Action movies are a dime a dozen, but really good ones only come around every now and then. Rarer still are good action movies that are led by compelling heroines, so here’s our countdown of the ten best leading ladies from action movie history.
Storm
Storm is one of the best parts of the original X-Men movie, thanks to her weather-shaping powers and stony disposition. Halle Berry brings a regal, unwavering quality to the character that makes her an easy center of attention, and the Storm only gets better in the excellent sequel, X2.
Leeloo
Milla Jovovich spent about ten years modeling high fashion before she decided to absolutely rock the silver screen as an action movie star in The Fifth Element. Her take on the innocent-yet-vicious Leeloo played off excellently against Bruce Willis’s gruff Korben Dallas. Jovovich would parlay this awesome action role into her starring turn as Alice in the (admittedly terrible) Resident Evil films.
Okoye
Danai Gurira made a huge impact in her first outing as the Wakandan warrior Okoye. As one of the legendary Midnight Angels, she brings a huge shot of gravitas and humor to Black Panther that makes her an awesome addition to the ensemble cast.
Rey
The lovable scavenger from Jakku, Rey, is played by Daisy Ridley in the Star Wars sequel films. She’s determined, kind-hearted, thoughtful, and, ultimately, exactly the kind of hero who will save the day despite the odds. She’s never cruel or thoughtless and always looks out for her friends, even helping bring Ben Solo back from the brink of the Dark Side and redeeming him in his final moments.
Sarah Connor
Sarah Connor is arguably the most important character in the Terminator franchise, and Linda Hamilton and Lena Headey have both played the character excellently. Hamilton’s take on Sarah envisioned her as an improvisational survivor capable of adapting to danger and rising to any challenge. Headey’s take, meanwhile, showed an older Sarah who was world-weary but still determined to beat Skynet, no matter the cost.
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson’s turn as the Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is integral to the Avengers as a team. Her grounding influence as a no-nonsense spy helps give the heroes a reality check. And, despite having no superpowers of her own, Natasha Romanoff always finds ways to keep up with the gang.
Beatrix Kiddo
In Quentin Tarantino’s excellent Kill Bill duology, Uma Thurman plays “The Bride,” Beatrix Kiddo. Kiddo is wronged by her lover, Bill, and left for dead after a massacre at the church they planned to get married at. Her bloody, brutal revenge story is wild, cathartic, and endlessly entertaining.
Furiosa
Charlize Theron and Anya Taylor-Joy have both portrayed the fiery, intense hero Furiosa in George Miller’s Mad Max franchise. Ironically, despite the name of the franchise, the past two entries have been all about Furiosa, her rise to becoming an Imperator, and her righteous quest to offer freedom to the women of the wasteland. She’s an avenging angel in the flesh and nothing can stop her from achieving her destiny.
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Princess Leia
Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia is one of the most iconic characters in the history of Hollywood. Her importance to women and girls has been talked about to death, so, instead, let’s look at a fun fact about the Princess of Alderaan. While Leia misses a few shots in the missing bridge scene on the Death Star, after this moment she never misses a single shot again in the entire franchise. Boom, take that, Stormtroopers!
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Ellen Ripley
There are a lot of things that make the first two Alien movies so special. The special effects, the claustrophobic direction, and the taut pacing all make them unforgettable. But the real secret weapon in the movies’ arsenals is Sigourney Weaver, who plays the unforgettable, unshakable sci-fi hero Ripley.
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