While there have been a number of badass female characters in action movies, the genre has historically been fairly male-dominated when looking at the various action heroes that have appeared over the years, but thankfully fans are beginning to see more female-led action movies on the big screen.
As fans wait patiently for upcoming films like Black Widow or The 355 that feature dynamic female action heroes, there are quite a few options for fans to enjoy if they are looking to celebrate some of the best female action heroes that have led their own films in theaters and blazed the trail for future movies to follow.
10 Charlie’s Angels (2000/2019)
The first cinematic adaptation of the hit 70s TV series was 2000’s Charlie’s Angels from director McG, which starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the titular Angels. They’re highly-trained agents who worked for the mysterious Charlie as a private detective agency dealing with high-stakes missions.
Elizabeth Banks directed a new generation of the butt-kicking team of operatives in 2019’s Charlie’s Angels that reimagined the organization as a global agency of women, including new Angels Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska.
9 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
1996’s The Long Kiss Goodnight, from director Renny Harlin and screenwriter Shane Black, that starred Geena Davis as an amnesiac woman who started a new life only to discover years later, after a car accident, that she has a unique set of skills.
After going on the run from government agents with a private investigator she hired to find out more about herself, she eventually learns about her past life as CIA assassin, Charly Baltimore. The Long Kiss Goodnight impressed viewers with a well-developed female action lead, amazing script, and well-directed action scenes that make it a must-see for action fans.
8 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Charlize Theron has made a name for herself as an action star in a number of movies over the years, including 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, which also starred Tom Hardy as the titular Mad Max in the fourth film of the long-running franchise.
Theron starred as Imperator Furiosa, a lieutenant in Immortan Joe’s War Boys army who steals an armored War Rig in order to save the evil despot’s enslaved harem of child-bearing women. Furiosa stole the show and took on an army of amped-up psychos leaving fans wanting more, which led to the development of an upcoming prequel further exploring the character.
7 Captain Marvel (2019)
Marvel Studios’ first female-led film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was 2019’s Captain Marvel, starring Alison Brie as Carol Danvers, a powerful member of the Kree Starforce with no memory of her past life who soon discovers that her origins lie on the distant planet Earth.
Captain Marvel served as the beginning of a new era for the MCU as Carol’s origins as one of the most powerful heroes were explored to prepare fans for the character’s grand arrival in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Captain Marvel has a dedicated fan base and a bright future in the MCU that will continue with the upcoming sequel.
6 Underworld (2003)
Kate Beckinsale first starred as Selene in 2003’s Underworld, which introduced the deadly and powerful vampire as she protected humanity and hunted down werewolves alongside her high-tech coven in a centuries-long war.
Selene was both highly trained and incredibly powerful and didn’t take crap from anybody, including the leaders of her vampiric order when a new threat emerged. Selene’s battle against both sides of the supernatural war was continued over four sequels and a prequel as humanity learned about Selene and her various action-filled adventures, with more rumored.
5 Atomic Blonde (2017)
2017’s Atomic Blonde starred modern action queen Charlize Theron as Cold War-era spy, Lorraine Broughton, as she was sent on a mission by the MI6 to retrieve a list of undercover operatives from Berlin before the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
Broughton tore her way through an army of KGB agents as she demonstrated her extreme skills and training, as well as her capability as a spy when she revealed she was actually a triple agent working for the CIA. Lorraine Broughton drew comparisons to recent smash hit John Wick and is one action hero that fans are dying to see more of with an upcoming sequel in development.
4 Wonder Woman (2017)
The DC Extended Universe first introduced the character of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) in 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice that teased her later involvement in 2017’s Justice League as one of the leaders of the powerful team, though it was 2017’s Wonder Woman, from director Patty Jenkins, that really highlighted the warrior and the peacemaker.
Wonder Woman’s origins and first foray into the world of Man during the first World War gave fans a true glimpse at the DCEU’s Amazonian hero that led to her return in 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984 with a third film in development.
3 La Femme Nikita (1990)
The action genre received a surprise hit in 1990 with Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita, which followed a young drug-addicted girl’s journey from incarceration to forced training as an elite government assassin, codenamed Nikita, who becomes a sleeper agent after successfully completing her first mission.
The movie featured dynamic action scenes and stellar performances from Anne Parillaud as she found love while working as a secret agent before she was forced to turn against her creators. The movie has inspired multiple American remakes and TV series over the years.
2 Aliens (1986)
While Sigourney Weaver debuted as Ellen Ripley in 1978’s Alien sci-fi horror as the only survivor of the first cinematic encounter with the deadly xenomorphs, it was really 1986’s Aliens from James Cameron that showcased Ripley’s action potential.
Not only did Ripley quickly earn the respect of the entire team of space marines sent back to the dangerous planet where the aliens were first encountered, but she outlived almost everybody, saved who was important to her, and killed the alien queen in a one-on-one battle to prove that she was an amazing action hero and help launch the still-running franchise.
1 Kill Bill (2003/2004)
Quentin Tarantino released a two-part love letter to classic martial arts films and revenge movies with Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2, which were released in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The film featured Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman as The Bride, a highly-trained operative on a mission of revenge against her former team of assassins that killed her on her wedding day.
While The Bride survived, the loss of her unborn child during the attack fueled her mission and sent her on a bloody, action-packed path to her former lover and the leader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad that became the new benchmark for action movies to meet.
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