Women’s History Month is here, and it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions women have made to history. Since the earliest days on record, society has attempted to wedge a barrier between men and women, with the latter being shoehorned into an inferior position. Women have fought an uphill battle for centuries, and though there's still a long way to go, their strength and bravery have more than paid off in many ways.

This March, we celebrate the brilliant women who have brought representation and equality into a brand new light. From scientists, athletes, and CEOs to change-makers and artists, women have been pioneering the course of history in ways you may not have realized. Here’s our list of eight amazing movies to watch in honor of Women’s History Month.

Related: 8 Must-Watch Movies From Women Directors

12 On the Basis of Sex

RBG
Via: Focus Features

If you haven't heard about the historical pioneer that is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was the second woman justice ever on the U.S. Supreme Court, On the Basis of Sex is a movie you need to see. Ginsburg was a nationally-renowned lawyer and served as the Associate Justice of the United States of Supreme Court for nearly 20 years, and this movie portrays one of her earliest cases. She successfully represented a man who was wrongfully denied a tax deduction after hiring a nurse to care for his elderly mother, and the case (Moritz vs. Commissioner) changed history forever.

11 The Joy Luck Club

Joy Luck Club Cast
Via: Hollywood Pictures

The Joy Luck Club is a paragon of representation for Asian women in America. The story is told in sections, and each focuses on a Chinese immigrant that traveled to America. The women overcome many obstacles in their life, but their greatest challenges come from raising their own daughters in a completely different world. The movie has been critically praised for its gorgeous portrayal of Chinese culture; it's considered such an important film that the Library of Congress chose to officially preserve it in 2020.

10 A League of Their Own

League of Their Own Cast
Via: Parkway Productions

If you're a fan of sports films, A League of Their Own is ideal for Women's History Month. We meet Dottie and Kit, sisters and avid baseball players in small-town Oregon. Realizing that World War II may put an end to American baseball, the owner of the Chicago Cubs recruits the sisters to join his growing women's team. What follows is an incredible story of the Rockford Peaches, one of the first all-women teams in the MLB. Against all odds, the Peaches win the World Series and permanently open a gateway for more women to join the sport. This is another stunning piece of history that was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress.

9 Selena

Jennifer Lopez as Selena
Via: Q-Productions

Jennifer Lopez brought representation to Latin women everywhere as Selena, a Mexican-American woman that rose to superstardom as a Tejano musician in the 90s. She faces race, sex and class barriers around every turn, but her spirit and determination allow her to overcome them all with grace. The ending is jarring, but the story as a whole is beautiful and inspiring. Selena gave Lopez one of her earliest roles in film, and she plays the Queen of Tejano with strength and joy.

8 Soul Surfer

Bethany Hamilton
Via: TriStar Pictures

The story of Bethany Hamilton shook the world in the 2010s, and it's just as important today. This biographical drama weaves Hamilton's narrative as she loses and regains her passion for surfing; at age 13, she ventures out to catch some waves on her own and tragically loses her arm in a shark attack. Despite the accident, Bethany chooses to move forward without a prosthetic, becoming one of the greatest surfers in history. AnnaSophia Robb plays a fierce Bethany in Soul Surfer, and we get to see real footage of Bethany in some of the film's archive footage.

7 Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures Cast
Fox 2000 Pictures

Another major stepping stone for Black women in America, Hidden Figures showed us all some of the most game-changing members of NASA we'd never heard of. This historical flick features three incredible Black scientists who join NASA's Space Task Force in 1969. Despite extensive sexism and racism in the workplace, the trio produced some of the most groundbreaking work in scientific history. In the end, they manage to prove themselves to everyone and are later chosen to partake in missions like Apollo 11 and the Space Shuttle.

6 Joy

Jennifer Lawrence Joy
Via: Fox 2000 Pictures

In Joy, Jennifer Lawrence shines as the titular Joy Mangano, an ambitious businesswoman who became a self-made millionaire. While juggling different aspects of her complex personal life, Joy innovates a self-wringing mop and eventually meets a wealthy investor. Despite numerous people's attempts to shut her blossoming business down, Joy fights back with tenacity and finds independence as one of the most successful business entrepreneurs of all time. Fun fact: the real-life Joy Mangano is the founder and CEO of Clean Boss, which is still selling products today.

Related: 8 Most Empowering Women Characters in Disney Animated Movies

5 Carol

Carol Cate Blanchette
Via: Number 9 Films

A deeply moving tale of lesbian representation, Carol stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, who come together during Christmas in 1952. Stemming from fairly different lives, the women gradually open up to each other about their queerness. They struggle to accept themselves and each other in the face of discrimination, but they're eventually able to make things work. The love story is every bit as raw as it is sweet, and the stars are a force to be reckoned with.

4 Mulan

Disney’s Mulan
Via: Walt Disney Pictures

Mulan is one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time, and the titular character's rise as a war hero and official Disney Princess is unforgettable. As a young woman in ancient China, Mulan has a hard time fulfilling society's rigorous gender roles. When her elderly, injured father is drafted for war against The Huns, she risks everything by impersonating a man and taking his place in the army. This young woman is a great role model for girls of all ages!

3 Suffragette

Suffragette Cast
Via: Film4

It's no secret that history has tried to stifle women in politics, and Suffragette gives us a look at the courageous women who fought for their right to vote. Set in 1912, Maud and Violet are laundry workers in England; after joining a suffragette protest, the two are met with intense stigma and abuse at the hands of the men in their lives. Despite the backlash and obstacles that come their way, Maud and Violet remain steadfast members of the suffragette movement until the very end.

2 Queen of Katwe

Queen of Katwe Cast
Via: Walt Disney Pictures

Queen of Katwe tells the little-known tale of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from Uganda. When a traveling missionary teaches her to play chess, she blows the world away with her innate intelligence and talent for the game. While her life is filled with adversity, Phiona takes her chess career farther than anyone ever dreamed and is ultimately able to provide a better life for her family because of it.

1 Little Women

The Cast of Little Women
Via: Columbia Pictures

A piece of literary history, this movie is based on the Little Women novel from 1868. The story focuses on four sisters, who each have unique talents and want different things out of life. As the girls grow and pursue their goals, we're treated to the beautiful and difficult complexities of sisterhood. The four protagonists in Little Women are fantastically portrayed by some of the best young actresses of our time.