International Women’s Day is a time to honour women's achievements, amplify our voices, and reflect on the ongoing fight for gender equality. Over the years, the number of films highlighting stories about women has grown, adding unique perspectives, inspirational narratives, and challenges to social norms that enrich discussions about what it is like to be a woman in today’s world.
The 10 films below highlight a variety of stories about women's struggles, victories, and complexities, weaving narratives through stories of friendship, love, overcoming adversity, and remaining true to oneself. So, check out 10 of the best films to watch on International Women’s Day, and find out where you can stream them all below!
Steel Magnolias
If you’re looking for a film about the power friendship between women that is both witty and deeply moving, make sure to watch Steel Magnolias. The film 1989 picture features an incredible ensemble cast including Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, and Olympia Dukakis, and takes place in a small town in Louisiana. Shelby (Roberts) is getting married, and her mother (Field), the local beauty parlor owner (Parton), and the rest of the tight-knit community of women are busy at work helping prepare for the celebrations. As the women move through their lives, they face inevitable challenges and rely on each other to get through them.
Little Women
Director Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 19th century novel is one of the best on-screen versions of the story yet. Featuring an ensemble cast including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, and Chris Cooper, Little Women is a coming-of-age drama that remains timeless in its portrayal of sisterhood. Ronan plays Jo, a headstrong aspiring writer who returns home to Concord, Massachusetts, where her sisters Amy (Pugh), Meg (Watson), Beth (Scanlen), and their mother, Marmee (Dern) live after one of them falls sick. The story is a mixture of heartwarming moments between the sisters, flares of jealousy and competitiveness, growing pains in finding love, and acceptance as each sister finds her own path within and outside of societal limitations.
Legally Blonde
Flashing forward to the end of the 20th century, Legally Blonde taught us to bend and snap with the tale of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who decides to attend Harvard Law School to try and win back her ex. But what starts as a conquest, quickly turns into a story of independence, as Elle discovers her natural talent as a lawyer — and that really she doesn’t need that smarmy ex at all. The brilliant cast includes Reese Witherspoon as the ever bubbly Elle, Jennifer Coolidge as Elle’s friend and manicurist Paulette, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, and Matthew Davis.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
The fourth instalment in the Bridget Jones film series dives right back into the delightfully messy world of author Helen Fielding’s flawed heroine. Bridget, played masterfully once again by Renée Zellweger, is now in her 50s and the mother of two young children. Tragically, she is now a widow and the film sees her explore the world of modern dating while still surrounded and ed by her old friends, and even her former cad boss/lover Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). But while Mad About the Boy is as fun as any Bridget Jones film, seeing Bridget bravely stand in a new phase of life — grief and all — is what makes this instalment all the more poignant.
Mulan
If you’re looking for something lighter to watch on International Women’s Day, this empowering Disney film might be just what you’re looking for. Mulan is a strong female protagonist who, after China is invaded by Huns, disguises herself as a man in order to the army in place of her aging father. With the invasion threatening to topple the dynasty, Mulan must learn to trust herself and harness her own power with the help of her friends and ancestors in order to save China.
Alien
With Alien, you get the thrill of watching one of the best horror movies of all time along with the satisfaction of seeing a truly great female protagonist kick some alien behind. Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece stars Sigourney Weaver as the now iconic Ellen Ripley, a crewmember on the Nostromo commercial cruiser. On the way back to Earth, the Nostromo picks up a distress signal from a nearby planet and goes to investigate, discovering too late that a horrifying infestation of alien life there intends on stalking and killing any human in its path.
Tangerine
Oscar-winner Sean Baker’s 2015 film Tangerine explores the lives of two trans sex-workers on Christmas Day in Los Angeles. When Sin-Dee Rella is released from a month in jail, she discovers her boyfriend and pimp Chester has been cheating on her. Together with her friend Alexandra, Sin-Dee Rella sets out to find Chester and his lover and teach them a lesson. Tangerine is filmed entirely with an iPhone 5S, which makes Sin-Dee Rella’s story of friendship and betrayal feel intimate and real. The performances, coupled with the mix of humour and drama set against the backdrop of the reality of the trans experience in Los Angeles, all make Tangerine a truly worthwhile watch.
Barbie
Barbie is director Greta Gerwig’s second feature on this list, and is essentially a fun romp through Feminism 101. The cast includes Margot Robbie as Barbie, Ryan Gosling as Ken, and Will Ferrell as the evil Mattel CEO, along with a host of barbies and kens played by Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Nicola Coughlan, Dua Lipa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, John Cena, and more. The film follows the story of Barbie (Robbie), who goes on a journey of self-discovery after having an existential crisis. After traveling to the real world to search for answers, she meets America Ferrera’s frustrated single mother Gloria, and her daughter Sasha. The three help each other navigate through the despair of crushed dreams, the harsh realities of being a modern woman, and the hope of creating a better future for women and men, both in the real world and back in Barbieland.
Thelma & Louise
Thelma and Louise is nothing if not a feminist classic. Ridley Scott’s film might be from 1991, but the themes of liberation, empowerment, and female friendship remain just as relevant today. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis star as friends Louise, a rebellious waitress, and Thelma, a dutiful housewife, whose worlds are turned upside down when they accidentally kill a would-be attacker during a fishing trip and are forced to go on the run from the law.
Whale Rider
This 2002 film from New Zealand tells the beautiful story of a young girl, Paikea Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes), who hears the call of her destiny to become the leader of her community. While tradition dictates the next leader will be a first-born boy from the village, Pai instinctively knows that she has what it takes and enlists the help of her uncle to teach her what she needs to know — behind the back of her traditionalist grandfather, Koro. Despite only being 13 at the time, Castle-Hughes received a nomination for Best Actress at the 76th Academy Awards for her performance, and the film remains an inspiring story about a young woman breaking with patriarchal tradition despite the challenges for the benefit of the whole community.
Where to watch the best movies to watch on International Women’s Day streaming online
Find out how (and where) to stream the best movies to watch on International Women’s Day online by scrolling down to the list below. The films are all available to stream online across a variety of platforms in the United Kingdom, including ITVX and more!
