15 Best Movies About Strong Women That Will Fire You Up
By Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying DesignThese aren’t just stories. They’re statements.
Looking for a movie that reminds you what you're made of? These films don’t just feature women - they center them. They showcase female leads who fight, rise, lead, rebel, and redefine power on their own terms.
From historical powerhouses to fictional icons, these characters don’t ask permission. And whether you’re building a business, navigating change, or just need a spark - these stories deliver.
Power Moves: Action Heroines Who Don’t Flinch
Wonder Woman (2017) – Dir. Patty Jenkins
Diana of Themyscira set a new standard for superhero movies: equal parts myth, muscle, and emotional intelligence. She leads with strength and heart - and proves you don’t have to choose.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – Dir. George Miller
Furiosa isn’t a sidekick - she’s a revolution. Charlize Theron’s grit and grace make this one of the most quietly feminist action films ever made.
The Hunger Games Series (2012–2015) – Dir. Gary Ross & Francis Lawrence
Katniss Everdeen isn’t flashy - she’s strategic, grounded, and gutsy. A rebel with quiet fire who leads not by force, but by choice.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2003–2004) – Dir. Quentin Tarantino
The Bride’s journey is a bloody ballet of revenge and reclamation. It’s brutal, brilliant, and proof that healing and fury can coexist.
Real Women, Real Impact: History-Makers & Change Agents
Hidden Figures (2016) – Dir. Theodore Melfi
Three brilliant Black women behind NASA’s biggest breakthroughs - and the systemic barriers they dismantled on the way. Quiet genius, loud impact.
Erin Brockovich (2000) – Dir. Steven Soderbergh
A single mother with no legal degree, no filter, and no time for excuses. Julia Roberts shows what happens when persistence goes up against power - and wins.
Suffragette (2015) – Dir. Sarah Gavron
A raw, sometimes brutal portrayal of the women who risked it all for the right to vote. Not a feel-good watch - but an important one.
Unfiltered & Unstoppable: Women Who Break the Mould
Little Women (2019) – Dir. Greta Gerwig
Jo March is artful, ambitious, and unapologetically herself - long before the world was ready. A timeless reminder that women can choose creativity over conformity.
Gone Girl (2014) – Dir. David Fincher
Amy Dunne is not your role model - but she is unforgettable. A dark, sharp, and complex portrait of narrative control and manipulation.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Dir. David Frankel
Power, fashion, mentorship, and the mess in between. Miranda Priestly is iconic - but so is the quiet evolution of Andy Sachs.
Gravity (2013) – Dir. Alfonso Cuarón
A solo survival story in space becomes something more: about grief, reinvention, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.
Animated, But Never Small: Big-Hearted Heroines
Brave (2012) – Dir. Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman
Merida rejects expectations and rewrites tradition - on horseback. A story about freedom, family, and defining your own fate.
Mulan (1998 & 2020) – Dir. Tony Bancroft / Niki Caro
Two takes, one truth: Mulan shows us what honour, courage, and defiance look like. Not just for her family - but for herself.
Power with a Wink: Romance, Rebellion & Reinvention
Legally Blonde (2001) – Dir. Robert Luketic
Elle Woods is underestimated, overachieving, and always in control of her story. She proves that you can be soft and smart - and you don’t have to choose.
Thelma & Louise (1991) – Dir. Ridley Scott
Not just a road movie. A wild, gut-punch of a story about friendship, liberation, and refusing to shrink for anyone.
These Women Don’t Wait for Permission
This list isn’t just about strong female leads. It’s about women who own their power, rewrite their narratives, and push back when the world tells them to play small.
Whether you’re stuck, starting over, or scaling up - these stories remind you: strength looks different on every woman. And that’s the point.
Watch one. Or all fifteen. Just don’t forget to bring the popcorn - and maybe a notebook. You might leave more fired up than when you started.
