The big screen had a lot to offer in 2017: Amazonian warriors kicking ass (and breaking box office records), tennis stars smashing misogyny, a wildly inventive and NSFW use of a grapefruit, and so much more. We’ve collected some of our favorite films by and about women this year, and they include biopics about athletes, war movies, and a game-changing super hero film. That’s part of what stands out about this year — the fact that women finally had the opportunity to shine in different genres, both on-screen and behind the scenes. This year’s Best Actress frontrunners aren’t playing the wives of powerful men — they are at the center of their own stories. Finally.
Here are some the year’s best films directed by women and/or about female protagonists, according to us:
“Girls Trip” — Co-Written by Tracy Oliver
This comedy about four lifelong friends (Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish) who reunite to attend the Essence music festival is both hilarious and heartwarming, and it’ll forever be remembered as Tiffany Haddish’s breakout role. The comedian is destined for great things and we can’t wait to cringe and laugh along the way. Even post-“Bridesmaids” and “Bad Moms,” raunchy female-led comedies remain pretty rare. Hopefully “Girls Trip’s” huge success at the box office will convince Hollywood that we want to see more movies about women — and especially women of color. The demand has long been there, and it’s time it’s supplied.
You can rent “Girls Trip” on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Lady Macbeth” — Written by Alice Birch
Oppression trickles down in “Lady Macbeth,” the year’s most terrifying indictment of white feminism. Written by Alice Birch and based on Nikolai Leskov’s play “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” the film stars Florence Pugh as Katherine, an anti-heroine if there ever was one. Bored and mistreated in her new marriage, Katherine begins sleeping with servant Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis) and wastes no time in knocking off her husband and father-in-law. (Lust begets bloodlust, apparently.) Instead of feeling guilty, Katherine is invigorated and enjoys power for the first time in her life. This is all well and good for her, but it’s bad news for her working class lover, her black maid Anna (Naomi Ackie), and her husband’s illegitimate, biracial child Teddy (Anton Palmer). None of them enjoy Katherine’s status or privilege, so none of them are safe. “Lady Macbeth” smartly explores the overlappings of gender, race, class — and Katherine capitalizes on them in her transformation from victim to villain.
“Lady Macbeth” is now available to rent on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also available on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Wonder Woman” — Directed by Patty Jenkins
To say that “Wonder Woman” is a game-changing film would be an understatement. It is the top-grossing superhero origin story. It is the top-grossing film from a female director. It has made over $820 million worldwide. But none of that would matter if the movie did not exceed the expectations of its fans from all over the world. Seeing the Amazon warriors training left many women in tears who had been waiting for decades to see a female superhero onscreen. Gal Gadot seems to have been born to play this part, and Patty Jenkins propelled herself to the top of the business with her second feature following “Monster.” “Wonder Woman” is an epic film that we’ll all be remembering as a significant moment in the journey for women’s equality in film.
You can rent “Wonder Woman” on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also available on Blu-ray/DVD.
“I, Tonya”
It’s hard to believe Margot Robbie was unfamiliar with the sordid tale of Olympic figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan prior to reading the script for “I, Tonya.” Against all odds, the Australian actress slips seamlessly into the role of Harding, who was — and is — often dismissed and disparaged as poor white trash. Robbie perfectly captures the world-class athlete’s passion, determination, and desperation. Whether she’s mentally preparing for the famed triple axel, mouthing off to smug judges, or facing off against her abusive husband (Sebastian Stan) and mother (Allison Janney), there’s not one false note in Robbie’s portrayal. She is fearless. Neither Robbie nor the movie treats Harding like a punchline. Her legacy is synonymous with the attack on fellow skater Kerrigan, but “I, Tonya” complicates the narrative and asks important questions about why we were all so eager to cast Harding as a ruthless villain. Plus, “I,Tonya” features Janney with a parrot on her shoulder — yeah, you need to see this.
“I, Tonya” is now in select theaters. Find screening info here.
“First They Killed My Father” — Directed by Angelina Jolie; Written by Angelina Jolie and Loung Ung
War movies are often presented from a white male point of view. Angelina Jolie’s “First They Killed My Father” breaks with tradition and tells a war story — and a searing human rights drama — from a five-year-old girl’s perspective. Based on human rights activist Loung Ung’s 2000 non-fiction book and written by Ung and Jolie, “First They Killed My Father” depicts Ung’s experiences in Khmer Rouge-controlled Cambodia. The film, Cambodia’s Oscar selection and Jolie’s fourth narrative feature as a director, is haunting, as is the star-making turn from newcomer Sareum Srey Moch.
“First They Killed My Father” is streaming on Netflix.
“The Divine Order”— Written and Directed by Petra Volpe
One of the things that blew our minds about “The Divine Order” is that Switzerland only gave women the vote in 1971. This film sheds light on the grass roots campaign and, yes, a full-blown female walkout of the home, that women employed to achieve equality at the polls. Another galling fact is that the men actually had to vote to give women the right to vote. Writer-director Petra Volpe brings us into this battle and reminds us that the fight for women’s equality is not too far in the past and continues to this day.
“The Divine Order” is now in select theaters. Find screening info here.
“Lady Bird” — Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig
We couldn’t be happier about “Lady Bird’s” ecstatic reception. Critics and audiences are loving Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, and understandably so. Saoirse Ronan is simply perfect as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a Sacramento-based teen attending Catholic school in Sacramento and desperately plotting an escape from her hometown. The coming-of-age story offers a rare look into the intricacies of a mother and daughter’s relationship, and offers no easy answers about what it takes to become your best self. The story’s appeal is universal, and yet manages to feel deeply personal and specific.
“Lady Bird” is in theaters now. Find screening info here.
“The Light of the Moon” — Written and Directed by Jessica M. Thompson
Early on in “The Light of the Moon,” protagonist Bonnie (Stephanie Beatriz) is raped. But the bulk of Jessica M. Thompson’s film focuses on the aftermath of the attack — specifically how Bonnie handles the trauma. At first she goes on as if nothing happened, and refuses to tell anyone besides her boyfriend (Michael Stahl-David). But Bonnie eventually realizes that, while she might eventually feel better, there really is no going back to normal. That’s what makes “The Light of the Moon” so heartbreaking and unforgettable: life does go on for Bonnie, but it will never be quite the same.
“The Light of the Moon” is now playing in select theaters. Find screening information here.
“Mudbound” — Co-Written and Directed by Dee Rees
“Mudbound” hasn’t received its due. The period drama has won a number of honors, but its absence from the best picture conversation is disheartening, to say the very least. We’ve always known Dee Rees is a force to be reckoned with — she rightfully won accolades for her semi-autobiographical feature debut “Pariah” and Bessie Smith biopic “Bessie” — but “Mudbound” marks a huge leap for the writer-director. The multi-perspective story about two men returning home to Mississippi after fighting in WWII is epic. The men — one black (Jason Mitchell), one white (Garrett Hedlund) — form an uneasy friendship that’s as doomed as Romeo and Juliet’s romance. As ambitious as it is heartbreaking, “Mudbound” is set in the past but feels all too timely.
“Mudbound” is streaming on Netflix.
“Te Ata” — Written by Esther Luttrell
“Te Ata” tells a little known story of a powerful female leader. Q’orianka Kilcher (who needs to be cast more often) plays Mary Thompson Fisher — who later became known as Te Ata — a Native American women who spent her life going across the country educating people about Native American customs and experiences. She was so beloved that she was invited to the White House by Franklin D. Roosevelt to perform.
“Te Ata” is available to rent on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Their Finest” — Directed by Lone Scherfig; Written by Gaby Chiappe
Call it the feminist’s answer to “Dunkirk.” Set in the throes of the Blitz, “Their Finest” centers on Catrin (Gemma Arterton), a screenwriter penning the “slop” (i.e. women’s dialogue) on a propaganda film about the Miracle of Dunkirk. Catrin and her writing partner (Sam Claflin) are adapting the story of twins Lily and Rose Starling — who attempted to help with the evacuation — for the screen. As the war rages on and the film within the film begins production, Catrin’s writing skills grow, as does her confidence and self-worth. It isn’t long before it dawns on her that, like Lily and Rose, she is not the supporting character in a man’s tale: she’s a hero in her own right. As such, Lone Scherfig’s film reminds us all that Catrin’s story and all women’s stories are anything but “slop.”
“Their Finest” is streaming on Hulu. It’s also available to rent on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms, as well as on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
If you took all the female rage and frustration from the year and condensed it into two hours, the end result would probably be something akin to “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Mildred Hayes (a ferocious Frances McDormand) is pissed. She’s pissed that the local police are corrupt and haven’t found her daughter’s rapist and killer, she’s pissed that no one is being held accountable for the crime, she’s pissed that her grief isn’t being acknowledged. And she’s finally ready to do something about it. Probably best described as a tragicomedy, “Three Billboards” is the type of cinematic catharsis that’s sorely needed as 2017 — which began with the Women’s March and saw the birth of #MeToo — comes to a close.
“Three Billboards” is currently in theaters. Find screening information here.
“The Florida Project”
You’ll never look at Disney World the same way. Set in the outskirts of the Magical Kingdom in a dilapidated motel, “The Florida Project” centers on Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a precocious six-year-old, and her loving but immature mother Halley (Bria Vinaite). The pair live in a motel and consistently struggle to pay rent. Both Moonee and Halley have built a community there, and the film skillfully welcomes us to their world. Yes, Halley and Moonee are poor, and their finances play a critical role in the plot, but the movie never feels like condescending poverty porn. It doesn’t raise Halley or Moonee up or tear them down — it simply shows them as they are, and takes us along for one particularly eventful and painful summer in their lives. Prince is a relative newcomer and Vinaite had no acting experience prior to “The Florida Project,” but you’d never guess it: their chemistry is excellent and both deliver standout performances.
“The Florida Project” is in theaters now. Find screening info here.
“Detroit” — Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow uses her incredible skill set to take us inside the Algiers Motel incident during the 1967 Detroit riots. The film shows the corrupt cops who operated with impunity, the frightened motel patrons, and just how quickly things can go off the rails to the point of no return. It’s a riveting look at a moment in the Civil Rights struggle from the first — and only — woman to receive a Best Director Oscar. “Detroit” doesn’t seem to be resonating in the year-end conversation, but is very much worthy of a look.
You can rent “Detroit” on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also available on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Raw” — Written and Directed by Julia Ducourneau
French director Julia Ducournau’s ambitious and self-assured debut feature caused audience members at the last year’s Toronto International Film Festival to faint. Yes, it’s that intense. The horror film centers on Justine (Garance Marillier), a gifted student training to be a vet. The vegetarian reluctantly tries meat during a hazing ritual, and the incident leaves her with an insatiable appetite for meat. Her impulse to consume flesh escalates and escalates until she’s moving into full-blown cannibal territory. The film features some gory scenes, but they serve a purpose. “With ‘Raw,’ I set myself the challenge of shifting the audience’s moral standards throughout the film,” Ducournau explained to us. “I wanted the audience to feel empathy for a character that is becoming a monster in their eyes.” And she does. “Raw” is smart, sexy, scary, and unexpectedly moving. While female directors are underrepresented period, it’s especially rare to find female-helmed horror films.
“Raw” is streaming on Netflix and available to rent on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. It’s also on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Megan Leavey” — Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite; Co-Written by Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo
Megan Leavey’s (Kate Mara) life was a mess and she joined the Marines as a way of escaping her reality. She became a part of a K-9 unit, where she shone. She was able to manage Rex, an especially difficult dog, and developed an extraordinarily close bond with him. After they were both injured by an IED, Megan was discharged and then she began her fight to adopt Rex after he finished his bomb-sniffing career. Dog owners, be prepared to get super emotional about this true love story between a woman and her canine companion.
“Megan Leavey” is streaming on Amazon Prime. It’s also available to rent on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms, as well as on Blu-ray/DVD.
“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” — Written and Directed by Angela Robinson
This is the story of the trio behind one of the most iconic female characters of all time. “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” centers on esteemed psychologist Dr. William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans), who is convinced that the best and most efficient way to disseminate his radical views is not through publishing articles in esoteric academic journals but by writing a comic book — one about an Amazon princess who lives on an island of all women, wears a burlesque outfit, and fights Nazis. Plus, the character was inspired by two women: Marston’s wife and fellow researcher Elizabeth Marston (Rebecca Hall) and the married couple’s lover Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote). Writer-director Angela Robinson depicts how the trio wasn’t just fighting to bring an unconventional heroine to the masses — they were also fighting for their right to have a romantic relationship despite intense social pressure and judgment. The biopic doesn’t shy away from the throuple’s sex life but it doesn’t feel as though Robinson is reducing this complicated romance to a titillating highlight reel. “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” is a relatively conventional biopic about unconventional people, and a fascinating look into the history behind a character who is still inspiring generations of girls and boys.
“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” will be available on Blu-ray/DVD January 30. It’s also expected to be released on VOD then.
“Battle of the Sexes” — Co-Directed by Valerie Faris
Tennis is only the tip of the iceberg in “Battle of the Sexes.” Starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell, the comedic biopic is a narrative account of the real-life 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Billie Jean is in her prime, hardworking, and fighting for gender equality in tennis. Bobby is a gambling addicted, friendly chauvinist desperate for a comeback. In a climactic, tensely crafted scene the two face off as living embodiments of the gender wars. While it depicts an important moment in sports and women’s history, the real significance of “Battle of the Sexes” is that Billie Jean and Bobby’s fight then looks a lot like the clash between some men and women now.
“Battle of the Sexes” will be available on VOD December 19 and on Blu-ray/DVD January 2.
“The Breadwinner” — Directed by Nora Twomey; Written by Anita Doron and Deborah Ellis
This animated film for adults is the harrowing tale of a family in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan right as the war began in 1991. Parvana (Saara Chaudry) is a regular girl who is forced to cut her hair and pretend to be a boy in order to get food for her family after her father is carted off to jail. She then decides to journey to the jail to try and get her father released. “The Breadwinner” is a necessary reminder of the way women and girls were treated under the Taliban and the resiliency of girls.
“The Breadwinner” is now in theaters. Find screening info here.
“Molly’s Game”
Jessica Chastain is a force in “Molly’s Game.” She just radiates power, and because of that, she’s totally convincing as Molly Bloom, a former Olympic-level skier turned personal assistant turned poker hotshot — a woman whose work ethic and ingenuity knows no bounds. After suffering a career-ending injury, the athlete moves to LA and gets a gig as a personal assistant to a jerk who runs an underground poker game. It’s not long before she takes the reins right out from under him, raises the stakes, and ascends the throne as the so-called “Princess of Poker,” running some of the most elite poker games in the world. Her clients include movie stars, professional athletes, and billionaires. And then Molly’s story takes another turn — she becomes an FBI target. “Molly’s Game” is a wild ride, and you don’t have to be a poker fan to understand or appreciate the stakes.
“Molly’s Game” opens in select theaters December 25. It will open in wide release January 5.
“A United Kingdom” — Directed by Amma Asante
Like “Wonder Woman,” “A United Kingdom” emphasizes the importance of love and empathy. Based on a true story, Amma Asante’s third feature is about the marriage between King Seretse Khama of Botswana (David Oyelowo) and working class white Briton Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike). During the course of the film the couple weathers protests from their families, interference from their governments, prejudice, and prolonged separation. Yet Seretse and Ruth’s devotion to each other never wavers. “A United Kingdom” is a reminder that, though the world is divided by race, class, and nation, love is powerful enough to bring us together.
“A United Kingdom” is available to stream on HBO. It’s also on Blu-ray/DVD.
