So fed up with watching films with no decent female roles - please give me your recommendations

[whatsinanumber]

Watched yet another 'classic' film tonight in which the occasional (beautiful) woman flitted on screen either grieving for a man or being seduced by one, the rest was just a bunch of guys shooting at each other. I don't know what the actual percentage of the films I've watched in my life that have been like that but, thinking about it tonight, it feels absurdly high. I know this is much discussed but watching films with teenage DDs I'm just reminded how few films there seem to be with fully-formed girls and women in them who aren't just there to look hot. I started googling 'female empowering films' and got stuff like Superwoman and, while I don't have a problem with Superwoman, that's not really what I'm after - I don't especially need to be showing my daughters films in which the women kick ass and beat all the men in fights, or being heroes in some other capacity. They don't need to be all about women, I just want there to be nuanced girls and women on screen being part of what's going on, having conversations etc.

I'm sure they are out there, I'm just all out of ideas and would love to have a list on hand for when we are choosing films as a family. So if you have any favourite films with great female characters please share!

Going to bed shortly but pick this up again in the morning. Thanks in advance

Over 18
Anna
Unorthodox

Under 18
Stranger things
Hanna
Queens Gambit
Wednesday
Nyad

Happy Valley, Vera, Guardians of the Galaxy, Pride and Prejudice, Wonder Woman er...

Erin Brokovich

Ooh great list!

Unbelievable on Netflix

Sicario with Emily Blunt is underrated

Wild. The book is a great read too.

Shirley Valentine
Beaches

Studio Ghibli films usually have female protagonists and relationships that are focused on friendship and deep connection rather than romantic love (e.g. My Neighbour Totoro is about sisterhood). There's also a diverse range of supporting female characters in all kinds of roles - Lady Eboshi, Captain Dola, Osono and a bunch of others.

Pitch Perfect!

My teenage DD loves the 2019 version of Little Women - it does take some liberties with the book (developing the feminist themes), but is a great watch, with a stellar cast including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, James Norton...

She also likes Dumplin' - about the plus-size daughter of a southern US small-town beauty queen (Jennifer Aniston playing an unlikeable character), who loves Dolly Parton.

Not a film (sorry!) but The Fall series on Netflix (maybe an upsetting for DC though). And the Elizabeth films.

I love The Handmaiden (not to be confused with The Handmaid's Tale) but it's loosely based on a Sarah Waters novel and is a bit too adult to watch with teenagers.

Little Women for Winona Ryder
Erin Brockovich for Julia Roberts
Lee for Kate Winslet
Steel Magnolias for Sally Field
Beaches for Bette Midler
Working Girl for Melanie Griffith
House of Flying Daggers for Zhang Ziyi
When Harry Met Sally for Meg Ryan
Alien for Sigourney Weaver

Million Dollar Baby with Hilary Swank is great. If you don't know too much about it I would recommend watching it without googling. I was expecting it to be just another sports film, and I'm not that into that kind of thing, but it was so much more than I was expecting.

You can’t go wrong with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie is great as well as the series. Why not try a bit of 30s or 40s nostalgia, go for some classic Bette Davis like Now, Voyager if you like a nice teary romance or Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford if you prefer high drama. That’s a golden age for strong female characters driving the action x

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
Alien
The Silence of the Lambs
Million Dollar Baby
Fargo
Misery
9 to 5
Silkwood
Domino

Oh, forgot to add, Hideous Kinky.

Just watched the new film 'Missing' on Netflix, not ground-breaking but good female protagonist.
Has Thelma & Louise dated? Or inappropriate subject matter?
Any of the Jane Austen adaptations - good to discuss whether a girl/ woman's role & opportunities have changed in 2 centuries (+ modern interpretations)
Legally blond?

Oh yes to Erin Brokovich! Such an inspiration!

Not sure of the ages of your DDs so have added comments.

There's a film called Harriet about Harriet Tubman which is a bit Hollywoodised, but does tell the really frightening journey of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and later work as an abolitionist. Some violence and racist behaviour.

And complete contrast Last Christmas (honest I watched it by mistake!) which is a bit Nottinghill in its style. The city of London and its diversity.

Has lots of interactions between sisters, mothers, a bit about growing up and also, which may be upsetting, bereavement.

And if you / they can bear it a George Michael heavy soundtrack!

Civil War. It might not be suitable for your DDs depending on age but it was refreshing to see a female lead in her 40s with no makeup, just being a war photographer, no frills.

Also, before Erin Brokovich there was Karen Silkwood.

The film Silkwood tells the story of her life and (spoiler) unexplained death.

Some what are now big names in the film but may seem dated as made in the 80s.

Disturbing.

If you want something a bit fun to watch with teenagers, then 10 Things I Hate About You and She's the Man are a lot of fun. Both based on Shakespeare but updated.

I assume they might have seen 10 Things but I think a lot of people have forgotten She's the Man, which I found sillier but also funnier.

I second Unbelievable. Fantastic strong female cast. Not glossy beauties, real normal looking women. But hard hitting as it's based on real events surrounding rape victims not being taken seriously. Can't recommend it enough.