwig.
Writers: Greta Gerwig (screenplay) and Louisa May Alcott (original novel).
Cast: Saoirse Ronan (Jo March), Emma Watson (Meg March), and Timothée Chalamet (Laurie).
Obviously, Little Women is one of the best feminist movies of all time. Whether you watch the 1994 classic featuring Winona Ryder or the 2019 version by Greta Gerwig featuring Timothée Chalamet and Emma Watson, both films narrate the same story.
So, what is the story all about? Four sisters who are very different from each other live out their different dreams, only to come together to be there for one another at each other’s worst.
IMDB Summary: “Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.”
7. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999):
Director: Gil Junger.
Writers: Karen McCullah (screenplay), Kirsten Smith (screenplay), and William Shakespeare (original play).
Cast: Heath Ledger (Patrick Verona), Julia Stiles (Kat Stratford), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Cameron James).
Undoubtedly, The Taming of the Shrew is one of the most problematic plays Shakespeare has written (if you are/were an English lit major, you will know)!
But Gil Junger didn’t think so! He literally took one of the most problematic Shakespearean plays and simply turned it into this hot, sexy, not to mention feminist rom-com of the 90s! From Julia Stiles’ beautiful yet heartbreaking poem at the movie’s end to Heath Ledger’s singing, you will have a fantastic time watching this film.
IMDB Summary: “A high-school boy, Cameron, cannot date Bianca until her anti-social older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. So, Cameron pays a mysterious boy, Patrick, to charm Kat.”
8. Erin Brockovich (2000):
Director: Steven Soderbergh.
Writer: Susannah Grant.
Cast: Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich), David Brisbin (Dr. Jaffe), and Dawn Didawick (Rosalind).
Erin Brockovich is one of the best feminist movies of all time! Our favorite Julia Roberts plays a badass (no sh**z given) single mother who lands the job of a legal assistant. Moreover, Roberts single-handedly brings down a corrupt company.
The energy company was responsible for not just contaminating water in a community in California but also covering it up successfully – until Roberts took them down! Also, it is a true story!
IMDB Summary: “An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply.”
9. Wonder Woman (2017):
Director: Patty Jenkins.
Writers: Allan Heinberg (screenplay and story), Zack Snyder (story), Jason Fuchs (story), William Moulton Marston (creator of Wonder Woman), and Harry G. Peter (creator of Wonder Woman).
Cast: Gal Gadot (Diana), Chris Pine (Steve Trevor), and Connie Nielsen (Hippolyta).
Forget about the comics or the OG story about the iconic DC character, Wonder Woman! As a woman, it was empowering to see Diana take control and do what is right – not just for the world, but for herself! Moreover, how can you not get excited about Diana’s home – an exotic island where only female warriors reside?
Come on, even a very hot, washed-up Chris Pine could not make us forget about Diana’s home! Also, if you love Wonder Woman (Diana Prince), then you must check out Birds of Prey, a Harley Quinn solo!
IMDB Summary: “When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.”
10. Oceans 8 (2018):
Director: Gary Ross.
Writers: Gary Ross (screenplay and story), Olivia Milch (screenplay), George Clayton Johnson (characters created by), and Jack Golden Russell (character created by).
Cast: Sandra Bullock (Debbie Ocean), Anne Hathaway (Daphne Kluger) and Rihanna (Nine Ball).
We love the Oceans franchise! So naturally, when Oceans 8 dropped on screens, we were excited to see eight women pull off a heist successfully. Plus, Oceans 8 is an all-female take on an iconic heist movie!
In the film, Sandra Bullock and her army of goddesses carry out a heist, risking prison for a necklace worth 150 million dollars. You can also check out the all-female Ghostbusters as well.
IMDB Summary: “Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s annual Met Gala.”
11. Legally Blonde (2001):
Director: Robert Luketic.
Writers: Karen McCullah (screenplay), Kirsten Smith (screenplay), and Amanda Brown (original novel).
Cast: Reese Witherspoon (Elle Woods), Luke Wilson (Emmett), and Selma Blair (Vivian).
With all the snapping and bending, not to mention the overwhelming amount of sparkles and pink, it is easy to overlook the feminism in Legally Blonde. It is a lot about how femininity can also be feminist – nobody should ever be ashamed of it! Moreover, isn’t that what Greta Gerwig literally did with Barbie 22 years later?
Also, we loved how Elle woke up one day and decided that she wanted to attend Harvard Law School, something that is conventionally an impossible goal. Even before Elle’s self-affirming realizations and character growth, she is literally like, “Yes, but I will go,” and she actually does attend Harvard Law. GOALS!
IMDB Summary: “Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen, is dumped by her boyfriend. She decides to follow him to law school. While she is there, she figures out that there is more to her than just looks.”
And It’s A Wrap!
And it’s a wrap on the best feminist movies of all time!
We can keep adding movies to this list – but when you make a list featuring too many options, it just fails to add value. After all, if we had featured 100 movies, then you would have never been able to make up your mind about which one to watch and which one to save for later!
So, we decided to feature 11 movies – 11 movies that are empowering, inspiring, and, most importantly, talk about the universal truth. Who rules the world? GIRLS!
