17 Movies That Actually Did The "Strong Female Character" Trope Right, According To Fans

    "Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler in Jurassic Park. Seeing a strong woman in science at such a young age had a profound impact on me, and I truly think it's one of the reasons I am a scientist today."

    Kristen Harris
    by Kristen Harris

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The idea of a "strong female character" sounds good on paper, but onscreen, such characters are often defined by only their physical strength. For example, She-Hulk actor Tatiana Maslany told the Guardian that she was irritated by the trope "because it’s reductive." She said, "It's just as much a shaving off of all the nuances, and just as much of a trope. It's a box that nobody fits into. Even the phrase is frustrating. It's as if we're supposed to be grateful that we get to be that."

    Close-up of Tatiana in She-Hulk
    Marvel Studios / Disney+ / Via youtube.com

    Recently, redditor u/carlories asked, "What movie did the 'strong female' trope right?"

    Here are 17 of the top answers:

    1. Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson in Fargo.

    Close-up of Frances as the police officer Marge
    Gramercy Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/AdOk1965

    "Agree 100%. Marge Gunderson's not a supersleuth like on CSI or Criminal Minds. Her relationship with Norm is one of my favorite parts of the movie. Her genuine joy when she finds out he got his duck on the stamp is incredible."

    —u/afriendincanada

    2. Tia Carrere as Nani in Lilo & Stitch.

    Animated characters in a raft
    Disney / Via Disney+

    —u/AdOk1965

    "Nani is the best female character Disney has ever written. She’s 19, also dealing with the grief of losing her parents, and she’s giving up her dreams and working so she can take care of her little sister. Proper strong."

    —u/hearsesong

    3. Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.

    Close-up of Jodie as Clarice
    Orion Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/artpayne

    "Yes. There is so much Clarice had to deal with concerning men not taking her seriously all through the storyline. Then she figures it out with her bestie."

    —u/ColorfulEgg

    4. Rachel Weisz as Evie in The Mummy.

    Close-up of Rachel
    Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/AmoebaGal

    "This movie and this character were the first time I felt like I could relate to a female character in an action movie. I felt seen. She needs help, but she's not helpless. And she is the one who really kills the mummy in the end too. The only one who was educated and studied enough to read the correct passage from the book. Love that movie."

    —u/ecstaticegg

    5. The entire cast of Fried Green Tomatoes.

    Four cast members: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary-Louise Parker, and Mary Stuart Masterson
    Archive Photos / Getty Images

    "Fried Green Tomatoes gives you a selection of them."

    —u/cmerry

    6. The entire cast of Steel Magnolias.

    Tri-Star Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "So does Steel Magnolias."

    —u/Big_Green_Tick

    7. Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

    Reese as Elle at a desk
    MGM / Via youtube.com

    —u/beepbeepboop74656

    "I love this one because it's a great deconstruction of how more feminine interests and hobbies are perceived. A girl can be ultra feminine, be super into stuff like fashion and tiny dogs, and carry herself in a certain way and still be clearly intelligent and capable."

    —u/sylinmino

    8. Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family.

    Close-up of Anjelica as Morticia
    Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/AdOk1965

    9. Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler in Jurassic Park.

    Close-up of Laura as Dr Sattler
    Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "Seeing a strong woman in science at such a young age had a profound impact on me, and I truly think it's one of the reasons I am a scientist today."

    —u/mmart482

    10. Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny.

    Close-up of Marisa as Mona
    20th Century Fox / Via youtube.com

    —u/Houseplantkiller123

    "Marisa Tomei deserved her Oscar, and I will die on that hill."

    —u/InternetAddict104

    11. Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt.

    Close-up of Meryl as Sister Aloysius Beauvier
    Miramax / Via youtube.com

    "I'll vote for Doubt. Meryl Streep plays a nun who investigates a priest who may be getting too friendly with a student. Different kind of strong, different kind of female character."

    —u/TheCaptainhat

    "Viola Davis's character too. She doesn't back down when confronted and firmly explains her reasonings for her perspective. From the outside, one could perceive her as weak because she isn't behaving the way one might, but she is, in fact, strong in her motivations (whether or not you agree)."

    —u/brownhaircurlyhair

    12. Emily Blunt as Sgt. Rita Vrataski in Edge of Tomorrow.

    Close-up of Emily as Rita Vrataski
    Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/Le_Baked_Beans

    13. Chieko Baisho (original voice actor) and Emily Mortimer and Jean Simmons (English-dub voice actors) as Sophie Hatter in Howl's Moving Castle.

    Close-up of animated Sophie wearing a hat
    Studio Ghibli / Toho / Via youtube.com

    —u/GribbleBit

    14. Rumi Hiiragi (original voice actor) and Daveigh Chase (English-dub voice actor) as Chihiro from Spirited Away.

    Close-up of animated Chihiro against a floral backdrop
    Studio Ghibli / Toho / Via youtube.com

    "When I think of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle’s female hero, they never feel perfect and sensationalized. They're a little awkward around the edges and unprepared for what lies ahead, but still persevere with shaky grit and a degree of openness."

    —u/churadley

    15. Amy Adams as Louise Banks in Arrival.

    Close-up of Amy as Louise
    Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/AdOk1965

    "Still to this day, it's my favorite 'first contact' film of all time. Amy Adams was incredible!"

    —u/Tekki777

    16. Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road.

    Close-up of Charlize as Imperator Furiosa
    Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

    "I thought Mad Max: Fury Road did a good job."

    —u/AmpedEnding

    "Not making Max and Furiosa love interests, not even a hint of it, was pure genius."

    —u/Mindofmierda90

    17. And finally, the entire cast of A League of Their Own.

    The baseball team, including Madonna, touching hands
    Columbia Pictures / Via youtube.com

    —u/WillingBake9330

    "I had to scroll way too far to see this! This movie is chock-full of strong women! The women who lived through the war were a special brand of lady. They had to fight every day for their livelihoods, all while under constant stress because their men were overseas fighting. Everyone from Dottie to Evelyn had strength coming out of their ears."

    —u/ok_chaos42

    "And such a variety of women too! Traditional housewives, 'tomboy' types, sensitive mothers, more masculine leaning, more feminine leaning, comfortable with sexuality, shy and chaste — they were all their own person dealing with personal and social difficulties while just trying to play the game they loved. So many great human moments."

    —u/Embarrassed-Skin2770

    Which movies do you think actually got the "strong female character" trope right? Share you answers in the comments!

    Note: Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity.