Most women love watching movies, although they prefer romantic comedies most of the time. Well, it’s understandable because romcoms are easy to identify with. The themes are universal, and the characters are relatable. From time-to-time, however, women like to go out-of-the-box and, well, there are quite a lot of women who go for suspense thrillers, horror films, and even action movies. Here are six movies that a lot of women find interesting to watch for one reason or another.
1. Erin Brockovich
Starring: Julia Roberts
Erin Brockovich is a modern-day heroine. Despite the vulnerability of her situation, she overcomes her weaknesses and learns to fight and survive – not only for her and her family but also for all the victims of a company who values profit more than lives. This is a guaranteed mood and emotion lifter.
2. Fried Green Tomatoes
Starring: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mar Stuart Masterson, and Mary-Louise Parker
Fried Green Tomatoes is the story of friends Ruth and Idgie back in the Depression era. It also tells the story of Ruth and Idgie’s friend Ninny and her friendship with a housewife named Evelyn. The second story takes place in the 80s. Ruth’s husband Frank abuses her, but he is murdered later on. This is one of the biggest conflicts of the movie. Fried Green Tomatoes is based on Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café”.
3. Clueless
Starring: Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd
Clueless is a film loosely based on “Emma”, the well-loved novel by literary great Jane Austen. It tells the story of Cher Horowitz (Silverstone), a wealthy girl who is popular in school. When a new student arrives at her school, Cher befriends her and helps her transform by doing a makeover. Eventually, her new friend becomes more popular than her. Somehow, this makes Cher realize how superficial she has been all along. This also makes her discover one thing about herself: that she was falling in love with her ex-stepbrother Josh (Rudd). It’s a fun movie that makes you feel good about yourself – and about love.
4. The Queen
Starring: Helen Mirren
The Queen is sort of like a behind-the-scenes account of the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. It particularly focuses on how the Royal Family responded to the Princess’ death. It shows a queen staying firm and strong despite the many negative accusations thrown at her. This is perfect for everyone who closely followed the life of the late princess, as well as for women who want to know how The Queen overcame the obstacles that she and the rest of the family had to go through after Diana’s death.
5. Eat Pray Love
Starring: Julia Roberts
If you’re looking for an inspiring movie for women, one that features a strong and independent character, Eat Pray Love should be first on the list. Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, the movie tells the story of Gilbert’s journey to self-discovery after she decides to take risks and go out of her comfort zone. After divorcing her husband, Gilbert journeys around the world to find and re-discover herself. Her most meaningful journeys were in Italy, where she discovered the wonders of eating; India, where she learned about how strong prayers were; and Indonesia, where she finally found two of the most important things she was looking for: true love and inner peace. Read the book and watch the movie. You won’t regret doing both as Gilbert inspires, especially those who are currently in the dark path.
6. Mona Lisa Smile
Starring: Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Ginnifer Goodwin
Mona Lisa Smile is set in the 1950s, when women had to follow certain social roles. It is about art history teacher Katherine Ann Watson, who encourages her female students to break away from their traditional role in society and follow their dreams. At that time, women were not allowed to explore their potentials or to hold high positions in society; they are expected to get married even after completing their education. Watson’s modern thinking is not popular among most of her students, but some of them listen and eventually learn.
These may not all be Oscar-winning movies, but they certainly deserve to be on the list. These movies capture the essence of being a woman. They explore, discover, and promote the unique talents of many women. Best of all, they inspire women to make a difference, to take action, and to be heard in the world.