This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.
March is Women’s History Month, so why not get in the mood by watching some powerful women do their thing on the big screen? I have compiled a list of some of my favorite movies and TV shows that showcase badass women in a bunch of different genres. There are action packed movies about women superheroes, fun comedies about friendships and family, a couple TV series about powerful women and even a documentary that teaches you a lot about second wave feminism.
1. Little Women
Felicity Warner / HCM
This movie was directed by a woman, Greta Gerwig, and features some famous faces like Emma Watson, Laura Dern, Florence Pugh and Timothee Chalamet. This is a feel-good movie about sisterhood and family set in the post-Civil War era. This movie will make you feel all warm and fuzzy but might also get you crying by the end.
2. Booksmart
Minnah Stein
Booksmart was also directed by a woman, Olivia Wilde, and follows two very studious best friends on their last day of senior year. Not wanting to miss out on the normal high school experience, they go on this crazy adventure in search for their first and last party of high school. This movie is a feel-good comedy that you could watch over and over again and still have a good time.
If you haven’t seen The Devil Wears Prada yet you are missing out! This movie follows a college graduate, played by Anne Hathaway, who is hired as the assistant to a powerful fashion magazine editor, played by Meryl Streep. This movie is a fun drama centered around the good and bad women of the fashion industry and how one navigates it.
4. Captain Marvel
Krists Luhaers
Captain Marvel is one of the action-packed superhero movies I mentioned that is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and was co-directed by a woman, Anna Boden. This movie follows Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, helping save Earth during a galactic conflict between two alien civilizations. If you like action or superhero movies and haven’t seen Captain Marvel yet, this one should be on your list.
5. Birds of Prey
Erik Witsoe
This is another superhero movie also directed by a woman, Cathy Yan, but it is set in the DC Universe. This movie follows a group of deadly women helping Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, as she is on the run from crime lords and thugs of the city. If you are looking for a movie that you will have a fun time watching and will make you feel like a badass, this is the movie for you.
6. Parks and Recreation
This is a classic sitcom that follows Parks and Recreations department employee Leslie Knope as she tries to build her very own park. This show isn’t all about women, but I decided to include it because Leslie is the greatest example of a driven, self-made woman who accomplishes so much because she put her mind to it. This is a lighthearted comedy series that I think everyone should watch at least once in their life.
Glow is a Netflix original series set in Los Angeles in the 80s, where a group of 13 Hollywood misfits find themselves all working on a staged woman’s wrestling TV show. This show is funny and dramatic, showcasing the growing bonds of these women as they also touch on other themes like racism and feminism.
8. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
Vlad Tchompalov, via Unsplash
This is a documentary that shows real footage and interviews with influential women during the second wave feminist movement. If you don’t know a lot about the history of feminism, I highly recommend this documentary because it is very engaging and teaches you so much about feminism in the 60s and 70s. This documentary is the perfect way to celebrate Women’s History Month and learn how you can aid in the ongoing feminist struggle today.
Morgan is a freshman double majoring in Creative Writing and Psychology. She enjoys listening to King Princess on repeat, playing with her puppy Luna, and sleeping her problems away.
