When you’re feeling down and out, sometimes all you need is a good chick flick to make you feel better. No, we’re not talking the ones with silly tropes that make us look like doormats. We’re talking about those epic girl power movies that focus on empowerment and women lifting each other up instead.
1. Legally Blond
This movie had middle school girls all over dreaming about being a lawyer – Elle was a classic blond girl. Someone that might have been underestimated in her time. But despite all odds, she got over a bad relationship by going to law school and becoming an absolute success.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
Seeing Charlize Theron as Furiosa was incredible, she as a GI Jane style force to be reckoned with, making all the other Mad Men protagonists look like Barbie in comparison.
3. Matilda
Matilda was dealt a tough hand in life but her independence helped her thrive. But it shows that despite the struggles of women, they are so resilient that they can make it all by their own in the world, as well as being a bookworm and adorable genius.
4. The Craft
This witchy movie might be a metaphor for female empowerment, but is also a strong message of the bad things that happen when you tear down women around you rather than supporting them.
5. Bend It Like Beckham
This movie tackles the stereotype that women shouldn’t play soccer, and Jess in Bend it Like Beckham, despite coming from a conservative Indian family, refuses to play by those rules. Inspiration especially for jock girls!
6. Erin Brockovich
Julia Robert’s character took a bad situation and turned it into an opportunity, as well as helping a major environmental issue and the health of many Americans. The icing on the cake? It’s based on a true story!
7. Whip It
There’s nothing cooler than an edgy group of tough girls who are skilled at roller derby. Even if Ellen Page’s character isn’t the essence of femininity, she comes into her womanhood in her own way, with her group of unruly but supportive.
10. Things I Hate About You
This was one of the first rom-coms where the audience was gifted a true, shameless feminist. Kat Stratford gave us the gall to speak up and not tolerate any dude’s nonsense.
11. A League of Their Own
Who wasn’t obsessed with the amazing Geena Davis in this film? Way ahead of its time, this 1992 flick was about women taking over a male dominated sport during World War II. The characters were the most memorable part of this movie.
12. Miss Congeniality
All girls who roll their eyes at beauty pageants need to see this timeless Sandra Bullock flick. It showed that there was more to girls than just being pretty. Although bushy-haired and nerdy, many of the women in the pageant looked up to Bullock’s character.