7 Must-Watch Movies on Women That Have Inspired Generations

Women-oriented movies have a way of shaking things up and challenging the status quo! With their strong female characters and thought-provoking storylines, these movies flip the narrative and inspire women and young girls to script their own stories.?

Movies about women have also had a massive impact on film industries worldwide. By highlighting the talent and creativity of feminist writers, actors, and filmmakers, these movies are smashing the glass ceiling and making room for more women to shine.

From action-packed thrillers to heartwarming dramas, we have compiled our top 7 women-oriented English and Hindi movies that will make you go through a whirlwind of emotions and leave you wanting more. So, grab some popcorn and settle in for these world-class films.

Mother India (1957)

This epic drama film is a classic in Indian cinema and tells the story of a financially-strapped village woman and single mother named Radha (Nargis Dutt) who faces a series of challenges and hardships posed by a cunning money-lender as she struggles to provide for her two sons. In 1957, the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, marking a historic moment as the first-ever Indian film to receive such a nomination.

Norma Rae (1979)

Norma Rae is based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton. In the movie, the protagonist Norma Rae Webster (Sally Field), a textile factory worker in North Carolina, becomes a trade union activist after facing hardships like poor working conditions, injustice by the factory management,? and the death of her father due to overworking at the textile mill. The movie highlights the struggles of the working class and the power of collective action to bring about positive change.

The Color Purple (1985)

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, the movie explores the lives of African-American women in the early 20th century in rural Hartwell, Georgia. The movie highlights the struggles and resilience of the main character, Celie Harris Johnson (Whoopi Goldberg), as she overcomes abuse, racism, and sexism to find her voice and strength. The Color Purple movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Whoopi Goldberg won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama for portraying the lead role, Celie.

Mirch Masala (1987)

Set in a small village in Gujarat, Mirch Masala tells the story of a woman named Sonbai (Smita Patil) who defies the local zamindar (landlord) and his henchmen. The movie highlights the power of a woman to resist oppression and fight for her rights. Mirch Masala won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi the following year.?

Erin Brockovich (2000)

This American legal drama is based on the true story of a woman named Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) who takes on the energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to prove its culpability in the Hinkley groundwater contamination incident. Julia Robert's role in the movie won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001.?

Queen (2013)

Considered by many a groundbreaking feminist film, Queen is a Bollywood Hindi comedy-drama about a sheltered and conservative 24-year-old woman named Rani (Kangana Ranaut). After being jilted at the altar, Rani decides to travel alone to Paris and Amsterdam for her pre-booked honeymoon. The movie highlights the strength and independence of a woman as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, experiences new countries and cultures, and makes lifelong friends along the way. The movie won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film and Best Actress in 2015.

Hidden Figures (2016)

This American movie is based on the true story of a team of three African-American women mathematicians: Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who worked at NASA during the Space Race. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 2017.

So, if you're bored of watching the same old cliched storylines in movies, how about you try these women-oriented films for a change? Who knows - it might leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to take on the world!