March is Women’s History Month, a global celebration of our achievements from all social, cultural, economic and political backgrounds. It’s a great time for all genders to come together to raise awareness and advocate for women’s equality and gender parity. Whether it's through films about unsung ladies of the past in Hidden Figures, or A League of Their Own, fictional tales of the female experience like 2023’s record-breaking hit Barbie or biopics for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Frida Kahlo, let’s pause and reflect this March by watching an excellent movie!
For some brief history on the month itself, it’s been around since 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, which authorized March 7, 1982 as the beginning of "Women's History Week," proclaiming that American women of every race, creed and ethnic background had helped found and build the United States. The recognition came around 60 years after the women's suffrage movement gained momentum in the early 20th century. We’ve come far since then yet they exist across the world still fighting for these rights even today. The Hollywood industry is still dominated by male voices and executives, so let’s support female-led stories by streaming these great films, many of which are by women directors, too:
The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)
If we’re going to celebrate Women’s History Month, we might as well talk about how the topic coincides with cinema over the years. Early in the medium, the French actress Renée Jeanne Falconetti portrayed Joan of Arc in a landmark movie of the silent film era that is still very much celebrated and taught in classes nearly a century later. It depicts the trial, conviction and execution of one of the most inspiring female figures.
While very old, it’s a timeless one that doesn’t need words to depict the emotions Joan feels as she defies gender norms and speaks up, despite knowing she’ll be burned at the stake for her “crimes.”
Stream The Passion Of Joan Of Arc on Max.
Stream The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (for free) on Tubi. Rent/Buy The Passion Of Joan Of Arc on Amazon.
Hamnet (2025)
Jumping way ahead from the oldest to the latest movie on this list is eight-time Oscar nominee, Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell. The historical drama depicts the family life of William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway as they deal with the loss of their eleven-year-old son, Hamnet, and how the famed play Hamlet ultimately comes out of the experience. Helmed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet showcases the often overlooked wife of the great playwright and the deep feelings of grief she must have gone through as a mother, beautifully told with Jessie Buckley’s award-winning performance.
Rent/Buy Hamnet on Amazon.
Watch Hamnet streaming on Peacock (starting March 6).
What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)
Back in the ‘90s, Angela Bassett gave an all-time great performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It, based on the singer’s autobiography I, Tina. The movie showcases how the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll came to be. From her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee after being abandoned by her mother to becoming famous after meeting bandleader Ike Turner (played by Laurence Fishburne). She has an empowering story about how she triumphs over an abusive relationship with Ike and reached great heights as an artist.
Stream What’s Love Got To Do With It on Peacock.
Stream What’s Love Got To Do With It (for free) on Tubi.
Persepolis (2007)
Persepolis is a unique biopic because it’s told through black and white animation, and is based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel of the same name. It’s a coming-of-age story about Satrapi as she grows up during the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The movie’s storyline highlights gender oppression during political revolution through a rare firsthand account. Satrapi also co-wrote and co-directed the film herself.
Rent/Buy Persepolis on Amazon.
The Farewell (2019)
Chinese-American Lulu Wang made a deeply personal film with The Farewell about the nuances of the immigrant experience between women. The movie is about a young woman named Billi (Awkwafina) who finds out her grandmother, or Nai Nai as she calls her, only has a few months left to live, but it’s being kept secret from her. Through the close bond Billi and her Nai Nai have, The Farewell beautifully explores generational conversations through a Chinese-American perspective and pays tribute to the importance of family matriarchs.
Rent/Buy The Farewell on Amazon.
The Fire Inside (2024)
Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside highlights pro boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, who became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in boxing and is the only boxer ever to hold all four major world titles in three different weight divisions. Written by Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins, The Fire Inside tracks Claressa’s early career – including her time at the 2012 Summer Olympics. It tells an important chronicle of an athlete from the perspective of a Black woman from a working class town, speaking to the larger battles women in predominantly male endeavors must face.
Stream The Fire Inside on MGM+.
Rent/Buy The Fire Inside on Amazon.
Cabaret (1972)
Women’s History Month is a wonderful time to check out Liza Minnelli’s iconic role in Cabaret. She plays Lucy Bowles, an openly sexualized woman who performs at the Kit Kat Klub in Berlin in 1931. Through the musical’s plotline, Sally is a woman empowered by her expression of her sexuality and ambition. It also notably explores abortion prior to Roe vs. Wade passed in the U.S. a year after its release.
The Woman King (2022)
The Woman King is about the real history of a West African kingdom in the 19th century where women were the appointed fighters. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic follows an all-female unit of warriors called the Agojie, who defended the kingdom of Dahomey through the eyes of a new trainee of the Agojie, Nawi (played by newcomer Thuso Mbebu), after she refuses to marry. She is taken under the wing of the tight-knit group of warriors, played by Viola Davis (who did most of the stunts in the movie), Lashana Lynch, and Sheila Atim. It’s action-packed, empowering that exposes us to the might of the all-female battalion, which did exist from the 1600s to 1904.
Stream The Woman King on Hulu.
Rent/Buy The Woman King on Amazon.
A League Of Their Own (1992)
In 1992, a movie written by, directed and fronted by a group of women was hard to come by, but A League of Their Own was clearly ahead of the game. Penny Marshall’s classic tells the fictionalized account of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II, with a seriously incredible cast. Tom Hanks plays Jimmy Dugan, who manages players portrayed by Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell. It’s a rare spin on the sports genre usually claimed by male-dominated teams that confronts sexism in sports and in daily life. It’s a piece of history, a good present-day talking point and full of entertaining ensemble performances. Oh, and… “there’s no crying in baseball!”
Stream A League Of Their Own on Peacock.
Rent/Buy A League Of Their Own on Amazon.
Lee (2024)
Another WWII-era film, but much, much less cited than A League Of Their Own is Lee. The Kate Winslet movie follows Lee Miller, a fashion model turned World War II photographer, who even posed in Hitler’s bathtub for a powerful photograph while immortalizing not only the war, but specifically from a female perspective that the other photographers were not getting with their own eyes. When CinemaBlend spoke to Winslet just ahead of its 2024 release (which the actress tried to get made for almost a decade, by the way) she shared how playing the photojournalist touched her life.
Stream Lee on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Lee on Amazon.
Hidden Figures (2016)
For years, we’ve associated NASA and space travel with the male astronauts, but Hidden Figures taught many of us something new about the Space Race: the three Black lady mathematicians who contributed greatly to NASA’s achievements.Theodore Melfi’s 2016 film told the true story of Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson with the talents of Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe. Hidden Figures is the perfect example of bringing unacknowledged women in history to light, along with their struggles at the time when they were discriminated against due to racism and sexism.
Stream Hidden Figures on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Hidden Figures on Amazon.
9 To 5 (1980)
The Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin-led classic recently turned 45 years old, and yet it remains a relevant movie for workplace discussion. The 1980 comedy that also stars Dolly Parton (and featured her hitmaking song) sees three female employees who band together to stick it to their egotistical boss. While it’s a fictional story, 9 to 5 does show Hollywood’s beginnings when it comes to really tackling feminist issues. Even now, it allows us to reflect on what we’ve since improved as a society regarding this topic, along with what elements of it that are still achingly applicable to the present day.
On The Basis Of Sex (2018)
Mimi Leder’s Ruth Bader Ginsberg biopic On The Basis of Sex, starring Felicity Jones, is also a great pick for Women’s History Month. Since we lost the Supreme Court justice in September 2020 – watching this is a great way to honor a woman who fought for women’s rights in the U.S. government, arguably more than any other figure in history. On The Basis of Sex tracks Ginsberg’s journey, from her time at Harvard Law School to her appointment as the second woman to be a Supreme Court Justice.
Stream On The Basis Of Sex on Netflix.
Rent/Buy On The Basis Of Sex on Amazon.
Set It Off (1996)
Set It Off is an important film to the storytelling of Black women in Hollywood history starring Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise – and was a big hit at the time of its release. It’s about four friends who decide to rob a bank for the betterment of their lives (and their families). Each of them have different reasons for doing the heist that put a lot of attention on avoiding stereotypes and developing the characterization of its leading women.
Stream Set It Off (for free with ads) on PlutoTV.
Rent/Buy Set It Off on Amazon.
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret (2023)
Judy Blume is one of the most beloved female authors in the world, and has used many of her books to get into controversial topics like masturbation, teen sex, birth control and menstruation. In 2023, her best known work, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, was adapted to film, and it’s such a sweet watch! The movie directed by Kelly Fremon Craig taps into the often awkward and existential experience of girlhood as it follows its lead character as an 11-year-old living in 1970 who is dealing with moving to a new town, getting her period and bigger questions regarding her parents and family.
Stream Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret on Amazon.
Frida (2002)
In the world of art, perhaps the most celebrated female artist is Mexican surrealist, Frida Kahlo. The icon was featured in 2002’s Frida, Julie Taymor’s memorable biopic starring Salma Hayek as Kahlo, covering the artist’s life, her memorable work, including her love life, which famously included a tumultuous relationship with muralist Diego Rivera and a wide array of lovers, both male and female.
Frida is female-forward and an outlier in Hollywood today, as it was directed by a woman and has a Latina woman at the forefront, who is also bisexual. The role earned Hayek a Best Actress Oscar nomination after its release. It remains an inspired homage to the artist and a poignant portrait of her struggles, how she overcame them, and the odds against her.
Stream Frida on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Frida on Amazon.
Barbie (2023)
On the lighter side, it’s also a good time to go on a journey to the bright pink world of Barbie Land where “every night is girls night.” Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster, which became the highest-grossing releases to be directed by a woman when it was a feminomenon in the summer of 2023. Through the comedy and Best Picture Oscar nominee, not only does the beloved, historical and often controversial doll get the live-action treatment, it also serves as a jumping-off point to discuss gender dynamics and the patriarchy. Margot Robbie gives an incredible and rather hilarious performance as Stereotypical Barbie while she makes a journey (with Ryan Gosling’s sublime Ken) to the Real World to find the human who has made her suddenly “think about dying” and get flat feet.
Stream Barbie on Max.
Rent/Buy Barbie on Amazon.
She Said (2022)
On October 5, 2017, it was reported by the New York Times that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and rape with incident accounts across 30 years. The investigative story led to over 80 women additionally coming forward to accuse him, leading to him being sentenced to prison for 16 years. She Said explains how it happened as the two reporters who broke the story, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, go after it. She Said a gripping look at what it takes to be an investigative journalist and delves into the reasons why Weinstein’s misconduct did not have consequences for decades. Maria Schrader’s direction is also very respectful to victims of sexual assault and rape.
Stream She Said on Peacock.
Rent/Buy She Said on Amazon.
Confirmation (2016)
2016’s Confirmation has Kerry Washington portraying Anita Hill during her historic 1991 testimony against Clarence Thomas. The historical moment brought about a larger conversation about sexual harassment following the law professor deciding to speak out about her history with the Supreme Court nominee which turned into a media frenzy at the time. Confirmation dramatizes a huge moment in U.S. history that led to more women running for elected positions following it and examines the double standard often found between men and women in the public sphere.
Stream Confirmation on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Confirmation on Amazon.
Whale Rider (2002)
New Zealand filmmaker Niki Caro wrote and directed 2002’s Whale Rider, a family drama based on a 1987 novel of the same name about 12-year-old Maori dreams of being the chief of her tribe. Pai is a direct descendant of the Whale Rider, as the daughter of her village’s leader, but because she is a girl, she cannot inherit the position. It discusses gender in an understated, but powerful, way and was shot on location in New Zealand’s Whangara. Keisha Castle-Hughes’ role as Pai earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination at the age of 13. She was the youngest nominee in the category before Beasts of the Southern Wild’s Quvenzhané Wallis surpassed her ten years later.
Stream Whale Rider (For Free) on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Whale Rider on Amazon.
Selena (1997)
One of the most influential women in music was the Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. In 1997’s Selena, the biopic explored the artist's beginnings as a singer to her time as a sensation who’s still beloved today. This movie not only tells the empowering yet heartbreaking life of the “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” singer, who made strides few women had before it has an incredible breakout performance from Jennifer Lopez prior to her own massive fame.
Colette (2018)
An under-the-radar pick for your Women's History Month viewing is 2018’s Colette. Wash Westmoreland’s drama of France’s 19th century novelist Colette through an incredible performance from Keira Knightley. Colette’s relationship with Willy (played by Dominic West), a “literary entrepreneur” leads to him exploiting her writing as his own to make money on her work that provides a unique and relatable voice to a female audience. Colette is another instance of film giving us a glimpse of a quite untold story of a woman ahead of her time.
Stream/Rent/Buy Colette on Amazon.
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
When Desperately Seeking Susan came out in 1985, it was a huge deal for a movie to be written, directed, produced and led by women. (And, is honestly still rather hard to find). It’s about a New Jersey housewife Roberta (Rosanna Arquette) who becomes obsessed with a woman (Madonna) through personal ads. When Roberta gets mistaken for her hero, she goes on a fun adventure in New York City that’s very much unlike her stay-at-home life. At the time, it was a great commentary on women's roles in society, and promoted nonconformity.
Stream Desperately Seeking Susan on (for free) Tubi.
Rent/Buy Desperately Seeking Susan on Amazon.
Queen Of Katwe (2016)
Back in 2016, Disney made an inspiring biopic, Queen of Katwe. Directed by Mira Nair, Phiona Mutesi, a young Ugandan girl, learns to play chess and becomes a Woman Candidate Master after competing in the World Chess Olympiads. It was adapted from an ESPN magazine article and book by Tim Crothers. Black Panther’s Lupita Nyong’o stars in the Queen of Katwe as Phiona’s mother and David Oyelowo, plays her chess teacher, Robert Katende. Queen of Katwe shows the poverty of Katwe, but how a supportive family and team can inspire great accomplishments despite the odds against one.
Stream Queen of Katwe on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Queen of Katwe on Amazon.
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
1993’s The Joy Luck Club is about a group of Chinese-American immigrant women living in San Francisco, who regularly meet to play mahjong and tell stories. Each of them have adult daughters navigating their own experiences growing up in America with Chinese immigrant parents. While The Joy Luck Club is not based on a specific famous woman in history, it’s an endearing narrative on mothers, daughters and the generational divides that can pull them apart, but ultimately the bond between them is timeless and powerful.
Rent/Buy The Joy Luck Club on Amazon.
Happy Women's History Month and happy streaming!
