Revenge movies led by female characters have seen a boom in recent years. Horror movies usually end with there being a "final girl," the lone babysitter that managed to get away while her friends were terrorized and slaughtered. Now, things have started to shift, and thriller/horror are developing a new take on what revenge can be. Even the classic final girls like Laurie Strode in Halloween are becoming skilled killers in their own right, looking to take power back from the monsters that haunt them.

Updated June 7, 2023: If you enjoy watching revenge films, especially ones with riveting female leads, you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content.

Whether it's revenge for a loved one or getting justice for themselves, women in these roles don't go down without a fight and are admired for their agility and strength, both physically and mentally. Audiences certainly have a preconceived notion of male action stars like Liam Neeson or Charles Bronson leading movies centered around male heroes seeking revenge. Yet there are plenty of great movies where women step into the lead role of an avenging angel figure. Here is a list of the best woman-led revenge films.

9 Peppermint (2018)

Jennifer Garner in Peppermint (2018)
STXfilms

Jennifer Garner wows in the 2018 film Peppermint, showing a familiar side to her acting as she takes on the role of Riley North, a mother seeking revenge for the murder of her husband and daughter. After her husband gets mixed in with a notorious drug lord, the entire family is almost wiped out at a local fair, Riley, being the only one to survive, immediately wants justice.

Related: Jennifer Garner's Best Action Movies, Ranked

When the entire system turns against her since they're also mixed in with the drug lord/cartel, Riley takes matters into her own hands and transforms herself into a vigilante who's not stopping until she gets what she wants. She gains an incredible body count, and in the end, justice is served.

8 Hard Candy (2005)

Elliot Page in Hard Candy (2005)
Lionsgate

Dramatically suspenseful, Hard Candy hinges on a psychological chess match between Hayley Stark, a girl who is 14, and Jeff Kohlver, a man suspected of being a child predator. This film unravels a narrative imbued with themes of manipulation, justice, and revenge. The plot shifts compellingly, illustrating the evolving dynamics between Jeff and Hayley. Intensity and intrigue envelop this film, leaving viewers entranced and on edge.

Elliot Page (who uses he/him pronounces) stars as a young girl Hayley Stark in a riveting portrayal. The character embodies sophistication and keeps the audience engaged. This character, brilliantly played by Page, defies her youthful age with her wily determination. Hayley's portrayal by Page oscillates between being chilling and fascinating, anchoring the film with deep emotional resonance. With an enticing performance, she captures the audience's empathy and evokes a strong connection with the character.

The film's suspense is rooted in real-world frights and not any supernatural elements. David Slade, the director, masterfully maintains this delicate balance, avoiding gratuitous violence and building tension through dialogue and claustrophobic spaces. In its essence, this film subverts the classic villain-victim paradigm, providing audiences with a gripping journey that challenges their notions of justice and retribution.

7 The Brave One (2007)

Jodie Foster in The Brave One (2007)
Warner Bros. Pictures

In The Brave One, the story follows Erica Bain, a radio host-turned-vigilante, grappling with the aftermath of a savage attack that took her fiancé's life and shattered hers. Erica's transformation isn't glorified; instead, it's portrayed as a coping mechanism borne from profound grief and terror. Erica herself questions the morality of her actions in an introspective narrative that explores fear and trauma.

Jodie Foster's emotionally charged performance breathes life into Erica Bain. Navigating the psychological labyrinth of her character, Foster delivers a masterful performance. She transitions convincingly from a woman crippled by fear to a vigilante compelled to act, injecting depth and humanity into the narrative. The direction of Neil Jordan, combined with Roderick Taylor's screenplay, gives us a compelling vigilante thriller that doubles as an exploration of trauma recovery. Jordan's meticulous pacing and attention to detail amplify the narrative's emotional resonance. Taylor's script delves deep into the protagonist's psyche, offering a nuanced perspective that sidesteps simple moral dichotomies.

6 The Nightingale (2018)

Aisling Franciosi in The Nightingale (2018)
Transmission Films

Set in 18th-century Tasmania, The Nightingale is a revenge drama featuring Clare, an Irish convict, on the hunt for British officers guilty of unspeakable crimes against her and her family. This journey Clare embarks on is fraught with violence and hardship, but it's also punctuated with moments of resilience and humanity. Clare is brought to life by Aisling Franciosi's powerful performance, which illustrates a steely resolve in the face of daunting adversity.

Franciosi infuses Clare with a raw, visceral energy that's profoundly moving and deeply unsettling. With her performance, Franciosi crafts an unforgettable character that grounds the film. Director Jennifer Kent showcases her storytelling prowess with The Nightingale. Her crafted narrative is brutal and unflinching yet also thoughtful and empathetic. Ensured by Kent's careful direction, the violence never veers into gratuitous territory. Instead, it serves to highlight historical atrocities inflicted upon women and indigenous peoples. Her thoughtful handling of these weighty themes cements her reputation as a filmmaker with exceptional skill.

5 Carrie (1976)

Sissy Spacek in Carrie (1976)
United Artists

Starring Sissy Spacek in the adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel, Carrie is a cinematic classic. Carrie White is a sixteen-year-old loner who is constantly bullied by her peers at school and suffers abuse from her mother at home. When an unfortunate incident happens in the school showers, things start to take a turn, as Carrie's bully, Christine Hargensen, plans a huge bloody prank at prom, leaving Carrie covered in pig's blood.

It's revealed then to everyone at the gym that Carrie has telekinetic powers, Carrie uses them on everyone as she controls things with her mind and sets the gym on fire. She also ends up taking care of her abusive mom when she gets home. Carrie is the ultimate horror power fantasy of a young girl who is pushed to far and has the power to take revenge on her abusers.

4 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Miramax Films

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill: Volume 1 is one of the best martial arts movies and female revenge stories of all time. Starring Uma Thurman as The Bride, viewers follow the plot as The Bride travels from assassin to assassin, looking to hunt down Bill after she was almost killed while pregnant with his child. The Bride teaches herself how to walk after being in a coma for years, finding the willpower to do it herself as she thinks of all that she lost in such a short amount of time.

By the time she makes it to Japan, she's furious and ready to get even, mowing down O-Ren Ishii's (Lucy Lu) gang until she fights O-Ren head-on and wins. The plot continues through the second movie, but Volume 1 gives the viewer all they need to know about The Bride and how she won't go down without a fight.

3 Promising Young Woman (2020)

Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman (2020)
Focus Features 
Universal Pictures

Promising Young Woman was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it still managed to wow audiences and even earned an Academy Award win for Best Original Screenplay. Making her directorial debut, Emerald Fennel (who also wrote the screenplay) guides this film with great pacing and timing, making it one of the best newer woman-led revenge films.

Related: Do Revenge: How it Parallels Promising Young Woman

The plot follows a thirty-year-old named Cassie (Carey Mulligan), who's a vigilante of sorts, making it her mission to expose potential sexual assaulters after her best friend from college was attacked, and justice was never brought to her case. Nina, her college friend, ultimately killed herself after their college did nothing, leading Cassie to be non-stop with her efforts in exposing individuals with ill intentions.

2 Gone Girl (2014)

Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
20th Century Fox

Based on the novel written by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl takes the audience on quite the ride as the marriage of Amy and Nick Dunne unfolds. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing; their house is trashed, and blood is everywhere. Forensics concludes that Nick could very much be a lead suspect in the disappearance or murder of his wife. What Nick doesn't know is that Amy is well aware that he's been cheating on her with a student of his, who is significantly younger, and on top of their marriage falling apart before that, Amy decides to shake things up a bit and frame her husband to precisely get revenge on him for all he's done.

Director David Fincher delivered an impressive thriller, and Rosamund Pike earned rave reviews for her role as Amy. While Gone Girl may not have generated the awards buzz the studio was hoping for, it did become a surprise box office hit, grossing an impressive $167 million domestically and $369 million worldwide.

1 Jennifer's Body (2009)

Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body (2009)
20th Century Fox

Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama, Jennifer's Body follows the story of teen Jennifer, who's recently been possessed by a demon who thrives off the blood of men. Jennifer is played by Megan Fox, a popular cheerleader, and captain of her squad, and who is best friends with Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried.

A box office bomb when it was released, Jennifer's Body quickly found a passionate, loyal fanbase and has since become a cult classic. The movie has been culturally reevaluated and has aged exceptionally well, telling a revenge story about a young woman who takes vengeance on men who only value them for their bodies. Jennifer's Body is now regarded as a seminal film of the late 2000s and well worth a watch.