March is Women’s History Month and there are so many different movies that help us see female empowerment. This list is a personal list that features empowerment in many ways. Some are featured by courage, and some are based on the thought of family.
*This is an opinion based list*
15. Black Widow
People have been always telling me that Black Widow is a bad movie…it could have been better…but I loved it. My favorite part about it is seeing how Natasha Romanoff rekindles her relationship with her sister Yelena Belova. (I also love Yelena’s sarcasm.) I put this at 15 because of the powerful strength Natasha Romanoff has given during the Marvel Universe but especially seeing her as the leading role in her own movie was a nice topping to the cake. This was also the start to Yelena's on-screen presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
14. Princess Diaries Series
This popular Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews series debuted in 2001 when Mia Thermopolis was told she is a Princess of a small island by her grandmother who she has never seen in many years. When Mia learned she was a princess, we were seeing a girl who was just going to school trying to live her life, and when she graduated from college, she took up the mantle of being Queen. This was a must-have on this Female Empowerment list because of the key theme of the movies…anyone can be a princess.
13. Cruella
Okay…we all know how Cruella is the villain in 101 Dalmatians, but how did she get there? This is truly the backstory to how she became the villain of spots. Cruella also showed how hard work and dedication can be something to help develop one’s work ethic and how someone can be a top-notch designer.
12. Cadet Kelly
This 2002 female empowerment movie with Hilary Duff has Kelly Collins moving from New York City to the Country where she goes to school at a Military boarding school. No Matter what happens, you will always find creativity in whatever you do.
11. Captain Marvel
This is another character marvel movie people had a problem with…I did not. This is one of my favorite movies from the Marvel lineup.
Carol Danvers learns that she is not who she says she is and realizes that she is on the wrong fight in an alien war. This movie is a female empowerment form of being a lead character is who kicking butt and taking names and shows kids that a woman can do this too.
10. Cheetah Girl (All 3)
There are many songs that give me the context that embraces “Girl Power”. (See what I did there…) “Amigas Cheetahs” “Cheetah Sisters” are the other songs. The is a beautiful story and film about the power of having a chosen family. Everyone comes from different walks of life and overcome differences to remember they are sisters.
9. Mulan
Mulan (in my opinion) is probably one of the first female Disney Princesses to be a fighter and show that girls can be fighters too. Mulan was released in 1998 and it follows Fa Mulan as she fights in the Imperial Army because her father is old. She showcases sacrifice, dedication, and bravery as she hides her gender to fight. In the end, she shows women can do anything men can do. This movie is one of my brother’s all-time favorites. (And it is mine because of Mushu😂)
8. Brave
The next Disney Princess on this list is Merida. The big key takeaway (for me at least) is that Merida wants to rule without having to be married to anyone. This is a tradition that has been going on for years in the kingdom of DunBroch and she wants to change that.
7. Tangled
In the story of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, however, a big focus is on Rapunzel’s adventure to see the outside world. She betrays her “mother’s” orders of not leaving her tower and she goes on an adventure and sees the floating lanterns. Rapunzel has dreams and is full of optimism. She learns to fight for what she wants and she keeps her dreams close to her.
6. Descendants (All Movies)
I LOVE THESE MOVIES AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM! Villain kids who are basically forced to attend a new school are ordered to steal something, go against their parents, and stay in Auradon with their new friends and their chosen family. Mal, Uma, and Evie are key examples of women children look up to. I love how in the final film, they all work together to be able to defeat their enemy.
5. Moana
This is on the top list of my favorite films because I love the story and the music. Moana goes off to return the heart of Te Fiti where she goes on an adventure of danger, adventure, and self-discovery. Even though Maui helps her, she is the true leader in this movie, and she saves her family and her village. By the end of the film, she takes up the mantle as the new chief of her village! This film shows anyone can do anything if they have the right passion and motivation to succeed.
4. Princess & the Frog
I chose this movie as number four based solely on Tiana and her drive to work hard so she can own her own restaurant. This is also a movie featuring the first Black Disney Princess. When this movie was released, it showed that anyone can be a Princess, even someone who works hard for everything that they have!
3. Raya & the Last Dragon
This movie was just released last year and it is a movie that has quickly been added to my favorites list. Last year alone, I think I watched it about 7-10 times! Raya & the Last Dragon follows Raya, Princess of Heart, as she saves her home and goes on a journey to find Kumandra. I love how this movie focuses on Raya being a warrior who wants to fix something that was broken.
Disney played a lot on gender roles in the past, however, they did well in Raya to bend those roles. A female protagonist focused solely on fixing her home.
2. Frozen
Focused on family and finding self-discovery, Frozen leads us on what is the most powerful kids movie that focuses on two sisters who can do anything. Anna and Elsa go on their own independent journeys in the Frozen series to truly embrace who they are and are able to help each other along the way. There is nothing more powerful than seeing two sisters find themselves and be able to be connected.
1. Hidden Figures
This is not a full Disney Studios production; however, it is 20th Century Studios which is on Disney Plus! This film is about three African American women working at NASA. During a time of segregation and women in the background, this film showcases the power and the backbone these women are to NASA. If there is ever a movie, I want my kids to see that features a powerful scene, it has to be this one. At one point, Taraji P. Henson’s character breaks down and tells how it truly is to be a Woman of Color working at NASA.
What are on your list of female empowerment movies?
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