Check out our list of the 20 top empowering, inspirational movies that celebrate women! These are some of the most uplifting and motivational movies we have ever seen.
Grab some popcorn and get ready to laugh, cry and be transformed!
#1
Miss Representation
a STAGGERING look at how THE media
influences women
"Explores the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America, and challenges the media's limited portrayal of what it means to be a powerful woman."
#2
Girl Rising
a film showing the importance of educating girls
"The movie tells the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world who face arranged marriages, child slavery, and other heartbreaking injustices. Despite these obstacles, the brave girls offer hope and inspiration. By getting an education, they're able to break barriers and create change."
#3
Suffragette
an ode to the resilient women who came before us
"A drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State."
#4
Hidden Figures
a tribute to three incredible, pioneering role models
"As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as "human computers", we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of NASA alongside many of history's greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes."
#5
She's Beautiful When She's Angry
a film that inspires personal responsibility & action
"This film tells the story of the brilliant, often outrageous women who founded the feminist movement of the 1960s. They said 'the personal is political' and made a revolution: in the bedroom, in the workplace, in all spheres of life. Called threatening by the FBI, yet ignored in many histories, these women changed the world."
#6
He Named Me Malala
THis young woman has redefined bravery
"A look at the events leading up to the Taliban's attack on Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, for speaking out on girls' education followed by the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations."
#7
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
the story of An activist whose words transcend time
"As a singer, dancer, activist, and writer, Maya Angelou inspired generations with boundary-pushing, African-American writings. Trace Angelou's incredible journey as she unwraps untold aspects of her life through rare footage, photographs, and her own words."
#8
Temple Grandin
A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE of turning
struggles into strength
"Biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who overcame the limitations imposed on her by her condition to become a Ph.D. and expert in the field of animal husbandry. She developed an interest in cattle early in life while spending time at her Aunt and Uncle's ranch. She did not speak until age four and had difficulty right through high school, mostly in dealing with people. She is noted for creating her "hug box", widely recognized today as a way of relieving stress in autistic children, and her humane design for the treatment of cattle in processing plants, which have been the subject of several books and won an award from PETA."
#9
Wild
A TRUE STORY ABOUT one woman's epic
journey to healing
"With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthen, and ultimately heals her."
#10
Ladies First
a short film shattering the limiting expectations
for girls in india
"Ladies First tells the story of Deepika Kumari who was born on the roadside to abject poverty in rural India, ventured out on her own at age 12 in search of food and shelter, and stumbled upon archery. Within four years she became the number one archer in the world, and represented India at two Olympics. Having to overcome the obstacles of a repressive system, she strives to achieve her dream of becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal."
#11
Iris
A FILM ABOUT The colorful woman who
celebrates life at every stage
"Iris pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris' dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire."
#12
Dream, Girl
a heartfelt documentary inspiring
the next generation of ceo's
"Dream, Girl is a documentary showcasing the stories of inspiring and ambitious female entrepreneurs. Let's stop telling girls they can be anything they want to be and show them what it means to be a leader."
#13
The Ascent of Woman
a look at herstory throughout the ages
"A four-part documentary series originally created for BBC2 in the UK that charts the role of women in society over the course of 10,000 years. Dr. Amanda Foreman’s landmark series is the first ever documentary to present the history of women from the dawn of civilization to the modern day. A poor record on women’s rights goes hand-in-hand with low economic output and high levels of violence. Amanda argues that for the next economic cycle to be the age of full participation, there has to be a woman-led revolution that unleashes the potential of all individuals."
#14
The Women's List
a MOVIE about ACCOMPLISHED AMERICAN WOMEN
"This film spotlights 15 women who define contemporary American culture; included are Madeleine Albright, Margaret Cho, Edie Falco, Betsey Johnson, Alicia Keys, Nancy Pelosi, Rosie Perez and Wendy Williams."
#15
Embrace
how one woman's viral image started a movement
"When Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfitt posted an unconventional before-and-after photo in 2013 it was seen by more than 100 million people worldwide and sparked an international media frenzy. EMBRACE follows Taryn's crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies."
#16
Losing Sight of Shore
A GROUP OF AWE-INSPIRING WOMEN take ON ONE OF
THE MOST CHALLENGING ADVENTURES of all time
"This film follows the extraordinary journey of four brave women known as the Coxless Crew that set out to row the Pacific Ocean from America to Australia unsupported. As they row over 8,000 miles during their nine months at sea, they face extreme mental and physical challenges they must overcome in order to go down in history. This is a story of perseverance, friendship and the power of the human spirit. Everyone has a Pacific to cross."
#17
The Empowerment Project
a film for the little girl in all of us
"The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things is the incredible journey of 5 female filmmakers driving across America to encourage, empower, and inspire the next generation of strong women to go after their career ambitions. Driving over 7,000 miles from Los Angeles to New York over the course of 30 days, the documentary spotlights 17 positive and powerful women leaders across a variety of lifestyles and industries."
#18
What happened Miss Simone?
A movie about the woman deemed
"the High Priestess of Soul"
"On stage Nina Simone was known for her utterly free, uninhibited musical expression, which enthralled audiences and attracted life-long fans. But amid the violent, haunting, and senseless day-to-day of the civil rights era in 1960s America, Simone struggled to reconcile her artistic identity and ambition with her devotion to a movement."
#19
The Punk Singer
The story of a girl musician who started a riot
"A look at the life of activist, musician, and cultural icon Kathleen Hanna, who formed the punk band Bikini Kill and pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s."
#20
The Goddess Project
a documentary film to empower women
"Determined to amplify the voices of women, two aspiring filmmakers packed their lives into a school bus and hit the road for what became the most transformative adventure of their lives. Through powerful conversations with over 100 women from different walks of life, The Goddess Project gives an intimate look into the collective experience that women in the United States face today."
We'd also love to hear your recommendations for your favorite flicks. Share your most adored feminist movies in the comments below!