Action movies have long been a male-centric genre, yet in recent years women have steadily shown that they can kick butt with the best of them. Myriad memorable and thrilling female-driven films have made their way to the silver screen for decades now, inspiring and entertaining fans while reminding viewers that strength and femininity are one and the same. Ladies have bid adieu to be the helpless damsels in distress and instead crashed through the cinematic glass ceiling, rescuing themselves and looking mighty good doing it.

Update June 28, 2023: If you enjoy watching action movies with scintillating female leads, you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content by Darren Gigool.

Whether you’re searching for a film about an amnesiac security operative battling against a hoard of the undead like in Resident Evil or prefer to watch Uma Thurman strategically take out deadly assassins in Quentin Tarantino’s smash hit Kill Bill: Volume 1, there are perfect action films just waiting for you to binge. Some of Hollywood’s most dynamic and impressive performers have emerged as badass heroines, with Sigourney Weaver from the Alien movie franchise leading the pack and setting the precedent for future portrayals, and actresses like Margot Robbie picking up the proverbial baton as the wild and fierce Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey. These are some of the best action movies with female leads.

14 Haywire (2011)

In Haywire, Gina Carano establishes herself as Mallory Kane, a highly proficient agent for the government. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film highlights Carano's mixed martial arts history to its fullest, raising the bar for female-centric action films. Carano imbues her character, Mallory, with an unusual sense of vulnerability, presenting her as more than just a single-faceted action hero.

Setting Haywire apart from its peers is the realistic fight sequences that the film offers. These aren't Hollywood-styled fights – each blow, kick and throw exudes authentic intensity, largely attributed to Carano's professional fighting background. Beyond that, Mallory is a well-rounded character, displaying the complexity and depth often missing in action films. Even though she's a skilled killer, she grapples with trust issues and treads through life with a discerning wariness, thereby creating a complex and relatable protagonist.

13 Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Packed with Stunning visuals, Alita: Battle Angel emerges as an exceptional entry into the female-led action films category. The narrative focuses on Alita, a forsaken cyborg with a hidden history, given life through Rosa Salazar's compelling acting. Brought to the silver screen through an amalgamation of motion capture and live-action, the character of Alita is showcased with deep emotion and affection, effectively deepening the film's sentimental impact.

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Nestled within a lavishly portrayed cyberpunk reality, Alita's fight sequences display both elegance and ferocity, her mechanical physique adapting fluidly to various different fight situations. Of equal importance is Alita's character development. Contrary to common action heroes, Alita doesn't possess invincibility or an absence of sentiment; she expresses fear, rage, and happiness. Progressing from a naive girl to a seasoned warrior, guided by her inherent sense of fairness, adds substance to her character, strengthening this movie's standing among female-centric action films.

12 Salt (2010)

Thrillingly captivating, Salt stars Angelina Jolie in the titular role of Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent charged with being a Russian sleeper agent. Jolie's outstanding portrayal allows the audience to witness Salt's transformation from a once devoted spy to a fugitive on the run from her own agency, desperately seeking to vindicate herself. The audience is left questioning whether Salt is a pawn in an international conspiracy or a crafty orchestrator of worldwide havoc.

Salt shines in its ability to marry a gripping narrative with adrenaline-fueled action. The film's storyline unravels like a complex riddle, keeping viewers guessing about Salt's innocence until the conclusion. The action scenes are absolutely breathtaking. From the heart-stopping rooftop pursuit to the lethal hand-to-hand combat, Jolie's athletic abilities and unwavering resolve are prominently displayed. This flawless fusion of narrative and action is what sets the movie apart as an unforgettable contender in the realm of female-driven action films.

11 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Unexpectedly captivating in Mad Max: Fury Road is Charlize Theron's character, Imperator Furiosa. Despite the film's belonging to the iconic Mad Max franchise, it is Furiosa who arises as the authentic protagonist. Theron's potent and persuasive depiction of Furiosa has become one of the most memorable performances in contemporary action cinema, illustrating an unyielding spirit and fierce combat prowess.

Far from just an action spectacle, Mad Max: Fury Road offers audiences a grand cinematic journey that they embark on. The film's action sequences are as visually arresting as they are adrenaline-packed, and feminist motifs are seamlessly integrated into the high-speed vehicular pursuits and savage conflicts among characters. The movie delivers a resounding endorsement of female empowerment and resistance to tyranny, with Furiosa spearheading the cause. These elements, together with its broad critical praise – including six Academy Awards – elevate it to one of the pinnacle action movies starring a female lead.

10 Captain Marvel (2019)

Captain Marvel ascended to the big screen in 2019, marking the Marvel Cinematic Universe's initial venture into female-led films. Standing at the heart of the cosmic chaos is Carol Danvers, exquisitely embodied with grace and resolution by Brie Larson. As a former U.S. Air Force aviator who is thrust into becoming one of the universe's most formidable superheroes, Danvers represents a character that is as emotionally intricate as she is physically potent, providing an unwavering exploration of her quest to reconcile her past and seize her future.

Larson's portrayal is intricately layered, presenting Danvers' fortitude and resilience, along with her struggle with memory and identity. As the first solo female Marvel movie, Captain Marvel significantly impacts the depiction of women in superhero films, demolishing norms and establishing new benchmarks for subsequent productions.

9 Birds of Prey (2020)

The DC Extended Universe gave the candy-colored and chaotic Harley Quinn her very own picture with the 2020 girl power superhero flick Birds of Prey, which follows the cheerfully unhinged character after she breaks up with the Joker and finds herself targeted by Gotham City crime lord Roman Sionis. Quinn reluctantly teams up with superheroines Black Canary, vigilante Huntress, and detective Renee Montoya to save a young girl from the disturbed crime boss.

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Margot Robbie produced and stars in the action flick, originally pitching the idea to Warner Bros. as “an R-rated girl gang film including Harley because I was like, ‘Harley needs friends.’ Harley loves interacting with people, so don’t ever make her do a standalone film.” The actress was adamant that Birds of Prey have a female director, ultimately choosing Cathy Yan to helm the project; the filmmaker pitched for the job as “wanting to smash the patriarchy.” The exciting girl power movie was praised for its fast-paced action sequences and Robbie’s brilliant performance.

8 Atomic Blonde (2017)

The always extraordinary Charlize Theron headlines the 2017 action thriller Atomic Blonde, which is based on the graphic novel The Coldest City and revolves around top-level MI6 field agent Lorraine Broughton, who has to find a list of double agents that are being smuggled into the West on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The high-adrenaline picture was a passion project for Theron, who fought hard as both the star and producer to get the thriller made and defy industry expectations for female-driven films, having told Variety, “I think we would be remiss not to acknowledge Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hamilton. We’ve had moments like this, where women really showcase themselves and kind of break glass ceilings. And then we don’t sustain it.” To prepare for the demanding role, the actress hired eight personal trainers and even sparred with Keanu Reeves, who was preparing for his role in John Wick: Chapter 2. The thriller was a slam dunk at the box office and with critics.

7 Underworld (2003)

Len Wiseman’s 2003 action horror film Underworld focuses on the secret history of vampires and lycans while following the vampire Death Dealer Selene, who finds herself entrenched in the ongoing battle between opposing forces and finds herself falling in love with a human the lycans are desperate to capture. The brilliant Kate Beckinsale stars as the relentless hunter Selene, who was excited to become an action star and embraced the change of pace for her career (having previously done romances and period dramas), saying, “It was quite the challenge for me to play an action heroine and pull off all that training when in real life I can’t catch a ball if it's coming my way.”

Despite mixed reviews from critics, Underworld resonated with audiences and was a surprise hit, launching a franchise and receiving appreciation for the actress’ riveting portrayal, Gothic visuals and intriguing mythology and backstory. BBC wrote, “Perhaps it's the idea, the atmosphere, or the enthusiastic action, but it maintains a mysterious watchability which suggests it could become a cult classic.”

6 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

The renowned master of stylized violence Quentin Tarantino directed the 2003 martial arts classic Kill Bill: Volume 1, enlisting the talented Uma Thurman to star as the Bride, who swears revenge on a dangerous team of assassins and their leader after they attempt to kill both her and her unborn child. Both Tarantino and Thurman conceived the character of the Bride during production of 1994’s Pulp Fiction and would later spend a year and a half penning the script in 2000 and 2001; the legendary filmmaker wrote the role specifically for her and cited her as his muse during the creative process.

Thurman’s main inspiration behind her butt-kicking performance were the title characters in 1973’s blaxploitation film Coffy and 1980 neo-noir crime thriller Gloria, declaring that both of them are “two of the only women I’ve ever seen be truly women while holding a weapon.” Kill Bill: Volume 1 was both a critical and commercial success and with Volume 2 being released six months later.

5 Aliens (1986)

The esteemed James Cameron directed the iconic 1986 sci-fi action classic Aliens, centering on Ellen Ripley, who awakens from her hyper-sleep 57 years after surviving an apocalyptic attack aboard her space vessel; she sets out to warn a deep space salvage team that merciless space creatures are still a terrifying threat. Sigourney Weaver reprised her role for the sensational picture, with Cameron taking over directing duties from Ridley Scott; the filmmaker believed in having a strong female heroine to distinguish his projects from typical Hollywood action fare and wrote the screenplay with a picture of Weaver on his desk.

For her commanding performance, the star won the Saturn Award for Best Actress and also nabbed both Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominations. In a glowing review, the Associated Press commended Weaver, writing, “Sigourney Weaver is merely terrific… When she straps on her armament to do battle with the aliens, she makes Sylvester Stallone look like a pipsqueak.”

4 Wonder Woman (2017)

Gal Gadot powerfully wielded the Lasso of Truth and Bracelets of Submission when she took on the epic role of Wonder Woman in the 2017 Patty Jenkins superhero flick. Wonder Woman follows the eponymous character as she sets out to stop World War I with the help of American pilot Steve Trevor, believing the conflict was started by a longtime enemy of the Amazons, Ares. Speaking about taking on the prestigious role of the beloved comic book hero, Gadot stated, “I feel very privileged that I got the opportunity to portray such an iconic, strong female character. I adore this character and everything that she stands for and everything that she symbolizes.”

With the release of Wonder Woman, Jenkins became the first woman director to be given a $100 budget, with the film also making history for becoming the biggest domestic opening for a female director. Wonder Woman earned a whopping $822 million and was heralded by critics, earning praise for its action sequences, stunning visuals, memorable performances, and direction.

3 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Based on the popular video game series of the same name, the 2001 action adventure Lara Croft: Tomb Raider stars the dynamite Angelina Jolie as the title character, which follows the beautiful and savvy heroine as she jet sets across the globe in search of ancient artifacts in competition with the mysterious Illuminati. The actress beat out fellow stars like Denise Richards, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sandra Bullock for the role, with her casting initially causing a stir amongst fans of the video game series, who felt she didn’t physically fit the role.

Director Simon West dismissed these concerns, stating, “It was always Angelina. I mean, Lara sleeps with knives and doesn’t take shit from anybody. That’s Angelina down to a tee.” Defying naysayers, Jolie’s performance went on to earn widespread acclaim, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was a knockout with moviegoers. She returned for the 2003 sequel Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—The Cradle of Life, cementing Jolie's action movie stardom.

2 Charlie’s Angels (2000)

Cinema superstars Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu headlined the 2000 action comedy Charlie’s Angels, an adaptation of the ‘70s cult classic show that depicts three unique and special women who work at a private detective agency in Los Angeles. In the tongue-in-cheek fun flick, the trio of elite private investigators set out, with the help of their lovable sidekick Bosley (Bill Murray), to stop a devious mastermind from destroying individual privacy.

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Barrymore herself bought the screen rights to the hit show prior to the movie being filmed and insisted that, unlike typical action films in which the “bad guys” use guns, the Angels would do their fight scenes without them. Diaz was personally called by Barrymore to join the picture, with the actress having told The Morning Call, “She said, ‘It will be girls jumping out of helicopters, driving fast boats, doing Kung Fu and wearing tons of hot clothes.’ And I said, ‘Sign me up.’” Charlie’s Angels was a blockbuster success and led to the 2003 sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.

1 Resident Evil (2002)

The first installment of the film franchise loosely based on the video game series, 2002’s sci-fi action horror flick Resident Evil follows amnesiac heroine Alice and a group of Umbrella Corporation commandos as they fight to contain the outbreak of the T-virus at a top-secret underground facility. Milla Jovovich delivers an incredible performance as Alice, the butt-kicking, highly trained private security operative who fights the legion of zombies created by the nefarious Umbrella Corporation; she accepted the role due to her and her brother being such big fans of the video game franchise.

Jovovich performed nearly all her stunts herself for the film, having trained in karate, kickboxing, and combat-training to prepare for the physically-demanding part of Alice. Resident Evil spawned five big-budget sequels, with Jovovich returning for each; the Chicago Tribune wrote, “On its own terms, Resident Evil updates the zombie genre with an anti-corporate message while still scaring its audience and providing heart-pounding action.”