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'Little Women' (2019)
Photo: Columbia Pictures
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch it for: Interrogating the role of women in society
Greta Gerwig directs the 2019 adaptation of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel with a sensitive touch as her script revisits the complex role of women and lets stars Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen shine.
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'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'
Photo: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" — Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: Persevering in the face of tragedy
The second entry in the "Black Panther" franchise serves not only as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, but also sees the women of the kingdom rise above their circumstances to protect what's important.
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'Tár'
Photo: Focus Features via AP/CP Images
Where to watch: Prime Video
Watch it for: Complex female characters
Cate Blanchett's powerful performance as an influential orchestra maestro sees a woman in a position of power usually held by a man. The film explores the complexities of a corrupt figure and the systems that exist to prop them up.
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'Women Talking'
Photo: Michael Gibson / © Orion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection/CP Images
Where to watch: Prime Video
Watch it for: Female solidarity
Nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, this adaptation of Miriam Toews’ 2018 book is a thought-provoking drama that portrays the power of women supporting each other in the face of sexual trauma in their patriarchal religious community.
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'Everything Everywhere All At Once'
Photo: David Bornfriend /© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection/CP Images
Where to watch: Prime Video/Apple TV+
Watch it for: Exploring intergenerational family trauma
Not only does the story focus on a first generation, immigrant Asian-American family, but the mind-bending multiverse adventure also sees Michelle Yeoh's Evelyn trying to reconnect with her daughter.
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'The Woman King'
Photo: Sony Pictures
Where to watch: Crave
Watch it for: Women kicking a$$
Viola Davis stars in this historical reimagining of the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s.
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‘Suffragette’
CP Images
Where to watch: digital rental
Watch it for: Historical context
In 1912 London, a young mother (Carey Mulligan) is inspired into political activism and securing women’s right to vote by Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) in director Sarah Gavron’s drama based on real figures in the women’s suffrage movement in the UK.
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‘The Forty-Year-Old Version’
Netflix
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch it for: Realizing it’s never too late
Writer, director and star Radha Blank proves it’s never too late to go after your dreams in the critically-acclaimed film about a woman who tries to find her voice through the world of hip-hop and theatre at age 40.
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‘Erin Brockovich’
CP Images
Where to watch: digital rental
Watch it for: Cheering on the underdog
Julia Roberts won an Oscar for her portrayal of the brash but street smart Erin Brockovich’s unlikely transformation into environmental advocate with legal know-how.
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‘The Joy Luck Club’
CP Images
Where to watch: Hoopla
Watch it for: Groundbreaking multi-generational story
The first Hollywood film to feature and all-Asian cast, “The Joy Luck Club” brought Amy Tan’s bestselling novel about the complex relationship between immigrant mothers and their first-generation Chinese-America daughters to life on screen in an earnest and relatable drama.
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'Hysteria'
CP Images
Where to watch: Hoopla
Watch it for: Funny female pleasure
Directed by Tanya Wexler, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy star bring coy humour to the somewhat true story of the invention of the first vibrator by 19th century British physician Mortimer Granville.
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‘Alien’
CP Images
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: A kick-a$$ space queen
Nominated for an Oscar for her gender-defying role as Eleanor Ripley in “Alien”, not only is Sigourney Weaver’s iconic character a true space queen, she’s also technically a Disney princess now that Disney owns the rights to the “Alien” franchise. As long as a princess can still fight aliens with her pet cat in tow, we can get behind it.
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‘RBG’
Mongrel Media
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch it for: A true hero
The late great Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the subject of this documentary by Julie Cohen and Betsy West which takes a look at how her legal battles changed the future of women. Not into docs? “On The Basis Of Sex” is dramatized biopic of her early life and fight for gender equality starring Felicity Jones as RBG.
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‘Thelma & Louise’
CP Images
Where to watch: digital rental
Watch it for: Ride or die BFFs
These best friends stick together no matter what in Ridley Scott’s thrilling take on female friendship and loyalty.
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‘Persepolis’
Mongrel Media
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Watch it for: Defying religious fundamentalism
“Persepolis” is Marjane Satrapi’s own adaptation of her autobiographical graphic novel about coming of age against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution and subsequent repression by Islamic fundamentalists. Defying the law at the cost of her own safety, the movie’s heroine Marji remains true to her beliefs at all costs.
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‘Someone Great’
Netflix
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch it for: Friends who get you through the rough patches
Director Jennifer Kaitlyn Robinson’s “Someone Great” is all about celebrating and leaning on the female friendships that get you through life’s rough patches. Following a devastating break-up, Jenny’s (Gina Rodriguez) BFFs treat her to one last hurrah in NYC before she makes a big cross-country career move.
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‘A Fantastic Woman’
Mongrel Media
Where to watch: digital rental
Watch it for: Celebrating all forms of womanhood
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, “A Fantastic Woman” features breakout transgender actress Daniela Vega in the lead as a trans woman who endures ignorance and bigotry from the world around her following the death of her older lover. It’s a moving portrait of the wholly universal feelings of grief and loneliness.
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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
CP Images
Where to watch: digital rental
Watch it for: Powerful female rage
Don’t let the title fool you: “Mad Max: Fury Road” is all about Charlize Theron’s warrior Furiosa. Backed by a group of female prisoners, Furiosa channels her rage into an epic fight against a tyrant a she searches for her lost homeland in the post-apocalyptic thriller.
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‘Hidden Figures’
Disney
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: Inspirational STEM heroes
An all-star cast lead featuring Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monae tell the very real and very inspiring story of the Black female mathematicians who helped launch NASA’s space program.
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‘The Witch’
CP Images
Where to watch: Tubi
Watch it for: Casting spells with your coven
Fell like you don’t fit in? Maybe you’re a witch. Anya Taylor-Joy stars in her breakout role as a young woman accused of witchcraft in this 17th century-set horror.
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‘Queen Of Katwe’
CP Images
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: Feel-good inspiration
Based on a true story, this inspirational family movie centres on Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) a 10-year-old Ugandan girl who lives in the slum of Katwe with her single mom (Lupita Nyong’o) and siblings. After she’s introduced to the game of chess, her world expands beyond her wildest imagination, opening up a new realm of possibilities for her and her family.
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‘9 To 5’
CP Images
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: Girl bosses who are boss
Dolly Parton is a true country queen and national treasure, but as Coralee in “9 To 5”, she proves the sweet Southern girl is not afraid to grab the bull by his horns. Standing up to a sexist bully of a boss with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin the movie remains both funny and, sadly, relevant in 2021.
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‘She’s Gotta Have It’
CP Images
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch it for: Self-love above all else
Made for only $175,000, Spike Lee’s breakthrough low-budget indie is all about a young Black woman named Nola (Tracy Camilla Johns) who values her independence above commitment to any of her three lovers. A celebration of sexual liberation, Lee revisited “She’s Gotta Have It” for the present-day in a Netflix series that lasted two seasons.
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‘Brave’
CP Images
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: Supreme archery skills and mother-daughter communication
Young Scottish princess Merida sets out to carve her own path in life, learning from the mistakes she makes along the way in the Disney film. Plus, what girl hasn’t wished she could transform her mother into a bear?
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‘The Runaways’
Sundance Institute
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Watch it for: Rock n ’roll girl power
Directed by prolific music video director Floria Sigismondi, “The Runaways” is a rock and roll coming-of-age biopic about the 1970s teen all-girl rock band. Starring Kristen Stewart as young rockers Joan Jett and Dakota Johnson as Cherie Currie, the film looks at their relationship and early rise to fame.
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‘First Wives Club’
Paramount Pictures
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Watch it for: Divorcee laughs
Friendship never fades, even after 30 years for the ultimate divorced trio of wronged women played by Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn.
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‘Bend It Like Beckham’
CP Images
Where to watch: Disney+
Watch it for: New traditions
Almost 20 years later, director Gurinder Chadha’s “Bend It Like Beckham” is still as relevant and fun as ever as teenage Jess (Parminder Nagra) learns to strike a balance between her Indian heritage and desire to play soccer along with her friend Jules (Keira Knightley) who dreams of playing the sport professionally.
Photo: Columbia Pictures
Photo: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" — Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Photo: Focus Features via AP/CP Images
Photo: Michael Gibson / © Orion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection/CP Images
Photo: David Bornfriend /© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection/CP Images
Photo: Sony Pictures
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