1. Wonder Woman 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 704137, ID: 0451279 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Wonder Woman is a spectacular celebration of womanhood and feminism, featuring a powerful performance by Gal Gadot. The film beautifully portrays Diana’s journey from a sheltered princess to a warrior, embodying compassion, courage, and resilience. It’s a film that not only entertains but also inspires and empowers, especially women and girls, making it a must-watch.
2. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 2003，IMDB Rating: 8.2, IMDB Votes: 1207147, ID: 0266697 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a landmark feminist action film that showcases the strength and determination of its lead character, The Bride. Her relentless pursuit of revenge against those who wronged her is both thrilling and empowering, offering a fresh perspective on the action genre.
3. Mad Max: Fury Road 2015，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 1119978, ID: 1392190 Photo by hdwallpapers.net, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Mad Max: Fury Road is a thrilling action film that challenges traditional gender roles. The film’s strong female characters, particularly Furiosa, are portrayed as equal, if not superior, to their male counterparts, offering a refreshing take on the post-apocalyptic genre. This film redefines the action genre with its intense sequences and powerful performances.
4. Atomic Blonde 2017，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 208436, ID: 2406566 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Atomic Blonde is a stylish action thriller that features a strong and complex female protagonist. The film’s depiction of Lorraine Broughton as a skilled spy who uses her intelligence and physical prowess to survive is both engaging and empowering.
5. Captain Marvel 2019，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 616415, ID: 4154664 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, is a powerful superhero who saves the galaxy while also breaking gender stereotypes. The film is humorous and action-packed, but some critics felt the character development and retro style were lacking. Despite these criticisms, the film is a significant step in representing strong women in action movies.
6. The Old Guard 2020，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 185850, ID: 7556122 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Old Guard, led by Charlize Theron’s character Andy, is a group of immortal warriors fighting for justice. The film is praised for its action sequences and character development, with a special emphasis on the humanity of its heroes. It’s a refreshing take on the action genre, featuring strong women characters.
7. Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn 2020，IMDB Rating: 6.1, IMDB Votes: 267131, ID: 7713068 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Birds of Prey showcases a team of superheroines led by Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. The film is a vibrant, action-packed adventure that puts women front and center. Despite some pacing issues, it’s a standout in the genre for its strong female leads and its bold, colorful style.
8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016，IMDB Rating: 7.7, IMDB Votes: 36, ID: 29895189 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Rogue One features Jyn Erso, a strong woman leading a team of Rebel spies against the Empire. The film is praised for its space battles and emotional depth, successfully bridging the despair of the prequels to the idealism of the original trilogy. It’s a testament to the power of women in action films.
9. Tomb Raider 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.3, IMDB Votes: 228930, ID: 1365519 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Tomb Raider, starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, is a thrilling action-adventure that reboots the franchise with a more grounded approach. Vikander’s performance is highly praised, and the film successfully balances action sequences with character development. It’s a strong representation of women in action movies.
10. Alita: Battle Angel 2019，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 296940, ID: 0437086 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Alita: Battle Angel is a visually stunning film that tells the story of a cyborg girl with an extraordinary past. The film’s strong female lead, Alita, portrayed by Rosa Salazar, is a warrior who fights with courage and determination. Despite some criticisms about the plot, the film’s unique style and Salazar’s performance have been praised. As a woman, I found Alita’s character to be empowering and inspiring.
11. Salt 2010，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 331674, ID: 0944835 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Salt, featuring Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt, is an action-packed film that showcases a strong female lead. Despite some criticisms about the plot, Jolie’s performance as a Russian spy has been praised. The film also explores the theme of gender identification, with Jolie’s role originally written for a male, challenging gender stereotypes in action films.
12. Hanna 2011，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 207615, ID: 0993842 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Hanna is a unique blend of a fairy tale and a high-tech action movie. The film’s protagonist, Hanna, played by Saoirse Ronan, is a teenage girl raised by her father in the forest, trained to be an efficient fighter. Despite some criticisms about the film’s pacing and plot, Ronan’s performance and the film’s thrilling action sequences have been praised, making Hanna a refreshing representation of women in action films.
13. Underworld 2003，IMDB Rating: 7.0, IMDB Votes: 287207, ID: 0320691 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Underworld is a visually stunning action horror film that features a strong female lead, Selene, a vampire warrior. Despite some criticisms about the film’s plot, the unique style of the film and the performance of Kate Beckinsale as Selene have been praised. As a woman, I found Selene’s character to be empowering, showcasing the strength and capability of women in action films.
14. Resident Evil 2002，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 291096, ID: 0120804 Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Resident Evil is an action-packed film that features Alice, a pioneering female protagonist in the horror genre. Despite some criticisms about the film’s plot and pacing, the film’s unique style and Milla Jovovich’s performance as Alice have been praised. As a woman, I found Alice’s character to be a groundbreaking representation of women in action films, paving the way for more diverse representations of female protagonists in horror.
15. The Hunger Games 2012，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 1013125, ID: 1392170 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, is a thrilling action movie featuring a strong female lead. Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who volunteers to take her sister’s place in a deadly televised competition, is both powerful and convincing. The film’s depiction of a dystopian society and its exploration of themes such as survival, sacrifice, and power dynamics make it a compelling watch. It’s a movie that not only entertains but also makes you think about societal issues.
16. Lucy 2014，IMDB Rating: 6.4, IMDB Votes: 539306, ID: 2872732 Photo by medium.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Lucy, directed by Luc Besson, is a unique blend of action and science fiction. Scarlett Johansson delivers a riveting performance as a woman who gains extraordinary powers after a synthetic drug is released into her body. The film is a thrilling journey that explores the potential of the human mind and challenges the conventions of the action genre. It’s a bold and daring movie that leaves a lasting impression.
17. X-Men: Dark Phoenix 2019，IMDB Rating: 5.7, IMDB Votes: 208292, ID: 6565702 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 X-Men: Dark Phoenix, despite its mixed reviews, stands out for its focus on a strong female character, Jean Grey, portrayed by Sophie Turner. The film explores Jean’s transformation into the powerful and unstable Dark Phoenix, offering a fresh perspective on the X-Men franchise. While it may not be the strongest entry in the series, it’s a significant one for its female-led narrative.
18. Annihilation 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 366165, ID: 2798920 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Annihilation, directed by Alex Garland, is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that features not just one, but several strong female leads. The film follows a team of scientists, led by Natalie Portman’s character, as they venture into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply. It’s a gripping exploration of self-destruction and the unknown, with a female-led cast that truly shines.
19. Red Sparrow 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 203170, ID: 2873282 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Red Sparrow is a spy thriller that showcases Jennifer Lawrence’s acting prowess. She plays Dominika Egorova, a Russian spy trained to use her body and charm as weapons. Despite the film’s controversial themes, Lawrence’s performance and her character’s resilience make it a notable entry in the genre of action movies with strong women, highlighting the complexities of her character.
20. Colombiana 2011，IMDB Rating: 6.4, IMDB Votes: 108655, ID: 1657507 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Colombiana, starring Zoe Saldana as Cataleya, is an action-packed film about a woman who becomes an assassin after witnessing her parents’ murder. Directed by Olivier Megaton, the film has been praised for Saldana’s performance, despite some criticism for its clichéd plot. The film portrays Cataleya as a strong, determined woman, making it a fitting choice for the topic of action movies featuring strong women.
21. Mulan 2020，IMDB Rating: 5.8, IMDB Votes: 160215, ID: 4566758 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The live-action Mulan is a visual marvel that serves as a stirring update to its animated predecessor. It’s a thrilling journey from start to finish, steeped in traditional cultural locales and details, yet feels bracingly modern with the help of dazzling special effects and innovative action sequences. Yifei Liu’s performance as Mulan is commendable, showing a great deal of range as Mulan transforms herself from a rebel to a mature, commanding leader, making it a standout film.
21 Must-Watch Action Films with Powerful Female Leads
