This year, we have seen more women in action roles than ever before. It seems that the days of the damsel in distress may be numbered as women take to fighting their own battles. Whether it’s with a bow and arrow, a sword, or a black leather body suit, these five women have all found a way to kick some major ass.
With a new generation of young girls in need of some positive role models (as opposed to the Paris Hilton-influenced generation), it seems that there are finally some worthy role models.
This could just be the beginning of a larger trend. All of the films below dominated the box office upon release, three of them ranking in the top five for the year. One can only hope that this will convince Hollywood that people will see films with female heroes.
Princesses who can save themselves. Girls who fight for worthy causes, even if it’s their own freedom. This is what we want to see.
WARNING: The rest of this post contains major spoilers for some of this year’s biggest blockbusters.
5. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
From her breakout role in Winter’s Bone to her turn redefining Mystique in last year’s X-Men: First Class, Jennifer Lawrence has made a name for herself playing strong female characters with real depth. Katniss is no different, and will likely be remembered as one of Lawrence’s defining roles.
Katniss is a fighter, a confident young girl who uses her skills to do whatever she must to win the battle to the death that is the 24th Hunger Games.
One of the great things about The Hunger Games is that Katniss is shown to be more capable than her male competitors time and again. Peta probably wouldn’t have survived the training without her help, not to mention the Games. In addition, Katniss takes out several of the most intimidating male tributes, and isn’t afraid to stand up to any of them.
If we learned anything from The Hunger Games, it’s that girls need to stop worrying about which boy they want to kiss and start worrying about which boy they’re going to save in the coming revolution.
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7 Comments
I’m sorry but this list has to include Black Widow from the Avengers… She should be top of the list, but I also agree with Katniss Everdeen and Elizabeth Shaw :) Not sure if Snow White and Catwoman should be here though – they are very very poor choices.
Its the 74th Hunger Games actually :P :)
U spelled Peeta wrong and katniss should be #1
Disney recent attempts to shift focus from male to female! Ok so beauty and th beast, the little mermaid, sleeping beauty, snow white do they not count. Disney has always promoted strong female leads regardless of the love aspect.
Catwoman is also not a heroin, not in Nolans DKR
So when men are in charge it’s “sexist”, but when woman are in charge it’s not? Not sure about the logic there.
Also Shaw is on no way a memorable character, she’s pretty much a complete copy of Ripley – alas without a brain.
Sorry this list is a joke. Why us snow white on here? Yes she’s an iconic character but there have been other heroines that deserve to be on this list. Also the order on which you placed each heroine is ridiculous, think about what roles that are going to be more iconic and more memorable. In my opinion this is how the lis should be:
1. Catwoman (Anne H.)
2. Katniss (Jennifer L.)
3. Noomi Repace (possibly number 2, debatable)
4. Black Widow (Scarlet J)
5. Merida (Kelly M.)
I agree with some of the other posts. It’s silly that Noomi Rapace is on here and not the Black Widow.