'Wonder Woman' is about to be released in UK cinemas and it has received critical acclaim. Indeed, at this moment, it holds a score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The Film, which was directed by Patty Jenkins, has been praised for its story, visuals, script and performances by Chris Pine, Robin Wright and Gal Gadot. Gadot stars as the iconic female superhero. It seems like 'Wonder Woman' is the latest of many great films that pioneer strong, female protagonists so now seems as good a time as any to look back and discuss some of the best female-led films.
'Alien' and 'Aliens'
'Alien' is considered one of the best horror films of all time and 'Aliens' is considered one of the best action films of all time. At the heart of these two iconic films is Ellen Ripley. Sigourney Weaver plays the titular character that held her own against impossible odds and, through her role in these films, she inspired a generation of woman. Weaver built on the work that Carrie Fisher did in 'Star Wars: A New Hope' and an actress which continued the work of both Fisher and Weaver was Linda Hamilton in...
'The Terminator'
Before James Cameron directed 'Aliens', he broke onto the scene with 'The Terminator' in 1984 and revolutionised science fiction in the process. Obviously, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his career of the success of this film but Linda Hamilton also had a big impact by starring as Sarah Connor.
The arc of Sarah Connor in this film is one of the strongest aspects of 'The Terminator'. She goes from a damsel in distress to a hardened fighter. This cemented her as one of the most iconic female characters in film history and she would continue this legacy in 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'.
'The Silence of the Lambs'
The portrayal of Clarice Starling by Jodie Foster in 'The Silence of the Lambs' earned her an Oscar for Best Actress in a film that itself won Best Picture at the Oscars.
Jodie Foster was praised for playing a female heroine that used her intelligence to overcome the insufficiencies within her and solve the case rather than through physical attributes. This grounded the character of Clarice Starling and made her relatable and feel like a real character.
Honourable Mentions
Other films/franchises where there are strong female characters are Princess Leia in 'Star Wars: A New Hope', Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde' and Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Evidently, there are plenty of strong, inspirational female characters in film.
Additionally, with the release of 'Wonder Woman' and the impact that a character like Rey from 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has had and will continue to have on pop culture, a whole generation of young Women and girls will continue to have role models and characters that inspire them which is a wonderful thing.