5 Oscar-Nominated Movies With Strong Female Leads

With International Women’s Day on March 8 and the Oscars ceremony on March 12, what better way to celebrate and commemorate both days than to catch some of the Oscar-nominated films with strong female leads and characters?

A strong female lead in movies typically refers to a female character who’s capable, independent, and confident. They may have strong convictions and the ability to overcome challenges and obstacles, often serving as a role model for viewers.

A strong female lead can take on many forms, from action heroes to complex, multi-dimensional characters in dramas or comedies. This type of character is usually a departure from traditional female roles in movies, which have historically been more passive or relegated to supporting roles.

Ultimately, a strong female lead is a character defined by their agency rather than by her relationships with others. They may have flaws and vulnerabilities, but eventually, they overcome them, assert their identity, and achieve goals.

Look no further if you’re looking for films involving such characters. We’ve put together a list detailing this for you below. You can also look at this Oscars flowchart for other films worth watching.

1. Women Talking 

Starring Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, and Claire Foy, this drama about a religious U.S. colony discusses some very dark subject matter. Directed by Sarah Polley, the film follows a group of women in a religious colony who have been drugged and raped by the men they live with and the dilemma they face with either having to leave the colony or stay and endure the abuse.

Undoubtedly, the stellar cast carries and portrays the story (inspired by actual events) exceptionally well and with such class.

2. Everything Everywhere All At Once

Everything Everywhere All At Once is admittedly bonkers. While this might not appeal to some, this absurdist comedy-drama has put stars like Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu on the world map. Yeoh stars as an Asian-American laundromat owner who, in the midst of being audited by the IRS, makes an encounter with a version of herself in an alternate universe. She later discovers that she needs to save herself and her family from a malicious otherworldly being.

The film has been lauded as a genre-bending epic and praised for its direction, screenplay, and originality.

3. Tár

Cate Blanchett absolutely stole the show in this film about Lydia Tár, a fictional character posed to be the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. The film focuses on Tár as she navigates being accused of sexual abuse and the psychological trauma resulting from the incident.

4. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The second installment in the Black Panther film series focuses on the strong women surrounding the eponymous Marvel character. Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright led the cast as they attempt to protect their beloved Wakanda from malicious and interfering nations looking to destroy it.

While the storyline was criticized by critics, Bassett, Gurira, and Wright played their characters to perfection, and it was refreshing to see multiple strong women helm the ship in an MCU film.

5. Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris

This feel-good film stars Lesley Manville as Ada Harris, a widowed cleaning lady who falls deeply in love with a couture Dior dress and, after raising money to purchase one, embarks on a whirlwind journey to Paris.

The film, based on a 1958 novel by American author Paul Gallico, is not without its flaws but is an easy watch and one for the dreamers looking to escape reality for a bit.

The Oscar is set to stream worldwide on ABC.com on March 12, 2023.