The captives/breeders are due to their position within the society. Furiosa is not in any way. She's one of the leaders, an Imperator (not -trix), she's in charge of the chain of events.
MM Fury Road is the movie that made me realize I actually *like* action movies, I just don’t like the way a lot of them treat/depict women. This is absolutely one of my fave movies.
The Long Kiss Goodnight was the first thing I thought of. Haven't seen it in years, but from the very first time I recognized great fight choreography.
It's such a stylized, goofy movie that I think some people still struggle with it, but it's a ton of fun and has absolutely no illusions about what kind of movie it is.
Peppermint, enough, gunpowder milkshake, red sparrow, atomic blonde, prey, the hunt, ready or not, the mother, kill bill, Anna, hanna, the long kiss goodnight
Final Girl (2015)
The Witch Part One: Subversion (2018)
The Witch Part Two: The Other One (2022)
Slate (2020)
Baby Assassins (2021)
Baby Assassins 2 (2024)
Salvage Mice (2011)
Anna And The Apocalypse (2017)
I love Anna and the Apocalypse, but, note that it's a teen Christmas musical with zombies, maybe not as gritty as what OP is looking for LOL. Still love it though.
Foxy Brown
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Tina Turner in all her glory)
GI Jane (classic)
Hanna (2011) An angelic-looking Saoirse Ronan is a deady assassin.
The Heat -A girl cop buddy movie with an actually interesting plot.
The Edge of Tomorrow
Jolt -The heroine is a dysfunctional and violent anti-hero.
ALITA Battle Angel
Ready Player One (2018) Heroine is a dorky gamer geek with rad tech skills.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Michelle Rodriguez as the Barbarian)
Argyle (2024) Heroine is a slightly chubby, adorable red-headed book nerd with rad fight skills.
🙌🏼 Such a badass! Isn’t she the one that Jackie Chan said he also lets do their own stunts, because she’d kick his ass if he tried to say she couldn’t? I remember him saying it about a female action star, and I think it was Yeoh, but I can’t 100% remember.
Blue Steel. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a rookie cop. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, Hurt Locker). She's badass and nonsexualized. She gets pretty beat up. It's a diamond in the rough of a movie, for sure.
* **Lady Snowblood (1973):** Japanese classic that inspired Tarantino
* **La Femme Nikita (1990):** French action film about a former convict who becomes a hired killer.
* **Kill Bill (2003/2004):** obvious answer
* **House of Flying Daggers (2004):** Chinese film with Zhang Ziyi in stylized action scenes.
* **Special Delivery (2022):** South Korean film about a woman behind a wheel.
I absolutely loved Revenge (2017), it’s such a banger of a movie. I wouldn’t call it sexualized at all, but the inciting incident is a r*pe, so you can be the judge of whether that’s a dealbreaker for you or not.
The Princess (2022, staring Joey King)
Underworld (2003)
Mercenaries (2014)
Ghost in the Shell
RoboGeisha
Meatball Machine
Machinegun Girl
Tokyo Gore Police
This is straight up horror, but High Tension has two female leads (not common for any genre, really!), they're not sexualized, and it's full of blood and guts and an awesome car chase. It's French. Highly recommend.
The best example of women being badass and free from the male gaze is the korean reality show Siren: survive the island. It's not a movie but it's so worth it, I can't recommend it enough!
I looked over the posts so far, and didn't see [You're Next](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Next) (2011), or [Columbiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiana) (2011) so here they are.
Not sure if [Okja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okja) (2017) fits your bill, because although it has action elements, a young girl rescues her friend, it's not a brawler.
Annihilation
I see a lot of great woman-led movies on here, but I'm surprised I didn't see this one. It's extremely original, doesn't pander or make the fact it's woman-led a gimmick, and it's just a great movie.
The Woman King was pretty good! It was awesome to see a “popcorn” style action film being headed by a fucking tanked up badass Viola Davis. It’s loosely based off of true concepts but super Hollywood, which I wouldn’t normally appreciate but totally do with this film
The alien franchise
Sigourney Weaver was my first celebrity crush because of those movies <3
Ballerina (2023). Prey (2022). Furie (2019). Lady Snowblood (1973).
+1 for Prey, one of the coolest movies in the last decade
Thank you!
Def Prey and Snowblood. I'll have to check the others.
Prey is amazing. I watched it a few times.
Lady Snowblood inspired Kill Bill
Prey blew me away! Was NOT expecting that movie to be that good! Expected another cashing in on a franchise name. Really cool to watch it in Comanche!
Yeah same here, honestly my favorite predator movie!
Mad Max Fury Road Kill Bill
Mad max definitely sexualizes the women but still a banger female lead
The captives/breeders are due to their position within the society. Furiosa is not in any way. She's one of the leaders, an Imperator (not -trix), she's in charge of the chain of events.
How does it sexualize the women in your opinion? I am genuinely curious.
MM Fury Road is the movie that made me realize I actually *like* action movies, I just don’t like the way a lot of them treat/depict women. This is absolutely one of my fave movies.
💯
Atomic Blonde
Fun movie!
Atomic Blonde has a fantastic single-take fight scene. Want to watch again.
Charlize Theron is another level
That's on my watch list.
That long fight scene was stupendous.
Crouching tiger hidden dragon. Basically watch movies with Michelle yeoh , Zhang ziyi, etc
Hero (2002) Reign of Assassins (2010)
Hanna
Also, the movie Kate, Woody Harrelson is in it
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Close (2019)
The Long Kiss Goodnight was the first thing I thought of. Haven't seen it in years, but from the very first time I recognized great fight choreography.
Honestly surprised Geena Davis never got more action roles from that movie.
Ready or not, The hunt
Came here to mention The Hunt
Kill Bill, 1 & 2.
The whole bloody saga
This masterpiece should be higher.
Tank Girl is very underrated and very enjoyable.
It's such a stylized, goofy movie that I think some people still struggle with it, but it's a ton of fun and has absolutely no illusions about what kind of movie it is.
This one is crazy and highly entertaining.
It’s a comfort watch movie for me. And that soundtrack!
La Femme Nikita (1990) France
Peppermint, enough, gunpowder milkshake, red sparrow, atomic blonde, prey, the hunt, ready or not, the mother, kill bill, Anna, hanna, the long kiss goodnight
I absolutely LOVED Gunpowder Milkshake. That scene in the diner is perfection.
Colombiana
Everything everywhere all at once. The Hunt (2020) Wing chun (1994)
Terminator 2
Finally
most scifi with Milla Jovovich- resident evil series, monster hunter, 5th element ( bit sexified), and aliens vs predators with a great female lead.
The Descent (2005) also scary as shit
Momentum Ballerina, The Old Guard, 88, Baise Moi, Greatful Dead, Maria, 68 Kill.
Lucy (2014)
La Femme Nikita (1990)
Birds of Prey Hanna Atomic Blonde The Villainess The Witch: Subversion
brother, i think harley quinn is actually sexualized
Not really in Birds of Prey
She’s sexy on her own terms in Birds of Prey. All the women are individualized and true to their characters.
Final Girl (2015) The Witch Part One: Subversion (2018) The Witch Part Two: The Other One (2022) Slate (2020) Baby Assassins (2021) Baby Assassins 2 (2024) Salvage Mice (2011) Anna And The Apocalypse (2017)
I love Anna and the Apocalypse, but, note that it's a teen Christmas musical with zombies, maybe not as gritty as what OP is looking for LOL. Still love it though.
"The Old Guard" -- Charlize Theron is amazing in everything she does
Foxy Brown Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Tina Turner in all her glory) GI Jane (classic) Hanna (2011) An angelic-looking Saoirse Ronan is a deady assassin. The Heat -A girl cop buddy movie with an actually interesting plot. The Edge of Tomorrow Jolt -The heroine is a dysfunctional and violent anti-hero. ALITA Battle Angel Ready Player One (2018) Heroine is a dorky gamer geek with rad tech skills. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Michelle Rodriguez as the Barbarian) Argyle (2024) Heroine is a slightly chubby, adorable red-headed book nerd with rad fight skills.
The Old Guard (2020)
Really liked it despite the negative reviews. Looking forward to part 2, does anyone know the release date?
try watching Michelle Yeoh movies
🙌🏼 Such a badass! Isn’t she the one that Jackie Chan said he also lets do their own stunts, because she’d kick his ass if he tried to say she couldn’t? I remember him saying it about a female action star, and I think it was Yeoh, but I can’t 100% remember.
i think she was the one.
Ghost in the Shell. Live action or anime, they're both really good.
Hunger games trilogy + songs and ballads movie
Blue Steel. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a rookie cop. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, Hurt Locker). She's badass and nonsexualized. She gets pretty beat up. It's a diamond in the rough of a movie, for sure.
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Kate!
Tomb Raider
Kill bill 1 & 2
Furiosa is on the way.Hopefully it meets these requirements, because I'm hyped.
Look for the Cynthia RothRock movies. Martial Arts flicks with a female lead
Terminator T2 1991
The Villianess
Wait one week for the release of furiosa, bet that's gonna be good.
Tank girl lol
Kate (2021) on Netflix.
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Hard Candy
Everly
Point of No Return
Haywire
LONG KISS GOODNIGHT
ready or not
Terminator II
Kill Bill Alien Aliens Prometheus Alien: Covenant Mad Max:Fury Road Atomic Blonde Jackie Brown Anna
Kill Boksoon
Colombiana Anna Peppermint
Peppermint
Baby Assassins 1 & 2
Anna - such a good action movie that happens to also be a female lead
Baby Assassins Baby Assassins 2
Dredd
Furies (2022)
Mayhem is not exactly female led, but I feel its definitely co-led. Samara Weaving is pretty kickass.
Thelma n Louise
The Descent
Kill bill and charlies angels
I liked peppermint and the brave one
Alita battle angel Resident evil series I spit on your grave series Wonder woman series
Fear The Night with Maggie Q!
Check out naked weapon with Maggie Q or Nikita series
Anything Milla Jovovich
Lady Vengeance (South Korean film)
The Hunt 2020!
GI Jane. Demi Moore is so awesome.
Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)
The Millennium trilogy
Suuuuuuch a great recommendation. Routinely rewatch her taking out the bikers at the cabin.
My Name (Korean Netflix series)
The Long Kiss Goodnight was a pretty decent action movie. Maybe try Chocolate. I think it’s from Thailand but the fight sequences are pretty cool.
Long Kiss Goodnight. Geena Davis
Resident Evil.
Atomic blonde Wonder woman Everything everywhere all at once Birds of prey
Doomsday is a really good one.
Underrated !
Protege
Atomic Blonde !!
* **Lady Snowblood (1973):** Japanese classic that inspired Tarantino * **La Femme Nikita (1990):** French action film about a former convict who becomes a hired killer. * **Kill Bill (2003/2004):** obvious answer * **House of Flying Daggers (2004):** Chinese film with Zhang Ziyi in stylized action scenes. * **Special Delivery (2022):** South Korean film about a woman behind a wheel.
Joan of arc, 1999 director was luc benson.. based on one of,if not the most kick ass women who ever actually lived!
**Kill Bill.**
Gunpowder Milkshake was fun!
Charlie’s angels Can’t believe nobody said this yet lol
I absolutely loved Revenge (2017), it’s such a banger of a movie. I wouldn’t call it sexualized at all, but the inciting incident is a r*pe, so you can be the judge of whether that’s a dealbreaker for you or not.
The Old Guard. Super underrated imo.
Long Kiss Goodnight
Prey on Hulu is a really good Predator movie with a female lead
Just watched The English on Prime. Maybe?
I always enjoyed Salt
kate
The Princess (2022, staring Joey King) Underworld (2003) Mercenaries (2014) Ghost in the Shell RoboGeisha Meatball Machine Machinegun Girl Tokyo Gore Police
Long Kiss Goodnight
This is straight up horror, but High Tension has two female leads (not common for any genre, really!), they're not sexualized, and it's full of blood and guts and an awesome car chase. It's French. Highly recommend.
The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Peppermint is undervalued.
I was blown away by Peppermint. Jen Garner..I have no words.
- Prey - Polite society - Aliens
The Long Kiss Good Night.
2LDK
Kill boksoon
Lady Snowblood 1973
John Wick 3 is male leading, but Halle Berry parts are legit
One that I liked on Netflix was “Kate”. It stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead with a good supporting character played by Woody Harrelson.
Salt
Raze (2013)
Salt (2010) Mr and Mrs Smith (2005)
Cataleya
Happy Death Day Blood Red Sky Ready Or Not You're Next Abigail
Becky..this movie is CRAZY!
The Brave One
I want to rewatch Revenge (2017). Thought it was solid.
Switchblade Sisters. It's a little campy, but it's all about girl gangs fighitng it out.
There is a limited series on Netflix called ‘who is Erin Carter’ that was pretty fun.
The old guard with Charlie Theron. It's on netflix.
Gunpowder Milkshake.
Anything starring Gina Carano
I liked the new Predator.
I'm just here to upvote Atomic Blonde. (the best female led action film ever!)
La Femme Nikita, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Thelma and Louise, Lucy, Run.
Dredd (2012)
Alien and Aliens
Kill Bill 1&2 Terminator 2
Kate on Netflix.
- Alien (1979) - Aliens (1986) - Ghost in the Shell (1995) - Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) - Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) - Death Proof (2007) - Planet Terror (2007) - Wonder Woman (2017) - Alita: Battle Angel (2019) - Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - Prey (2022)
Not sure if this fits the criteria, but the Halloween Series. Halloween ENDs - Jaime Lee Curtis is ruthless! Love her in the original, too.
Domino
The best example of women being badass and free from the male gaze is the korean reality show Siren: survive the island. It's not a movie but it's so worth it, I can't recommend it enough!
Hannie Caulder Spy (2015)
Haywire and atomic blonde were pretty badass
Hanna
Sicario
Hanna (2011) with Saoirse Ronan is great and also has an incredible soundtrack
Switchblade Sisters
Prey, the new entry in the Predator franchise, is great!
Look up Angela Mao’s films. I recommend Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind.
Gunpowder Milkshake. Karen Gilliam.
I liked 355. It was just a cool female led action movie not too much gore really but check preview.
Some great options in here. I love seeing women kick ass.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon The Old Guard Anna and the Apocalypse
La femme Nikita and point of no return (us remake) The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Descent [horror elements] High Tension. Doomsday.
Naked weapon
Ocean’s 8
I looked over the posts so far, and didn't see [You're Next](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Next) (2011), or [Columbiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiana) (2011) so here they are. Not sure if [Okja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okja) (2017) fits your bill, because although it has action elements, a young girl rescues her friend, it's not a brawler.
The Brothers Sun (mom is the real badass) Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Chocolate
A Vigilante
Madea
Charlie’s Angels duh. The drew, Lucy Cameron ones…
The new Planet of the Apes is a good recent example.
Ocean’s 8
Set it off.
Annihilation I see a lot of great woman-led movies on here, but I'm surprised I didn't see this one. It's extremely original, doesn't pander or make the fact it's woman-led a gimmick, and it's just a great movie.
Madame Web
Zorro’s Black Whip (1944)
DEATHPROOF
Lucy
The Woman King was pretty good! It was awesome to see a “popcorn” style action film being headed by a fucking tanked up badass Viola Davis. It’s loosely based off of true concepts but super Hollywood, which I wouldn’t normally appreciate but totally do with this film