It’s hard to make your mark in an ever-evolving film industry. Hollywood has recently witnessed a string of massive flops, and quite a good portion of them were female-led movies. The most recent examples are The Marvels and Sony’s latest release, Madame Web. Both have received unimpressive reviews and poor box office receipts.
While superhero fatigue is partly to blame, these films have also been criticized way more than other flops, the most common complaint being the “wokeness” that they allegedly possess. After the massive failure of Madame Web, there has been a creative overhaul at their headquarters, which has completely changed their initial plans.
According to a report by the Twitter account Culture Crave, the entire writers’ room of Silk: Spider Society has been fired, except for the showrunner Angela Kang. Keeping in mind the continuous losses of female-centric movies like The Marvels and Madame Web, the new strategy is to cater to a male audience. But is it a step in the right direction? Are female-led films really that hard to make?
Well, a number of female-led movies have proven that women can be just as compelling and powerful as their male counterparts, in addition to silencing sexist fans.
1. Kill Bill: Volume 1
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill: Volume 1 follows the journey of the Bride (Uma Thurman), a trained assassin who seeks vengeance against those who wronged her. The movie not only shows off the strength and perseverance of its female protagonist but it also challenges conventional gender roles in the action genre.
Even with a $30 million budget, the film received favorable reviews and made over $180 million worldwide. Set in the late 90s, the 2003 film certainly silenced sexist fans who were skeptical that women could assume b*dass roles and kick some serious b*tt.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 can be rented on Apple TV.
2. Legally Blonde
Action alone does not make a woman strong, which led to the inclusion of Legally Blonde, a romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. Robert Luketic’s 2001 flick defies stereotypes about blondes while also transforming Elle into a successful lawyer.
To put it simply, it empowers women to be unapologetically themselves. Legally Blonde silenced sexist fans who underestimated Elle’s ability to excel in a male-dominated field. What more? The film grossed $141 million worldwide on a budget of $18 million, with Witherspoon receiving special praise for her performance.
Legally Blonde is streaming on Max.
3. The Hunger Games
Based on the popular trilogy of novels by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games film series stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, a fierce and proficient archer who comes to symbolize a rebellion against a corrupt government. The film tackles significant issues like social injustice and political corruption in addition to showcasing the bravery and strength of its female lead.
Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss is not only powerful but also pioneering in its depiction of a strong female lead. Also, The Hunger Games is the 20th highest-grossing film franchise ever. In a way, we can proudly say that Lionsgate’s film series silenced sexist fans who questioned Katniss’ ability to lead a revolution.
Stream The Hunger Games on DIRECTV.
4. Atomic Blonde
Starring Charlize Theron as a fierce MI6 agent, Atomic Blonde is a 2017 action thriller that features action-packed scenes and a complex female protagonist. Her performance in David Leitch’s film was not only physically demanding but also mirrors her ability to command the screen and silence any qualms about a woman’s capacity to lead an action film.
Theron does amazing stunt work and fights in the film, which debunks the stereotype that women are not physically strong enough to compete with men. Despite having a budget of $30 million, the film won critical acclaim and was a worldwide box office hit. Atomic Blonde actually quieted the sexist fans who doubted a woman could carry off an action movie.
You can watch Atomic Blonde on DIRECTV.
5. Salt
A thrilling thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, Salt stars Angelina Jolie as a CIA agent who is suspected of being a Russian spy. Phillip Noyce’s film not only highlights Jolie’s abilities as an action hero but also challenges preconceived notions about women’s intelligence and espionage.
The Unbroken star’s performance and the action scenes in Columbia Pictures’ film, which grossed $294 million at the box office worldwide, won praise from critics.
Salt is available on FuboTV.
