Finally, the month of March has arrived! It’s time to celebrate and remember the women of the past, and the women of the present. There are numerous ways to show your support for women during this heartfelt month. The way that we chose to show our support is by watching movies that display women’s struggles, women’s successes, and women’s overall magnificence!

In this article, we will each be telling you our top 5 movies that either have a strong female lead or a female character who stood out to us.

Gabby’s top 5

1. Erin Brockovich –  I chose to place Erin Brockovich in my top 5 because of the outstanding work ethic and determination that she shows. Brockovich got looked down upon in the movie for how she dressed, but she never let the comments deteriorate her unexpected style! Erin Brockovich’s work ethic is also so incredibly inspiring; her dedication is definitely how she made her way into my top 5.
2. Matilda– An absolute classic! Matilda is a brilliant, intelligent little lady who proves to her family that she can do anything she puts her mighty mind to. Even after her family declines Matilda’s education, once they actually allow Matilda to pursue herself, she blossoms in her education! This movie gives an excellent demonstration of how, no matter how much anything holds you back, as long as you believe in yourself, which Matilda definitely did, you will ultimately achieve your dream.
3. Jojo Rabbit–  Scarlett Johansson plays a semi-minor role in this movie, but her impact was still major. Scarlett Johansson plays the role of a fierce woman during the Holocaust times. She shows the trait of fierceness because of how she risked her life to hide Jewish people inside her house. While risking her life to make sure others have a safe place to reside, you can also see her character, Rosie Betzler, start to develop. Her personality is made up of kindness, empathy, and fierceness. Rosie Betzler is such an incredible character, too, because she balances putting her life on the line every day while still having to raise a son.  Rosie Betzler is truly an inspiring character to look up to.
4. King Richard – Don’t let the title fool you! Although this movie does mainly focus on how all- star tennis players Serena and Venus Williams’ father played a big role in their success , it also shows how the girls made it all the way to the top. Venus and Serena have to go through each of their own challenges that show their underlying personalities under all the tennis. With Serena and Venus being two different people who have the same goal, you can definitely see their sisterhood come out as they grow to become tennis legends together.
5. The Woman King – This movie unquestionably deserved a spot in my top 5. Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu delivered their roles amazingly, with Viola Davis playing an unassailable and fierce woman who was teaching Thuso Mbedu, an inexperienced and inquisitive young girl, her ways. The Woman King is a movie that depicts loyalty and trust among an army of astonishingly strong women!

Olivia’s top 5

1. Oceans 8–The main reason I chose Oceans 8 is because of Sandra Bullock’s drive to make an Oceans movie with women.  One of the reasons was because of how the women in this movie did something traditionally done by men. Their success in a male-dominated profession showed how the women could use their life experiences to work as a team and pull off their strategic plan. Women are often overlooked when it comes to intelligence, technology, and planning skills. It is for this very reason that they were so successful in their mission. Through this movie, we can see that we shouldn’t underestimate women.
2. The Iron Lady –I chose The Iron Lady because of how it shows Margaret Thatcher from a view of her being a leader. Even though in the movie she faces challenges, she stays confident and strong and works hard to achieve her goal of being the first female prime minister. I liked seeing how she didn’t seem to let other people’s opinions of her matter, which was nice to see. This movie is set during a time when people would try to stop a woman from trying to become powerful in politics. I find this movie inspirational to young girls wanting a career in politics.
3. The Basis Of Sex–I loved this movie because of how it shows Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a strong female lawyer. I like how it shows her taking on important court cases that challenge unfair laws, even though in the movie, people thought it would be a hard case to win. She works hard and determinedly to win the case. I chose to put this movie on here because it’s important to see how changes can happen if someone is brave enough to fight against unfair laws. I find this movie inspiring to young girls because it can show how you can stand up for what’s right and make a difference.
4. The Color Purple –This is a sad but inspiring movie. I put this movie on my list mostly to show how women can find strength within, even when they are treated unfairly. This movie also highlights the importance of female support and relationships. I really feel like this one deserved to be on my list, even though the meaning may be harder to see. This movie can inspire women to always know their worth and shows that their voices matter.
5. Never Rarely Sometimes Always –I chose this movie because of how it shows what some women may have to go through when making tough personal decisions. The movie shows how the main character has to travel to find the help she needs, showing how emotional and complicated decisions like this can be. In the movie, we see the character being scared and unsure at times, but she knows she has to stay strong and keep going. I also liked seeing the highlight of the importance of support, especially from her cousin. I feel this movie is important because of its impact to show girls going through the same problem to stay strong and always accept help from the girls around them.

These movies show how women can be strong, influential, and powerful.  They show many role models and opportunities that you may not have thought about before. While watching these movies, let them inspire you to be anything you want to be, and don’t let anything stop you.

Happy Women’s History Month! 

Do you have a favorite movie that celebrates female excellence? Tell us in the comments!