25 Movies That Absolutely Nailed The “Strong Female” Trope, According To People

When the Hunger Games movies came out and Jennifer Lawrence was the only thing everyone could talk about, we realised that it had been a while since a movie was successful under a female titular character. This may be due to writers needing to learn how to portray strong women in a way that resonates with audiences. It could also be because most often female characters serve the love interest role.  However, there are some occasions where strong female characters have their own thoughts, agendas and character arcs that inspire other women with their problem-solving methods. Redditors recently got together to discuss such “strong female leads” that were successful in movies and we’ve shared some of the top replies in the gallery below. 

#1 Alien

Image source: Wandering_butnotlost, Alien

#2 X files. I can't believe I haven't seen that yet. She was highly intelligent with a strong confidence that couldn't be beaten down by the sexists in the early seasons nor the crushing but invisible power of the Syndicate.

Image source: andrewnormous, The X-Files

#3 Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It set the foundation for the TV series which did a strong female lead that didn’t have to take being a strong woman so seriously to make the point. Not a movie, but Xena and Gabrielle deserve an honorable mention.

Image source: hypnos_surf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

#4 Harry Potter. Hermione, Ginny and Luna are all completely different, but I would describe them all as strong female characters.

Image source: RedWestern, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

#5 "Arrival"

Image source: AdOk1965, Arrival

#6 Terminator 2

Image source: devil652_, Terminator 2: Judgment Day

#7 Hidden Figures. Wonderful movie about the women working for Nasa in the 60's who were human computers; they calculated the numbers by hand for the first flight to the moon. Furiousa in Mad Max: Fury Road. Danielle in Ever After.

Image source: Nightsong1005, Hidden Figures

#8 Brave. As a young girl it was very validating to seeing a princess who was competing as well as winning against men. I also really like the movie because Merida isn’t perfect, and you can definitely tell that she’s a 16 year old girl, especially watching it while I’m older. She’s a teen girl who’s doing her best to prove to her parents that she is strong and can take care of herself. I also really like this movie because Merida isn’t afraid to yell and strongly state her opinion. The women in my life are often very strong people as well as outspoken, and I really love seeing that represented in media, and Brave is really the “strong female” trope done right.

Image source: Street_Seaweed3388

#9 Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet but Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Image source: Ripe-Melon, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

#10 My Cousin Vinny.

Image source: reddit.com, My Cousin Vinny

#11 "The Addams Family"

Image source: AdOk1965, The Addams Family

#12 "Fargo" u/Mr_Saturn1 added: A while back on twitter someone asked to name movies that features a female protagonist who is competent at her job, in an established relationship with a man (the relationship does not start during the events of the film) and her partner does not criticize her work or encourage her to give up. The only movie people could name that fully satisfied these requirements was Fargo.

Image source: AdOk1965, Fargo

#13 Mulan, the Disney animated one.

Image source: AndTheyCallMeAnIdiot, Mulan

#14 Kill Bill

Image source: Imagnome-, Kill Bill: Vol. 1

#15 "Lilo&Stich", Nani

Image source: AdOk1965, Lilo & Stitch

#16 Laura Dern, Jurassic Park. Seeing a strong woman in science at such a young age had a profound impact on me, and I truly think it’s one of the reasons I am a scientist today.

Image source: mmart482, Jurassic Park

#17 Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow

Image source: Le_Baked_Beans, Edge of Tomorrow

#18 Legally Blonde.

Image source: pearlbibo, Legally Blonde

#19 The hunger games had an interesting perspective on it I thought.

Image source: soulbldr7, The Hunger Games

#20 Rogue One

Image source: mb2m, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

#21 The Silence of the Lambs

Image source: artpayne, The Silence of the Lambs

#22 Rachel Weisz playing Evie in The Mummy. "Take that, Bembridge Scholars!"

Image source: AmoebaGal, The Mummy

#23 Fried Green Tomatoes gives you a selection of them.

Image source: cmerry, Fried Green Tomatoes

#24 Steel Magnolias.

Image source: TheycallitLeBigMac, Steel Magnolias

#25 Winter's Bone, if we're counting female characters who are strong in the sense that they take responsibility under adversity and not just a woman who acts like a macho dude and can beat up men.

Image source: BravoEchoEchoRomeo, Winter's Bone