30 People Share Movies Where The “Strong Female Lead” Was Actually Done Right

Contrary to what some screenwriters might believe, the strong female leads in their films don’t have to be the sexiest women on Earth, and they certainly don’t need to fall in love with the male lead. They can have their own agendas, their own minds and be capable of solving problems on their own, just like women in real life!

Reddit users have recently been sharing examples of the “strong female lead” trope in films that have actually been done well, so we’ve gathered some of their top replies below. From Clarice Starling to Elle Woods, enjoy scrolling through, and be sure to upvote all of your favorite strong, independent women!

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Alien

Wandering_butnotlost , Alien Report

Final score:

261points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Terminator 2

devil652_ , Terminator 2: Judgment Day Report

Final score:

227points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right "The Addams Family"

AdOk1965 , The Addams Family Report

Final score:

203points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right 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.

mmart482 , Jurassic Park Report

Final score:

186points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right 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.

Nightsong1005 , Hidden Figures Report

Final score:

186points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right 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.

andrewnormous , The X-Files Report

Final score:

185points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right The Silence of the Lambs

artpayne , The Silence of the Lambs Report

Final score:

179points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right "Fargo"

u/Mr_Saturn1 added:

Awhile 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.

AdOk1965 , Fargo Report

Final score:

166points

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30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Rachel Weisz playing Evie in The Mummy.

"Take that, Bembridge Scholars!"

AmoebaGal , The Mummy Report

Final score:

152points

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#10

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right 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.

hypnos_surf , Buffy the Vampire Slayer Report

Final score:

150points

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#11

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow

Le_Baked_Beans , Edge of Tomorrow Report

Final score:

145points

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#12

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Mulan, the Disney animated one.

AndTheyCallMeAnIdiot , Mulan Report

Final score:

141points

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#13

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Fried Green Tomatoes gives you a selection of them.

cmerry , Fried Green Tomatoes Report

Final score:

141points

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#14

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right 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.

Street_Seaweed3388 , Brave Report

Final score:

141points

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#15

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Legally Blonde.

pearlbibo , Legally Blonde Report

Final score:

139points

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#16

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Harry Potter

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

RedWestern , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Report

Final score:

133points

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#17

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Kill Bill

Imagnome- , Kill Bill: Vol. 1 Report

Final score:

121points

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#18

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet but Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Ripe-Melon , Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Report

Final score:

119points

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#19

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right My Cousin Vinny.

reddit.com , My Cousin Vinny Report

Final score:

111points

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#20

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right Steel Magnolias.

TheycallitLeBigMac , Steel Magnolias Report

Final score:

108points

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#21

30 People Share Movies Where The "Strong Female Lead" Was Actually Done Right "Arrival"

AdOk1965 , Arrival Report

Final score:

107points

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What do you think ?

Fynne 11 months ago

Thanks BP staff for supporting women, while not being offensive to men

45points

Auntriarch 11 months ago

Very well noted Fynne

7points

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Miki 11 months ago (edited)

Samantha Carter! SG-1. Strong and smart af! Oh! and half of female characters in battlestar galactica (newer one), especially Laura Roslin.

25points

Rocket Surgeon 11 months ago

Yes to both of these. Sam is da woman, and I loved how BSG had boxing matches where it didn't matter what gender was fighting what gender, they just went all out at each other.

9points

H Wiley 11 months ago

Oh, you beat me to it. Came here to say it. Dont forget Dr Elizabeth Weir and Teyla.

3points

the quickening 11 months ago

New Battlestar Galactica is so good. I was in love the moment this seriously ill, middleaged woman put a military man in his place and singlehandedly saved the human race by convincing them to stop fighting a hopeless battle and flee.

1point

Brocken Blue 11 months ago

Yes!!! SG1 cemented my love of scifi shows as a teen, and Sam Care was a big reason why. And I love how Starbuck was a spectacular pilot and a flawed human in ways that had nothing to do with her being female. Such good characters all around!

D. Pitbull 11 months ago

Yes! And Amanda Tapping is absolutely lovely. I got her autograph at a convention... and when choosing a 'pro-photo' for signing, she graciously suggested some of the group shots ... and I was like "Nah... c'mon... I don't see RDA, nor any of the other dudes here. Why get a pic with them in it?"

0points

The Original Bruno 11 months ago (edited)

No Princess Leia? (OK, forget about Return of the Jedi; I'm only talking Star Wars.) ... she was the original Hollywood warrior princess, absolutely overturning the princess trope. She took command of her own rescue, and then of the remnants of the Republic. Consider every good Harrison Ford role consisted of him humorously responding to tropes, from "why did it have to be snakes" to taking a gun to a sword fight. But despite his comments, it's not *funny* when the damsel-in-distress becomes kick-a*s; she just assumes command so effectively, even Han falls in line (until he completely bails and returns). The movie itself fails the Bechtel rule (is that the right name?), but that has little to do with Leia being anything less than boss.

17points

Come to think of it, how about Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark? Jones never quite yields to her like Solo did, but she was doing a damned good job of getting out of trouble on her own, especially considering Jones himself needed the most literal case of God-from-a-box ever. Compare to how cringy the "dumb blonde" schtick from Temple of Doom was.

11points

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30 People Share Movies Where The “Strong Female Lead” Was Actually Done Right

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