The arrival of the trailer for 2026’s Supergirl has followers in every single place excited for the most recent female-led superhero film. Nonetheless, the historical past of superhero movies led by girls is a blended bag at greatest. Early makes an attempt like 1984’s Supergirl or Catwoman and Elektra from the 2000s have been crucial misfires.
There have been additionally disappointments within the style, like Marvel Lady 1984, Madame Net, and The New Mutants. It additionally does not assist that many female-led superhero films hadn’t even been made till lately. They’ve shone in TV exhibits like WandaVision, Jessica Jones, and even the Supergirl collection. In fact, a handful of superhero films about girls stand out among the many relaxation.
The Powerpuff Women Film (2002)
Lengthy earlier than the MCU turned a factor or as a result of DC tried their very own shared universe, millennials needed to look to the small display screen for his or her heroes. That is the place they fell in love with The Powerpuff Women, a present that ran from 1998-2005 and centered on three younger women with superpowers.
The present’s recognition led to The Powerpuff Women Film in 2002, which modified up the formulation a bit. As an alternative of thwarting their nemesis Mojo Jojo, they by accident help him in his plot for world domination, inflicting the general public to activate them. Evaluations have been stable for this tackle the characters.
Whereas the movie works rather a lot like a protracted episode of the present, that is what the viewers needed. Alas, The Powerpuff Women Film has been forgotten after flopping on the field workplace but it surely stays a high quality movie that was necessary as an early female-led superhero challenge.
Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)
Technically, the MCU hyped Ant-Man and the Wasp as the primary female-led superhero movie within the franchise. Whereas it’s the sequel to Ant-Man and he’s the protagonist, the Wasp does have her title within the title and she or he’s handled as a co-lead. That was a giant deal and Evangeline Lilly was as much as the problem.
In plenty of methods, she will get to be the center of the movie. Her character, Hope, returns to Scott Lang’s life as he has a connection to her lacking mom. It was refreshing to see a feminine hero have her personal agenda and never solely be in her companion’s life to be a romantic curiosity.
The Wasp additionally will get the movie’s greatest motion sequence. It is the primary time the viewers sees her don her costume and she or he takes out unhealthy guys whereas shrinking and rising, identical to she taught Scott within the first film. She was on the forefront of one other sequel, although that one was met with a extra tepid response.
The Marvels (2023)
Following the huge success of Captain Marvel, a sequel was clearly going to occur. Nonetheless, it got here as a little bit of a shock that it ended up being one thing of an ensemble that includes not one however three sturdy girls on the forefront. Carol Danvers was joined by Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau.
Kamala was launched in her personal collection, Ms. Marvel, whereas Monica debuted in WandaVision. They share comparable skills to Carol, making up The Marvels. This felt totally different from most MCU movies thus far, because it was shorter and even went so far as to characteristic a stunning musical quantity.
Though reception wasn’t as sturdy as the primary movie and the field workplace was manner down, those that noticed The Marvels can admire what it did proper. Brie Larson exhibits extra character as Carol, Teyonah Parris is the center of the story, and Iman Vellani is extremely charismatic. Every scene they share is massively entertaining.
The Outdated Guard (2020)
Certainly one of solely a few movies listed to not come from Marvel or DC, The Outdated Guard is predicated on Greg Rucka’s graphic novel collection from Picture Comics. The story facilities on a bunch of mercenaries who’re immortal and have been combating towards evil for hundreds of years.
Whereas the core crew options a number of males, it is two girls who’re on the forefront. Charlize Theron portrays the crew chief, Andy, whereas KiKi Layne performs Nile Freeman, the newest particular person to find their immortality. The connection between the 2 girls is the driving power of the story.
The Outdated Guard was an enormous hit for Netflix, garnering thousands and thousands of views in a short while. The movie holds an 80% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, with reward for the performances of Layne and Theron, in addition to the motion setpieces directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Captain Marvel (2019)
As famous, Captain Marvel was a significant success when it was launched. Though the character is not considered one of Marvel’s most well-known, the movie was sort of the proper storm. It arrived between Avengers: Infinity Struggle and Avengers: Endgame, so hype was at its highest, and it boasted Greatest Actress Oscar winner Brie Larson within the title position.
That recipe resulted in a $1 billion field workplace consumption. The ’90s setting was nostalgic for thus many, from the soundtrack to the style. Larson was very sturdy within the lead position, particularly when she bought to share the display screen with Samuel L. Jackson or Lashana Lynch, with whom she shared electrical chemistry.
Captain Marvel was met with a constructive response from critics because of the performances, humor, and visuals. The movie was additionally praised for the twist it places on the ultimate encounter with the villain. As an alternative of a giant CGI battle, Carol simply beats him handily in mere seconds. It is excellent.
Black Widow (2021)
Longtime MCU followers waited so lengthy for Natasha Romanoff to get her personal solo movie. The character was highly regarded, but had at all times been a supporting participant in The Avengers, Iron Man 2, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, to call a couple of. She lastly bought her solo challenge, but it got here with a wrinkle.
Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame, that means this movie needed to happen prior to now. Black Widow certainly takes place between the occasions of Captain America: Civil Struggle and Avengers: Infinity Struggle, with Natasha on the run and reuniting with the household she was on a mission with when she was a child.
Whereas Scarlett Johansson is her ordinary nice self as Natasha, Black Widow will get stolen by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. Natasha’s sister will get the most effective traces and has essentially the most emotional scenes within the movie. It was one other well-received MCU movie, one which featured nice feminine forged members.
Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
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Not many superhero films have been extra critically panned than 2016’s Suicide Squad. The movie is clearly messy and does not work, but the one facet that everybody agreed was nice was Margot Robbie’s efficiency as Harley Quinn. That led to the character getting a uncommon solo film.
Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) was launched in early 2020 and gave Harley a correct highlight away from the Joker. Robbie was pretty much as good as ever because the character, from her witty dialogue to the motion scenes, together with a very nice one on the police station.
Birds of Prey additionally options a number of different key feminine characters, together with the Huntress, Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain. All of them come collectively ultimately for a unbelievable battle as a crew, but the excessive level stays Robbie’s main girl standing.
Marvel Lady (2017)
The DCEU was off to a questionable begin by 2017. Man of Metal was stable, but Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice and Suicide Squad have been thought-about misfires. Nonetheless, this solo movie marked a possible change for the franchise by giving Marvel Lady her large second.
The character was launched in Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice and plenty of believed she was the most effective a part of that movie. Marvel Lady advised her origin story of types as she leaves her dwelling of Themyscira throughout World Struggle I to assist after an American pilot informs her of what is going on on.
In plenty of methods, the film is much like Captain America: The First Avenger and that is a praise. Gal Gadot delivers the most effective appearing of her profession because the character offers with a fish out of water state of affairs and the notorious No Man’s Land scene is inspiring. The movie holds an excellent 93% Rotten Tomatoes ranking.
Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly was by no means meant to be a female-led superhero film however that is what occurred after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. He was so beloved as T’Challa/Black Panther that the MCU determined to not recast the character.
That meant the sequel needed to see characters cope with his passing within the story as effectively, which put Letitia Wright’s Shuri on the forefront. She will get some heavy emotional scenes as she loses her brother and mom earlier than rising as much as the title of Black Panther and changing into the titular superhero.
Black Panther: Wakanda Endlessly was one other crucial and industrial hit for the MCU. Wright is unbelievable, whereas the movie additionally options an Oscar-nominated flip by Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, in addition to Danai Gurira’s Okoye, Florence Kasumba’s Ayo, Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, and extra.
Thunderbolts* (2025)
It is sort of odd to think about a team-up film as a female-led challenge however Thunderbolts* is exclusive in that manner. The place movies like The Avengers are completely an ensemble piece, Thunderbolts* made it clear from the beginning that Yelena Belova was the protagonist and most necessary character.
She’s the primary character to seem on display screen and the particular person we comply with via all of it. Florence Pugh is greater than as much as the duty, delivering one other unimaginable efficiency, particularly in a single notably emotional scene the place she breaks down in entrance of her father.
Thunderbolts* offers with themes of melancholy and whereas that is integral to Bob, Yelena is the character who shares that with him and helps him via it. She will get the heart-to-heart scenes with him and is the glue that brings everybody collectively. Yelena is a giant motive why they’re already such a fantastic crew.