These movies about women who followed their hearts and achieved their goals will inspire you to create and live the life of your dreams! These movies about strong protagonists are more than “chick flicks” - and yet they’re still perfect for watching with your girlfriends, or even by yourself with a big bowl of popcorn and a couple cans of Diet Dr. Pepper.
“Dreams are necessary to life,” wrote Anais Nin in the Diary of Anais Nin.
Don’t let go of your dreams - whether you want to be a million-dollar boxer (click on the image to learn more about Hilary Swank and Clink Eastwood’s Academy Award winning movie) or an FBI agent (like Jodie Foster’s role, below). You may not be following your dreams right now because of other things in your life - but in a month, or a year, or even 10 years, it’ll be your time.
Let these movies about inspirational women who followed their dreams be your anchor. By the way, these movies are excellent birthday and holiday gift ideas for the sisters, best friends, aunts, nieces, and girlfriends in your life!
Movies About Strong Women Who Followed Their Dreams
To learn more about any of these movies, click the blue links.
Miss Potter
- This movie starring Rene Zellweger is based on the life of Beatrix Potter, the author and illustrator of the Petter Cottontail books for kids. Miss Potter’s life may surprise you: a single woman in her 30’s in the 1930’s , she created her books, met with publishers, and pursued a relationship with a man - to the chagrin of her high society mother. She also purchased land became a respected farmer. Her books are read (and loved) all over the world today.
Charlie’s Angels
- This is one of my all-time favorite movies about strong women protagonists! Yes, it’s very Hollywood and campy, but I love how strong and yet vulnerable (and sometimes stupid) Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu are in this movie. They kick some serious butt, and their strength and brains should inspire women to pursue their own goals and passions.
Thelma and Louise
- No list of the best movies about strong women who followed their dreams would be complete without Thelma and Louise, starring Gina Davis and Susan Sarandon! Even my husband thought this was a damn fine movie - these two women face their demons and head off on an adventure that gets out of control, but proves how strong they really are.
Million Dollar Baby
- Hilary Swank stars as Maggie Fitzgerald, an aspiring boxer who fights prejudice and other women to win, win, win. She is determined to succeed, and pursues a top boxing trainer (Clint Eastwood), who initially says “I don’t train girls.” He eventually agrees to train her. Million Dollar Baby one of the best movies about strong women who followed their dreams. Caveat: it’s a bit of a tear-jerker.
The Silence of the Lambs
- FBI agent-in-training Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster) has to face an insane killer (Anthony Hopkins) to find another murderer. Starling is a strong female protagonist who shows a balance of strength and vulnerability….and succeeds in her mission.
Gone With the Wind
- This epic was first made in 1939 - and it’s not just a saga of romance, civil war, and slavery. Vivien Leigh plays Scarlett O’Hara, who desperately fought to save her plantation, her friends and family, and her life. She also wrestled with romance - who could resist Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable? This movie is about several strong women who followed their dreams: Scarlett, Melanie, and even writer Margaret Mitchell (it took her 10 years to write the book!).
Maverick
- I love Maverick, starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson, because it’s witty, hilarious, and portroys Annabelle (Foster) as a mostly smart, scheming (in a good way), adventurous woman. It’s a western, set in a time that women weren’t playing poker or gallavanting all over the countryside - but that doesn’t stop Annabelle! (To my darling hubby: if you’re reading this, I’d love Maverick as a Christmas or birthday present!).
The Matrix
- Trinity, played by Carrie-Ann Moss, can beat ‘em up just as good as Neo (Keanu Reeves). Remember that scene where they’re both in slick black leather and long black coats, tearing the building apart and flipping all over the place? Fabulous! This is definitely a movie about a strong woman who followed her heart (among a few other things).
Mr & Mrs Smith
- I loved this movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt! They’re both strong, slightly insane assassins (married to each other) who are equally able to do whatever the hell they want - including killing each other. Jolie is tough, smart, and almost unbeatable. Sexy, too!
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider
- Though the Tomb Raider movies - again starring Angelina Jolie - are a little weak and unbelievable, I do love that first fight scene. Croft shoots, kicks, and tears apart a huge robot, and eventually wins - though it gets a little dicey. It turns out that she was just practicing. What I love about that is the idea of shedding blood, sweat, and tears to get better and better at what you want to do. If that isn’t a movie about strong women who followed their dreams, I don’t know what is.
If you have any movies about strong female protagonists who make their dreams come true, please do comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
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