During Women’s History Month, people all over the country are honoring the contributions women have made in American history. At Hollywood.com, we acknowledge all the progress made, especially in the entertainment industry, but we know there is more work to be done.
To celebrate Women’s History Month 2022, we’re sharing 10 movies that showcase the power of women and femininity in front and behind the camera.
Now and Then
One of the most important aspects of a young woman’s life is the female friendships she makes along the way. In Now and Then, we follow 3 women who return to their Indiana hometown before the birth of their 4th friend’s baby. During their time, the 4 friends share and relive their memories as 12-year-old girls during the summer of 1970. The film stars ‘90s icons Demi Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, Rita Wilson, and Melanie Griffith, while Gaby Hoffmann, Christina Ricci, Ashleigh Aston Moore, and Thora Birch play younger versions of the women.
With a screenplay by I. Marlene King and direction by Lesli Linka Glatter, this movie tackles complex topics like body image, sexuality, grief, murder, loneliness, and friendship, all within the 4 tween girls’ perspectives, and later, mature women. Now and Then lets girlhood lead the way, allowing women of all ages to revel in their fulfilling and sometimes emotionally draining friendship dynamics.
Watch Now and Then on HBO Max.
Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé
If there’s anyone that celebrates the power of being a woman, it’s Beyoncé. Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé gives us a behind-the-scenes look into her 2018 Coachella performance. While the concert movie captures the pop perfection of the star’s performance, it also lets us watch the intense rehearsal process where Beyoncé had to retrain her body post-pregnancy. Her husband Jay-Z, her eldest daughter Blue Ivy, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and sister Solange Knowles also appear.
Directed, written, and produced by Beyoncé herself, this concert film highlights the power of African American history, from quotes by Toni Morrison, Nina Simone, and Maya Angelou spoke throughout and performance sets tributing HBCUs.
We already know Beyoncé’s influence in the music industry with Billboard charting singles and numerous Grammy wins, but this movie proves her influence as a strong, beautiful, and intelligent changemaker.
Watch Homecoming: A Film By Beyonce on Netflix.
Little Women
Little Women presents a timeless story about the strength of sisters and the freedom for women to make the choices they want. Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the film follows the 4 March sisters— Meg (Emma Watson), Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Beth (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy (Florence Pugh)— as they grow up in 19th century Concord.
In this 2019 adaption, Greta Gerwig wrote and directed the film with intentions of modernizing the story for a wider audience. What’s transformative in this new adaptation is the development of Amy’s character, who delivers a groundbreaking monologue on the tribulations of women in society, and how nothing they own or create is truly theirs. It reestablishes Amy as this firecracker personality, with wisdom and understanding beyond her years.
Each March sister has their own journey, and no sister is shamed for the life they decide to live, whether it’s domestic life or independence in New York City. Little Women reminds us that while each of our paths are different, we must cherish the people around us who keep us going.
Watch Little Women on Amazon Prime Video.
The Joy Luck Club
“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take”
Go watch THE JOY LUCK CLUB. It’s *the* movie that perfectly sums up what Asian motherhood is all about. It might make you cry ugly.
Happy Mother’s Day!#RekomenFilem pic.twitter.com/rXmdBoe19l
— Rekomen Filem🇲🇾 (@RekomenByAsrul) May 8, 2021
The Joy Luck Club intertwines relationships of Chinese-American women and their immigrant mothers. In the film, we focus on 4 mothers who have immigrated to America and had daughters of their own. As the 4 mothers reunite to play mahjong throughout the years, we see flashbacks of their life and their daughters growing up.
Based on the novel by Amy Tan and directed by Wayne Wang, The Joy Luck Club illustrates the clash of American and Chinese culture. While the mothers want to honor where they came from, their daughters would instead “fit in” and embrace American ideals.
When we see into each of the mothers’ pasts, we discover the strength each woman used to find a better life for themselves. The film tackles issues like abuse, death, war, and how each changed the course of the mothers’ and their daughters’ lives.
Watch The Joy Luck Club on Amazon Prime Video.
I Am Greta
In this international documentary directed by Nathan Grossman, we follow Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teen climate activist, and her work to stop climate change. While Greta first started out as an ordinary high school student, her activism pushed her to become the famous changemaker she is today.
Although Greta’s activism is a large part of the climate change movement, this film centers on her as a person. We see her protesting and speaking to high-level government officials, but we also see behind-the-scenes footage of her and how she’s personally dealt with her rise to fame.
I Am Greta shows young women and girls the power one girl holds to make a difference. It’s inspiring for all of us and teaches us that we all have the chance to change the world for the better.
Watch I Am Greta on Hulu.
Girlhood
The French film Girlhood shows the impact of close-knit female friendships and how they transform us in good and bad ways. Marieme is an African-French teenager living in a poor Paris suburb. With a non-existent mother and abusive brother, Marieme meets a girl gang with who she becomes close. As Marieme changes her appearance and demeanor, she gets involved in drug dealing and other things that put her in danger.
Director Céline Sciamma gives each girl her own agency; all 4 of the girls in the gang have their own stories and go through life in different ways. Although a close-knit group gives someone like Marieme comfort and security, it can also cause permanent damage in the future. The film intersects topics of race, class, and gender and how they influence the lives of 4 Black teenage girls in France.
Young women, especially Black young women, are often forgotten within Hollywood stories. Girlhood allows for more representation, illustrating the many complexities of young girls and what they go through.
Watch Girlhood on Amazon Prime Video.
Paris is Burning
In this 1990 documentary directed by Jeannie Levingston, we follow the New York City drag scene in 1980 and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities who take part in it. From voguing, fashion, and trophies, the film highlights the power of ball culture in a world with racism, homophobia, transphobia, AIDS, and poverty. The film stars famous transgender and gay performers and drag queens like Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia St. Laurent, and Willi Ninja.
With conversations around how class, race, gender, and sexuality cross over, Paris is Burning offers a more contemporary and inclusive meaning of femininity. While some concepts of the film feel outdated today, this movie opens the boundaries of gender and what it means to be in the LGBTQ+ community, and what it means to be a woman. It’s a memorable piece of media that will continue to serve as a history lesson into the world for ball culture.
Watch Paris is Burning on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Coyote Ugly
NYC nightlife, gritty bars, record labels, and kick-butt women take center stage in Coyote Ugly. When 21-year-old Violet (Piper Perabo) moves to New York City to pursue her songwriting dreams, she finds a job at a women-run bar where she gains more confidence in herself. Gina Wendkos is credited for writing the screenplay, and Adam Garcia, John Goodman, Maria Bello, Tyra Banks, and Bridget Moynahan star.
Although some disagree on whether this film is “feminist,” it takes a modern stance on women’s sexuality. The women bartenders, called “Coyotes,” take advantage of their attractiveness and use it to earn more tips from male customers. Also, the bar is women-owned. How cool is that?!
As Violet works at Coyote Ugly, she becomes more sure herself, proving the power of female-centered friendships. The Coyotes push Violet and each other to be better, do better, and make something of themselves. It’s something all women should strive to do for each other.
Watch Coyote Ugly on Amazon Prime Video.
Battle of the Sexes
Directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathon Dayton, Battle of the Sexes follows the historical televised match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carrell) in 1973. At the same time, Billie fights for equal pay while coming to terms with her own sexuality.
Not only do we see Billie training for her incoming tennis match, but we also see her form a coalition called the Women’s Tennis Association and begin an affair with her hairdresser. The film goes deep into Billie Jean King’s perspective and all she endured to gain equal rights to men.
Battle of the Sexes acts as almost like a historical piece, having us relieve and relearn what changed professional sports for women forever. As we deal with current issues of gender discrimination regarding the US Women’s Soccer team, we remember that while strides have been made, there is much more to be done.
Watch Battle of the Sexes on Amazon Prime Video.
9 to 5
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton star as working-class women on a mission in the comedy 9 to 5. With a screenplay written by Patricia Resnik and Colin Higgins, the movie focuses on 3 secretaries— Violet, Judy, and Doralee— who plan to live out their fantasies of overthrowing their sexist boss.
Released in 1980, the movie was considered ahead of its time, making commentary on gender inequality in the workroom regarding sexual harassment, equal pay, and just treatment of women. Each woman deals with different forms of misogyny. Violet is overlooked for a promotion even though she’s worked at the same place for 12 years. After getting a divorce from her cheating husband, Judy faces the working world, and Doralee deals with sexual advancements from their boss.
9 to 5 unites all working women, showing us through outrageous comedy that we deserve equal respect and treatment from our male counterparts. Dolly Parton’s song of the same name still makes an impact today with its catchy tune and honest lyrics.
Watch 9 to 5 on Tubi.
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