There are many ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month, and one of our favorites is by enjoying movies that are about women, created by women, or created for women. You might want to immerse yourself in a stirring historical documentary about someone who made a difference in society and women’s rights, or perhaps you’d like to curl up with your kids to watch something that will inspire them, particularly young girls. Or maybe you want to see a dramatic take about an important moment in history and the women’s movement.
Whatever you fancy, we’ve put together a list of movies that are perfect for watching in honor of Women’s History Month. With each, you’ll feel inspired, angered, emotional, or a bit of all three as you take in how far we have come and how far we still have to go.
Looking for more inspiring content to watch? We’ve also rounded up the best shows to stream for Women’s History Month.
Seeing Allred (2018)
96m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Gloria Allred, Lisa Bloom, Thane Rosenbaum
Directed by
Roberta Grossman, Sophie Sartain
If there’s one woman who comes to mind when you think about support for brave and courageous women who have come forward with stories of discrimination, abuse, and wrongdoings, it’s Gloria Allred. The feminist lawyer has taken on some of the biggest cases of the last few decades, representing everyone from Scott Peterson’s girlfriend Amber Frey to Rachel Uchitel in the Tiger Woods case, Ginger Lee in the Anthony Weiner case, and several women who came forward as part of the #MeToo movement in cases involving everyone from Bill Cosby to Harvey Weinstein. This fascinating documentary delves into the public and private life of the passionate and determined lawyer and inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Over the decades, Allred has proven that she isn’t afraid to go up against the most powerful and influential men in entertainment, politics, and business in the name of providing a voice for women.
Woman in Motion (2021)
96m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Vivica A. Fox, Michael Dorn, Nichelle Nichols
Directed by
Todd Thompson
In the 1970s, Nichelle Nichols, famous for playing Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series, worked with NASA to help recruit both women and people of color into its program. She used her star power to help convince the program to open its eyes to more diverse hiring practices, recognizing that talent existed outside of the scope they were willing to consider. Her work helped inspire the younger generation, and women in particular, to explore careers as astronauts. Nichols might have entertained in front of the camera, portraying a ground-breaking lead Black female character on television, but she also made a difference behind the scenes, credited with fueling massive change at the Federal Government level.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
127m
Genre
Drama, Western
Stars
Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons
Directed by
Jane Campion
While the movie itself does not focus on women and their achievements, per se, it’s an important one to watch because it represents a milestone in modern-day film history. The movie made writer and director Jane Campion the first woman to be nominated twice for an Academy Award for Best Director. If she were to win Best Director, Campion would become only the third woman to do so behind Kathryn Bigelow, who won for The Hurt Locker in 2010, and Chloe Zhao who won in 2021 for Nomadland. She could also become the first female to win both Best Director and Best Picture. Beyond the fact that the movie has strong female power behind it, the Western psychological drama has been praised for bringing the Thomas Savage 1967 novel of the same name about a wealthy and fractured ranch-owning family to life. Receiving widespread praise for its cinematography (by Ari Wegner, one of few camerawomen in movies), set design, score, and mesmerizing performances, The Power of the Dog is worth a watch any time of the year. But considering it marks an important moment in the history of female directors, it’s worth a watch to celebrate Women’s History Month.
Promising Young Woman (2020)
114m
Genre
Thriller, Crime, Drama
Stars
Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie
Directed by
Emerald Fennell
Even a black comedy thriller can carry an important message, and that’s the case with this Academy Award-winning film. After a young woman’s friend is raped by a classmate and the school does nothing about it, Cassie (Carey Mulligan) decides to take matters into her own hands. She visits a different club each night, pretending to be drunk to meet different men. After taking them home with her, she reveals the truth before they can take advantage of her: She’s stone-cold sober and ready to make a point and a stand. Sure, Cassie’s methods are unorthodox, not to mention dangerous. The movie is tough to watch at times, but it’s an important commentary on the serious and rampant issue of violence and sexual assault against women.
I Am Greta (2020)
97m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Greta Thunberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, António Guterres
Directed by
Nathan Grossman
Whether you agree with Greta Thunberg’s stance or not, there’s no denying that she is an inspiration for young girls and women growing up in these trying times who have felt like they can’t make a difference. She was an outspoken climate change activist at just 15 when she began her crusade. In this documentary, viewers follow the teenager as she works to raise awareness about climate change and discuss what she believes needs to be done to combat it. Inspiring and educational, it’s a worthwhile watch this month about a young woman who proved that gender nor age should be a barrier to speaking out.
RBG (2018)
98m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jane C. Ginsburg, James Steven Ginsburg
Directed by
Julie Cohen, Betsy West
In modern-day times, when you think of the fight for women’s rights, one of the first people who come to find, if not the first, is the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The movie takes you through Ginsburg’s multi-decade career as long-time Supreme Court Justice, only the second female ever to hold the position, and her rise to fame around the world. An outspoken advocate against gender discrimination, with regard to both men and women, the documentary includes interviews with other feminist icons like Gloria Steinem. Even in her 80s, Ginsburg became a pop culture icon with legions of fans of all ages and genders, and the movie delves into how that celebrity status came to be.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
131m
Genre
Music, Drama, History
Stars
Andra Day, Trevante Rhodes, Garrett Hedlund
Directed by
Lee Daniels
This biographical film, based on the Johann Hari book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, tells the tumultuous story of singer Billie Holiday. As the talented performer rose to fame in the ’40s, her controversial song Strange Fruit, which protested the lynching of Black Americans, frightened the establishment, drew the ire of the government, and has widely been considered a precursor to the beginning of the civil rights movement. A story about a woman who penned and sung such powerful lyrics is an inspirational one to watch any day, but particularly this month.
Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed (2004)
75m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Shirley Chisholm
Directed by
Shola Lynch
In 1972, Brooklyn, New York, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress and went on to pursue a nomination for president, marking yet another first. Not willing to back down from a fight, Chisholm was determined to succeed and adopted the campaign slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” which perfectly represented her journey. A brave woman and Black citizen, Chisholm is a female figure from history who is worth celebrating. Her story, told through this documentary, serves as an inspiration for young girls to this day.
Radioactive (2020)
111m
Genre
Drama, Romance, History
Stars
Rosamund Pike, Sam Riley, Aneurin Barnard
Directed by
Marjane Satrapi
Despite having discovered both polonium and radium, Marie Curie could not get funding for her research simply because she was a woman. After marrying Pierre Curie and discovering radioactivity, Marie Curie continued to live in the shadows as her husband was credited with the discovery that revolutionized the world of physics and chemistry. It’s a biographical drama that chronicles the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a woman who eventually got the credit she deserved for developing life-saving innovations, from a mobile unit that was used to X-ray men during the war to the creation of radiotherapy.
Suffragette (2015)
106m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson
Directed by
Sarah Gavron
As the first feature film to be shot in the Houses of Parliament, this British historical drama tells the story of women’s suffrage in the U.K. Set in the early 1900s, at the heart of the story is 24-year-old laundry worker Maud (Carey Mulligan), who gets caught up in protests, which causes neighbors, co-workers, and her husband to shun her. Despite the consequences, however, Maud continues her fight, becoming a more vocal advocate for women’s rights. While it’s a dramatization of real events, the movie provides a good education on an important part of women’s history.
Hidden Figures (2016)
127m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe
Directed by
Theodore Melfi
Little attention had been paid to the trio of Black female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race until this film and Margot Lee Shetterly’s non-fiction book of the same name brought them to light. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson all had critical roles in helping carry out successful missions at NASA, yet they were hit with roadblocks at every turn, not only because of their gender but also their race. It’s an inspiring film that highlights the importance of these women in shaping history and one you can watch with your kids to teach them that STEM career paths aren’t just for men.
Mulan (2020)
115m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Liu Yifei, Tzi Ma, Donnie Yen
Directed by
Niki Caro
Looking for an inspiring movie you can watch with kids for Women’s History Month? This fantasy-adventure-drama, a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film, tells the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a man so she can take her father’s place as a warrior, fighting off the Rouran army. Based on the Chinese folklore ballad The Ballad of Mulan, the story of a young girl’s rise from adventurous child to fierce warrior is one anyone can get behind.
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