Ladies, are you tired of watching some old, damsel in distress type of movies? Do you also want to watch something that helps you with a healthy dose of female empowerment? Don’t worry, as we got you covered. Women are often portrayed in cinema as weak and dependable characters. But some feminist filmmakers have put them in the right light. Women can be equally dashing and fierce in the action genre, just like male characters.
There are movies on Lady Bond with James Bond that display how impactful and good female-centric films can be. We have made a list of the best action movies with female leads to draw the attention of cinema-enthusiast people who want to see women as the main characters. Whether you are in the mood for a movie with female assassins, agents, vigilantes, villains, spies, superheroes, or anything in between, we have got you covered! Let’s heat some popcorn and grab some soda to get ready! to watch a few action movies with female leads.
In this article, we will explore some of the masterpiece movies from the action genre which have female leads. So light, camera, and action!
Best Action Movies With Female Leads:
1. Lucy (2014):
This is about a woman, who accidentally gets caught in a dark deal. That turns the tables on her captors and transforms her into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
Run Time: 1h 30m
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Amr Waked, Choi Min-Sik
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movie & TV, Apple TV
2. Black Widow (2021):
Natasha Romanoff aka the black widow challenges the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy that is tied to her past arises in front of her.
Run Time: 2h 14m
Director: Cate Shortland
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour
Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, Sling TV
3. Charlie’s Angel (2019):
When a young systems engineer reveals insight into a dangerous technology, Charlie’s Angels are called into action, putting their lives on the line to protect us all.
Run Time: 1h 58m
Director: Elizabeth Banks
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, Sling TV
4. The Women King (2022):
A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. Imdb Review
Run Time: 2h 15m
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, YouTube
5. Capital Marvel (2019):
Carol Danvers became one of the universe’s most powerful superheroes when Earth was in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.
Run Time: 2h 3m
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn
Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV
6. Miss Congeniality (2000):
Gracie Hart, a tomboyish detective is forced to infiltrate the Miss United States beauty pageant as a contestant after her department finds that the event is under threat from a bomber.
Run Time: 1h 49m
Director: Donald Petrie
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
7. Raya and The Last Dragon (2022):
In a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya sets out on a quest to find the last dragon.
Run Time: 1h 47m
Director: Carlos López Estrada, Don Hall
Cast: Awkwafina, Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim
Where to Watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
8. The Old Guard (2020):
A covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with an inability to die have fought to protect the world for centuries. But when their abilities are suddenly exposed, they need to eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate their power. Watch The Old Guard | Netflix.
Run Time: 2h 5m
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts
Where to watch: Netflix
9. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021):
Women from three different generations fight back against those who could take everything from them. Watch Gunpowder | Milkshake
Run Time: 1h 54m
Director: Navot Papushado
Cast: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino
Where to watch: Netflix
10. Atomic Blonde (2017):
An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin to investigate the murder of a fellow agent during the Cold War and recover a missing list of double agents.
Run Time: 1h 55m
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman
Where to watch: YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
11. Proud Mary (2018):
Mary is a hit woman working for an organized crime family in Boston. Her life is completely turned around when she meets a young boy whose path she crosses when a professional hit goes bad.
Run Time: 1h 29m
Director: Babak Najafi
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Billy Brown, Jahi Di’Allo Winston
Where to watch: Peacock, Apple TV, YouTube
12. V for Vendetta (2005):
In a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of “V”, plots to overthrow the oppressive government – with the help of a young woman.
Run Time: 2h 12m
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
Conclusion:
If you are looking for some of the best action movies with female leads to boost up the feminism in you, this is a must-watch for the ladies out there. Women can be anything if they put their minds to it. And women can certainly do stunts and action sequences just like male leads. In this movie, female characters have shown energy and prove why they are the main characters of these films.
These movies have justified the impact of female characters in films and how they have performed well in the action genre. So this guide to the best action movies with female leads will make you binge-watch from the edge of your seat!
FAQ:
1. what is the highest-grossing female lead action movie?
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015) – 2 billion.
2. What movie remake has a female lead?
1940 classic His Girl Friday featured female lead Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), who was supposed to be a man as per the source material. Hilary Swank replaced Ralph Macchio in the 1994 reboot of The Karate Kid, as Mr Miyagi’s new protégé.
3. What movie genre has the most female leads?
Female protagonists were most likely to appear in horror features (43%), followed by dramas (37%), action features (10%), animated features (3%), comedies (3%), and features in other genres (3%)