It's no secret that male superheroes dominate the box office. However, there are exceptional female characters who are well worth some solo screen time. It may have taken a bit of time, but female superhero flicks have had major success with audiences, and luckily, there are still more to come.

Despite male superheroes like Superman and Spider-Man hogging the spotlight for some time now, there are several female superhero movies out there that deserve more attention, such as Black Widow and Captain Marvel. Whether movies led by a female character or films where a female character has an especially prominent role, they've met increased success and have developed loyal fanbases.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 28, 2024: In the age of superhero movies, female heroes are finally getting the representation that they deserve. The MCU and DCU are committed to bringing more female superheroes to the big screen in their own films, with projects like The Marvels and the upcoming Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. While not every female-led superhero film has been well-received, some show just how terrific the prospect can be.

20 Thunder Force (2021) Is a Feel-Good Movie

Runtime: 1h 46m

Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer pose in Thunder Force Film Poster
Thunder Force
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Comedy

In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that gives them powers to protect their city.

Director
Ben Falcone
Release Date
April 9, 2021
Cast
Melissa McCarthy , Octavia Spencer , Jason Bateman , Bobby Cannavale
Writers
Ben Falcone
Runtime
106 minutes
Main Genre
Adventure
Related
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

4.5

22%

34%

Starring amazing actresses Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy, Thunder Force follows two unlikely superheroines, Emily and Lydia (aka Thunder Force), as they step up to protect Earth. Emily, a scientist, creates a serum to obtain superpowers, and after a period of training, the two women face the Miscreants, a group of supervillains that terrorize the city.

Thunder Force received very negative reviews, but the movie is a lighthearted yet innovative approach to the superhero genre, as it defies the usual stereotype of superheroes portrayed on television. The movie isn't only hilarious, but it also teaches people that everyone can be a superhero. While the film may be funny, it still isn't quite the empowering superhero story that some fans wanted it to be.

Thunder Force - Emily and Lydia wearing their super suits

19 The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002) Is a Timeless Classic

Runtime: 1h 20m

The Powerpuff Girls Movie Film Poster
The Powerpuff Girls Movie
PG
Animation
Action
Adventure

After destroying the city of Townsville in a game of tag, a trio of super-powered little girls must redeem themselves by stopping a vengeful monkey's plot for world domination.

Director
Craig McCracken
Release Date
July 3, 2002
Cast
Cathy Cavadini , Tara Strong , Elizabeth Daily , Roger Jackson
Writers
Charlie Bean , Lauren Faust , Craig McCracken
Runtime
73 minutes
Main Genre
Animation

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.5

64%

65%

The Powerpuff Girls Movie hit theaters in 2002 after the hit animated television series' huge success. The movie and series followed the lives of superhero sisters Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. In the film, it was finally revealed just how the three girls obtained their superhero powers and joined forces as the Powerpuff Girls to save the day.

The Powerpuff Girls united to stop the evil mutant monkey Mojo Jojo from taking over the world. With a combined force of flight, super strength, laser powers, and sonic abilities, the Powerpuff Girls are without a doubt one of the strongest superhero trios, which is exactly what viewers witnessed on the big screen.

Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup flying in The Powerpuff Girls

18 Supergirl (1984) Is the Most Iconic Adaptation of This Character

Runtime: 2h 30m

Supergirl 1984 Film Poster
Supergirl (1984)
PG
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Fantasy

After losing a powerful orb, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.

Director
Jeannot Szwarc
Release Date
November 21, 1984
Cast
Helen Slater , Faye Dunaway , Peter O'Toole , Mia Farrow
Writers
David Odell
Runtime
124 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero
Related
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

4.4

8%

41%

1984's Supergirl loosely adapted the comic character in the movie universe established by the Superman films. The movie explored the story of Kara from the Kryptonian Argo City. She arrived on Earth and posed as Clark Kent's cousin, Linda Lee. Supergirl was sent on a quest to recover the Omegahedron power source from an evil sorceress on Earth.

Supergirl was dated and extremely campy, but it was also the first-ever mainstream superhero film to feature a woman in the lead role. Thanks to Helen Slater's superb portrayal of Supergirl, the movie shined in all the best ways and took its place at an important moment in film history. In many ways, Supergirl opened the door for future female-led superhero movies to be made--even if it took a few decades for it to happen.

Helen Slater as Supergirl standing in front of a lake.

17 Tank Girl (1995) Is An Amazing Female Superhero

Runtime: 1h 44m

Tank Girl Film Poster
Tank Girl
R
Action
Comedy
Sci-Fi
Director
Rachel Talalay
Release Date
March 31, 1995
Cast
Lori Petty , Ice-T , Naomi Watts , Malcolm McDowell
Writers
Alan Martin , Jamie Hewlett , Tedi Sarafian
Runtime
104 minutes
Main Genre
Sci-Fi

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

5.4

45%

46%

In the year 2033, an evil and powerful man took over a desolate Earth in 1995's cinematic adaptation of Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett's Tank Girl. A pair of outlaws known as Tank Girl and Jet Girl, played by Lori Petty and Naomi Watts, rose to the occasion and fought to destroy the corrupt system.

Tank Girl puts the titular female hero's abilities at the forefront and represents the true essence of a female lead. Although neither character possesses superhuman abilities, it's their vast knowledge of technology and combat paired with their determination that allows them to rise up and win.

Medium Close up of Lori Petty looking concerned in Tank Girl.

16 Elektra (2005) Is a Fantastic Anti-Hero Story

Runtime: 1h 44m

The Elektra film poster featuring Elektra holding her twin sais in front of a white and red background.
Elektra
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Crime

Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins.

Director
Rob Bowman
Release Date
January 14, 2005
Cast
Jennifer Garner , Goran Visnjic , Will Yun Lee , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Writers
Mark Steven Johnson , Frank Miller , Zak Penn
Runtime
97 minutes
Main Genre
Action

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

4.7

11%

34%

Jennifer Garner starred in 2005's Elektra, following the character's cinematic debut in 2003's Daredevil film alongside Ben Affleck. She became a love interest of the Marvel superhero, but she faced her death at the hands of one of Daredevil's strongest and deadliest villains, Bullseye. Elektra survived, but her violent traits and vengeful mission kept her separated from her love.

Elektra followed the assassin-for-hire as she received a task that finally activated her conscience. She decided to protect a young target rather than take them out. While the spinoff didn't win any awards, Elektra depicted a strong female superhero in her own film, which wasn't something fans got to see much at the time. Much to many fans' excitement, Jennifer Garner's Elektra may return in Deadpool 3.

Elektra (Jennifer Garner) practices with her twin sais in Elektra

15 The New Mutants (2020) Introduced Powerful Female Mutants

Runtime:1h 34m

The New Mutants film poster features the cast with the films title graffitied over them.
The New Mutants
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Horror
Mystery

Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.

Director
Josh Boone
Release Date
August 28, 2020
Cast
Maisie Williams , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlie Heaton , Alice Braga , Blu Hunt , Adam Beach
Writers
Josh Boone , Knate Lee
Runtime
94 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero
2:55
Related
Top 35 Best Superhero and Comic Book Movies
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Ranking

Metacritic Ranking

5.3

36%

43%

After the film spent a couple of years on the shelf, Disney finally released The New Mutants into theaters in 2020. It introduced the supposed next generation of Fox's X-Men to the big screen, along with a few more powerful female mutants.

Illyana Rasputin/Magik (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) joined Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane (played by Maisie Williams) and Dani Moonstar/Mirage (played by Blu Hunt), some of the scariest New Mutants members to appear in the movie. While fans likely won't see them return anytime soon, The New Mutants still impressed some long-time fans of the comic characters. Even so, the film's muted story and nearly unidentifiable place in the X-Men franchise failed its characters, leaving few reasons for audiences to remember The New Mutants after its release.

14 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) Shows Jean Grey's Strength

Runtime: 1h 44m

The cast lead by Wolverine and Storm walk towards the camera in front of a stormy sky on the X-Men The Last Stand Poster
X-Men: The Last Stand
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Superhero
6
10

The human government develops a cure for mutations, and Jean Gray becomes a darker uncontrollable persona called the Phoenix who allies with Magneto, causing escalation into an all-out battle for the X-Men.

Director
Brett Ratner
Release Date
May 26, 2006
Cast
Famke Janssen , Hugh Jackman , Halle Berry , Patrick Stewart , Ian McKellen , James Marsden , Anna Paquin , Kelsey Grammer , Rebecca Romijn , Shawn Ashmore
Writers
Simon Kinberg , Zak Penn
Runtime
104 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.6

57%

58%

Jean Grey's transformation into the villainous Dark Phoenix carried the focus of 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. As one of the most powerful mutants to exist, Jean Grey's enhanced powers as the Phoenix made her essentially unstoppable. The Phoenix nearly destroyed all of San Francisco and tried killing Wolverine before she was stopped.

X-Men: The Last Stand also had a compelling storyline about a mutant cure that led to war between the followers of Professor Xavier and of Magneto. However, it was Dark Phoenix's appearance in the film that really captivated fans and helped bring the storyline of the original trilogy to an end. While some fans have come around to the film in recent years, its female characters still aren't always represented all that well, with the male heroes mostly driving the heroes' mission.

Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) as the Phoenix preparing for destruction in X-Men: The Last Stand

13 Suicide Squad (2016) Introduced Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn

Runtime: 2h 10m

The team on the poster for Suicide Squad 2016
Suicide Squad
R
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Superhero
7
10

A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission: save the world from the apocalypse.

Director
David Ayer
Release Date
August 5, 2016
Cast
Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Will Smith , Ike Barinholtz , Jared Leto , David Harbour
Writers
David Ayer , John Ostrander
Runtime
123 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

5.9

26%

40%

Suicide Squad wasn't quite female-led, but it also wasn't much of a superhero film, either. However, it featured a cast of DC villains that included Margot Robbie's scene-stealing Harley Quinn. The Suicide Squad was an imprisoned supervillain group that executed missions to save the world in exchange for reduced sentences.

Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. The character quickly became a fan favorite, which led to her debut in the comics. Harley Quinn's popularity led to her ongoing appearances in spinoffs and her return as one of the main characters in 2021's The Suicide Squad sequel.

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn is wielding her mallet in Suicide Squad

12 Kick-Ass (2010)'s Hit-Girl Is the Star of the Film

Runtime: 1h 57m

Kick-Ass Film Poster
Kick-Ass
R
Action
Comedy
Crime

Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

Director
Matthew Vaughn
Release Date
April 16, 2010
Studio
Lionsgate, Universal Pictures
Cast
Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Nicolas Cage , Chloe Grace Moretz , Garrett M. Brown , Clark Duke , Evan Peters
Writers
Jane Goldman , Matthew Vaughn , Mark Millar
Runtime
117 minutes
Main Genre
Action
Related
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

7.6

77%

66%

2010's Kick-Ass adapted Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s comic of the same name. It brought the titular teenage hero to the big screen as Dave Lizewski masked up to carry out some street justice. While Kick-Ass found his way as a new hero, the real star of the film was Chloë Grace Moretz and her portrayal of Hit-Girl.

Mindy McCready was raised by her superhero father Big Daddy to become an elite costumed assassin. Hit-Girl eventually took the much older Kick-Ass under her wing and trained him as her partner in the 2013 sequel Kick-Ass 2. Now, the character is set to return in Matthew Vaughn's rebooted trilogy.

Chloe Grace Moretz as Hit Girl preparing to fight in Kick Ass

Runtime: 1h 49m

Art-style poster of Birds of Prey (2020) with Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Birds of Prey
R
Comedy
Crime
Superhero

After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroines Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

Release Date
January 25, 2020
Director
Cathy Yan
Cast
Margot Robbie , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Rosie Perez , Ali Wong , Ewan McGregor , Jurnee Smollett-Bell , Ella Jay Basco , Chris Messina
Runtime
109 minutes
Writers
Christina Hodson

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.1

78%

60%

Margot Robbie reprised the role of Harley Quinn in 2020's Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The stand-alone spinoff was later re-titled as the less wordy Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey to further emphasize Quinn's central role.

Birds of Prey explored Harley's independence after her separation from the Joker. She allied herself with other DC heroes like Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to face off with Ewan McGregor's Black Mask as DC's first female-led cinematic team.

Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) belts out a big note in a musical fantasy sequence in Birds of Prey.

10 Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Further Developed This Superheroine

Runtime: 2h 31m

Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
8
10

Diana must contend with a work colleague, and with a businessman whose desire for extreme wealth sends the world down a path of destruction, after an ancient artifact that grants wishes goes missing.

Director
Patty Jenkins
Release Date
December 25, 2020
Cast
Gal Gadot , Chris Pine , Kristen Wiig , Pedro Pascal
Writers
Patty Jenkins , Geoff Johns , Dave Callaham , William Moulton Marston
Runtime
151 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero
Related
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

5.4

58%

60%

Gal Gadot returned as Diana Prince for Patty Jenkins' 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984. The first female-led solo superhero sequel took place in the DCEU's past. Wonder Woman encountered a few of her greatest comics villains, Maxwell Lord and Cheetah.

Wonder Woman also received more time with Chris Pine's Steve Trevor in the sequel. However, the character literally shined when she wore her new golden Amazonian armor. Wonder Woman 1984 didn't resonate with fans as much as the original, but it still added something new to the DCEU. Even so, the film's negative reception led to some trepidation in DC greenlighting Wonder Woman 3, which was eventually placed on indefinite hold after James Gunn took over the franchise.

Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) flying through the sky in Wonder Woman 1984

9 Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Gave Mighty Thor the Spotlight

Runtime: 1h 59m

Thor: Love and Thunder poster
Thor: Love and Thunder
Superhero

The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Directed by Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, “Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in theaters July 8, 2022.

Release Date
July 8, 2022
Director
Taika Waititi
Cast
Chris Hemsworth , Tessa Thompson , Natalie Portman , Christian Bale , Russell Crowe , Taika Waititi , Karen Gillan , Matt Damon , ​Chris Pratt2 , Melissa McCarthy , Jaimie Alexander , Sean Gunn , Luke Hemsworth , Sam Neill
Studio
Marvel Studios
Writers
Taika Waititi , Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Franchise
Marvel Cinematic Universe

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.2

63%

57%

People first met Jane Forster (played by Natalie Portman) in Thor (2011), the scientist who accidentally encounters the God of Thunder and who later develops a romance with Thor. Thor: Love and Thunder, however, allows Jane to shine with a superhero arc of her own when the scientist picks up the Mjölnir, which turns her into the Mighty Thor.

Mighty Thor and Thor work together in Thor: Love and Thunder to stop Gorr the God Butcher. The film disappointed Marvel fans as it didn't portray the complexity of Jane and Gorr's characters as well as the comics did, but Jane Foster still has an inspiring and harrowing story arc that many viewers loved. Unfortunately for fans of her character, Jane dies at the end of Love and Thunder, bringing her superhero career to an early end.

Jane Foster as Mighty Thor shares an intimate moment with Thor in the MCU's Thor: Love & Thunder

8 Eternals (2021) Created More Emotionally Complex Superheroes for the MCU

Runtime: 2h 37m

The cast on the poster for Marvel's Eternals
Eternals
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Superhero
7
10

The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.

Director
Chloé Zhao
Release Date
November 5, 2021
Cast
Angelina Jolie , Gemma Chan , Richard Madden , Salma Hayek , Kit Harington , Kumail Nanjiani , Lia McHugh , Brian Tyree Henry
Writers
Chloé Zhao , Patrick Burleigh , Ryan Firpo
Runtime
156 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.3

47%

52%

Directed by Chloé Zhao, Eternals introduced a new group of superheroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Eternals are an alien race sent to Earth to protect the planet from the Deviants, but soon, they discover that their mission on Earth isn't as straightforward as they thought and have to question what role they want to play in a new cosmic war.

While the movie follows the development of ten different characters, it focuses mainly on Sersi, portrayed by Gemma Chan. She's the Eternal with a stronger connection with humanity, and it's mostly up to her to stop Arishem's evil agenda. Sersi is a complex hero who shows that powerful beings are also vulnerable. The film also introduces several other compelling female heroes, including Salma Hayek's Ajak, Angelina Jolie's Thena, and Lauren Ridloff's Makkari.

7 The Suicide Squad (2021) Corrected the Wrongs of the Previous Film

Runtime: 2h 12m

Idris Elba, Margo Robbie and John Cena front and center in The Suicide Squad Movie Poster
The Suicide Squad
R
Action-Adventure

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Release Date
August 8, 2021
Director
James Gunn
Cast
Margot Robbie , Idris Elba , John Cena , Sylvester Stallone , Viola Davis , Joel Kinnaman
Main Genre
Superhero
Where to watch
HBO Max

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes

Metacritic Rating

7.2

90%

72%

James Gunn directed the sequel/reboot to David Ayer’s Suicide Squad which hit theaters in 2021. The Suicide Squad went above and beyond the original in both quality and scope as Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, and Captain Boomerang returned with a new team of expendable villains on a mission for Amanda Waller.

The team’s resident wild card Harley Quinn had some of the best scenes in the film, on her own and with the team. However, it was actually Daniela Melchior's Ratcatcher 2 who shined as the heart of this over-the-top and hilarious female-led roster for The Suicide Squad, which is easily one of the DCEU's best films.

Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) in Suicide Squad 2 summoning her rats, which completely surround her

Runtime: 1h 58m

Ant-Man and the Wasp Film Poster
Ant-Man and the Wasp
PG-13
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi

As Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.

Release Date
July 6, 2018
Director
Peyton Reed
Cast
Paul Rudd , Evangeline Lilly , Michael Pena , Walton Goggins , Bobby Cannavale , Judy Greer
Runtime
118 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero
Studio
Marvel Studios
Related
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IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

7.0

87%

70%

While Ant-Man and The Wasp didn't focus solely on the female half of the superhero duo, it was promoted as a female-fronted Marvel movie. Ant-Man and The Wasp remained one of the only MCU movies with a female character's name in the title.

Despite sharing the screen with Ant-Man, the Wasp definitely impressed fans and could easily take on a solo film in the future. The Wasp had incredible abilities like size manipulation, flight, bio-electric energy blasts, and telepathic insect control. She proved herself a force to be reckoned with, which hyped up fans for her return in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. The Wasp's introduction also opened the floodgates for more female-driven superhero stories in the MCU, especially after Ant-Man and the Wasp's positive reception in comparison to other similar films.

Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) as The Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp

5 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Brought the Multiverse

Runtime: 2h 6m

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Movie Poster
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness
PG-13
Superhero
7
10

Benedict Cumberbatch's Master of the Mystic Arts returns in Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Director
Sam Raimi
Release Date
May 6, 2022
Studio
Marvel Studios
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch , Elizabeth Olsen , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Xochitl Gomez , Benedict Wong , Rachel McAdams , Patrick Stewart
Writers
Michael Waldron
Runtime
126 minutes
Tagline
Enter a new dimension of Strange. The possibilities are Madness.
Main Genre
Superhero
Franchise
Marvel Cinematic Universe

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.9

73%

60%

The second installment in the Doctor Strange series, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduces America Chavez, a girl with the ability to open multidimensional portals. Because of her ability, Wanda was trying to kill her so she could reunite with her children in another universe.

Played by Xochitl Gomez, America Chavez has already established herself as a fan-favorite female hero in the MCU. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shows that America is a ferocious and clever hero, and this is surely only the beginning of her journey, as the MCU is seemingly laying the path for Young Avengers.

America Chavez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Runtime: 2h 13m

Natasha Romanoff and the cast on the poster for Black Widow
Black Widow
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
9
10

Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.

Director
Cate Shortland
Release Date
July 9, 2021
Cast
Scarlett Johansson , Florence Pugh , Rachel Weisz , David Harbour
Writers
Eric Pearson , Jac Schaeffer , Ned Benson
Runtime
134 minutes
Main Genre
Action

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.7

79%

68%

2021's Black Widow was the long-awaited solo film for one of the original Avengers, Natasha Romanoff. The events of Black Widow took place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War as Natasha found herself on the run from the government because of the Sokovia Accords.

Natasha reunited with her sister Yelena and the rest of her former Russian sleeper agent family to bring down the Red Room organization that turned her into a Black Widow. Her solo film gave the character a final redemptive mission before her demise in Avengers: Endgame that helped fans get some closure over her loss.

Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssen) climbs up the side of a building in the Black Widow movie.

3 Captain Marvel (2019) Shows One of the Most Powerful Heroes in the MCU

Runtime: 2h 4m

Carol Danvers with a blue and red background on the poster for Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
Superhero
9
10

Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.

Director
Anna Boden , Ryan Fleck
Release Date
March 8, 2019
Studio
Marvel
Cast
Brie Larson , Samuel L. Jackson , Jude Law , Clark Gregg , Djimon Hounsou , Gemma Chan , Ben Mendelsohn , Lashana Lynch
Writers
Anna Boden , Ryan Fleck , Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Runtime
123 minutes
Main Genre
Superhero

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.8

79%

64%

Captain Marvel followed the character of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), a former U.S.A.F. pilot who gained incredible powers before she lost her memory and was inducted into an alien military. Danvers wasn't only a talented pilot and experienced soldier, but she also possessed superhuman strength, invulnerability, the power of flight, and the ability to generate intense levels of energy.

These abilities made her one of the strongest Marvel superheroes in the MCU. Captain Marvel was caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Captain Marvel will always have the distinction of being the first completely female-fronted MCU film, which led to her impactful presence in the Avengers movies.

Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) unleashes her full power for the first time in Captain Marvel

2 Wonder Woman (2017) Is the Perfect Origin Story

Runtime: 2h 21m

Gal Gadot in the Wonder Woman 2017 movie poster
Wonder Woman
PG13
Superhero
Action-Adventure

When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

Release Date
May 26, 2017
Director
Patty Jenkins
Cast
Gal Gadot , Chris Pine , Robin Wright , Danny Huston , David Thewlis
Runtime
141 minutes
Studio
Warner Bros.

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

7.4

93%

76%

2017's solo Wonder Woman film continues to be the template for how to film a female-led superhero movie properly. The origin of Diana, Princess of the Amazons, explored her training to be a powerful warrior before Wonder Woman discovered her powers while fighting during the First World War.

Wonder Woman possesses superhuman strength, flight, durability, agility, and speed, which make her one of the biggest superhero threats of all time. Not only was the film critically acclaimed, but the massive success behind Wonder Woman led to the character being the first female superhero to have a solo franchise following the release of WW84.

Gal Gadot crosses her arms as Wonder Woman in the DCEU

1 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) Is a Beautiful Story About Love and Grief

Runtime: 2h 41m

Wakanda Forever Poster
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
PG-13
Drama
Action
Superhero
Adventure

The sequel to 2018's Black Panther arrives as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed again by Ryan Coogler. King T'Challa has passed, and Wakanda is in mourning for their fallen monarch. Led by the Queen Mother and Princess in his stead, the nation now seeks a path forward in a world post-Thanos and a lineage with no Black Panther to protect them. But not even this nation is given time to grieve; as an ancient underwater civilization, Talocan has risen to invade Wakanda for reasons unknown. Now the uncertain country must band together and align with new allies to take a stand and ensure that Wakanda will live to prosper. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the final film in the fourth phase of Marvel's Cinematic Universe and will take place at the latest point in the timeline. Wakanda Forever will release in movie theaters on November 11 2022, with Disney+ in the far future.

Release Date
November 11, 2022
Director
Ryan Coogler
Cast
Winston Duke , Dominique Thorne , Michaela Coel , Danai Gurira , Angela Bassett , Lupita Nyong'o , Letitia Wright , Martin Freeman
Main Genre
Superhero
Writers
Ryan Coogler , Joe Robert Cole
Franchise
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Prequel
Black Panther

IMDb Rating

Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Metacritic Rating

6.7

83%

67%

After the death of her brother T'Challa, Shuri inherits the Black Panther mantle. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a film about love, grief, and how to become a superhero in the face of a tragedy. In the end, Shuri embraces her pain as she becomes the leader her people need.

Shuri, in her role of Black Panther, is definitely one of the best female superheroes in the media. Her character is both a hero and a leader in a difficult situation, and the MCU perfectly portrays her emotional journey. What's more, Shuri is the female POC superhero that the MCU was sorely lacking. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may be the best film for female representation in recent memory, both in and out of the superhero genre.