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

Rear Window (Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter)

I just enjoyed The Six Triple Eight on netflix. Tells the story of the only black female army corps in WW2.

Bird box and the Quiet Place sequel have good women leads.

Six triple 8 on Netflix.

His Girl Friday. Another really old film. Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant. RR is magnificent.

I tend to rate anything with Olivia Coleman, Dame Maggie Smith or Dame Judy Dench.

Oceans 8 is the female Oceans 11 remake. It would work for a younger teen.

DD(17) devoured Killing Eve a couple of years ago (but that might be a bit too gory for you).

How about Red Joan (elderly Judy D unmasked as a clever war-time spy)? It's on Prime.

So many great films/series suggested.

I remember being very moved by "Goriilas in the Mist" - excellent performance by Sigourney Weaver. It is based on the story of Dian Fossey, an anthropologist, who comes to Africa to study about the vanishing mountain gorillas. Later, as she learns about the situation, she fights to protect them from the hunters in Rwanda.

Also - "death becomes her" - the film really is about the women! And although their initial reason for eternal youth is to get a man, he is really rather irrelevant in the film!

Will also add "Chicago".

The Alien films, I love Aliens in particular. All the Disney films with assertive leading females such as Frozen.
Yellowjackets on TV.
There are loads of films with assertive feisty females, often unrealistically so. Same with teenage novels. We could do with more films with smart female lead characters who quietly get on with things, similar to real life.

I liked Firefly Lane too for female friendships -though Kate is a bit of a wet, man-pleaser but she's balanced out by Tully (Katherine Heigl)

Wine Country on Netflix is almost entirely female characters, and I loved it, but it’s not a teen film. Just sticking it on here for other posters.

It’s about a group of female friends on a trip to Napa. Written, directed and produced by woman. Has some god tier comic actors in it - Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch.

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but Reece Witherspoon set up a company to buy the film rights of books with interesting female lead characters. So films that she has made and starred in are worth watching.

One example that I love is Wild.

Queen of the Desert, about Gertrude Bell.

The G

Nightbitch with Amy Adams on Disney+. Just watched it and it's amazing and profoundly feminist! Probably not suitable for young teens though...

Triple 8

Currently on Netflix

Alien
The Terminator

Dirty Dancing!

Loved Attorney Woo!
Astrid: Murder in Paris also features an autistic female who helps solve crimes. Her colleague is an older policewoman who takes her under her wing and is a very well-rounded character. On Walter Presents Channel4. We pay a few quid a month to watch their foreign shows (no adverts!) And they have some good stuff.
The Law According to Lidia Poet is on Netflix. It is (very) loosely based on the life of the first female Italian lawyer pre 1900. There are the usual kit-off scenes beloved of Italian TV but overall a very enjoyable drama.

The Bridge. Saga Noren is a wonderful character.

Patience is the English language version of Astrid, if subtitles don't appeal.

A much lighter Bollywood film than Lajja is Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya. Three couples with irresponsible (and then unemployed) husbands, so the wives get jobs - and when their husbands protest, the women throw them out.

Erin Brockovich

I very much enjoyed Black Doves, and didn't even notice until after I'd finished watching it that was absolutely dominated by the women characters. Ben Wishaw is there and is great, but he's very much the witty sidekick who gets a romantic subplot

Greena David was good in The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Steel Magnolias. It’s all about the women, and the women are made of steel. The script is fabulous, and Sally Field is sublime.

Thanks @NoBinturongsHereMate will look out for Patience.

Actually interesting how often autistic female characters crop up in crime dramas. Bones is a good example. All featured her as the strong logical problem solver. David Boreanez in a sidekick role being a supportive male partner.

I would definitely find some female comedy, starting with Dinnerladies. Victoria Wood's comedies are wonderful.