12 Movies Directed By Women On Amazon Prime You Need To Get Your Eyeballs On

Bloody geniuses, the lot of them.

1. Lady Bird by Greta Gerwig

IAC Fillms

Indie darling, Greta Gerwig, made her directorial debut with this Oscar-nominated film about the growing pains all teenage girls must go through. Led by the ever-brilliant Soairse Ronan, it also features everyone's favourite internet boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

2. The Hurt Locker by Katherine Bigelow

Voltage Pictures

The Hurt Locker was nominated in nine categories at the 82nd Academy Awards and won six, including Best Director — making Bigelow the first female director to ever win the award. This tense, action-filled story of an explosive ordnance disposal team during the Iraq War launched Jeremy Renner's career and reignited conversations about the psychological effects of war.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

3. Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola

American Zoetrope

Lost in Translation is about an unremarkable weekend that has untold impact on the two lead characters — one, an ageing actor whose star is in decline, and the other, a young, aimless newlywed. Despite the immense difference in age, gender and lifestyle, the two find connection and empathy with each other they haven't found elsewhere, least of all the Tokyo landscape in which they find themselves.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

4. Monster by Patty Jenkins.

Potential Studios

Before crime podcasts were a thing, there was a case that captivated the world's attention unlike any before. Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer and former prostitute, Aileen Wuornos, who supported both herself and her lover with money she took from murdered clients. This film will give you absolute chills for several reasons, mostly because you can't help but sympathise with someone you hope you have nothing in common with.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

5. Selma by Ava DuVernay

Pathé

This brilliant piece of cinema was nominated for Best Picture at the 87th Academy Awards and won for Best Original Song. It details the Selma, Alabama to Montgomery marches that took place in 1965, protesting racial injustice and demanding the constitutional right to vote afforded to other citizens. It was believed to be one of the best movies of the year by many esteemed critics.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

6. Certain Women by Kelly Reichardt

Film Science

Certain Women intertwines the stories of three women with seemingly unremarkable lives and jobs, but who are making an impact on their small American town in limitless ways. Director, editor and writer, Kelly Reichardt, guides Laura Dern, Michelle Williams and Kristen Stewart in this visually and emotionally impactful film.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

7. Citizenfour by Laura Poitras

HBO FIlms

Everyone has an opinion of him, but how well do you actually know the details of this world-famed story? Edward Snowden, under the alias 'Citizenfour', sent encrypted emails to filmmaker Laura Poitras, stating he was ready to blow the whistle on covert surveillance programs run by the NSA. Poitras then flew to Hong Kong to meet with Snowden — this gripping documentary is the product of their meetings with one another.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

8. The Edge of Seventeen by Kelly Fremon Craig

STX Entertainment

Who doesn't love a good coming-of-age story? Much like the beloved John Hughes films of the '80s, Craig tells the all too real reality of growing up — the relationships, the awkwardness, the swearing that everything is the absolute end of the world. Like all excellent teen comedies, this one makes you laugh before it makes you cry (in the best possible way).

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

9. Frida by Julie Taymor

Ventanarosa

This film is about the professional and personal life of the enigmatic and captivating artist, Frida Kahlo. Her paintings are depicted in the opening of many scenes and Salma Hayek is mesmerising to watch. The film was nominated in six categories at the Oscars and won two, for Best Original Score and Best Makeup and Hairstying (look at that glorious monobrow!).

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

10. Wendy and Lucy by Kelly Reichardt

Film Guide Films

Another collaboration between director, Kelly Reichardt, and actress, Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy is sure to break any dog lover's heart (or indeed, anyone and everyone's heart). Wendy is down on her luck and travelling to Alaska to look for work, with only her dog, Lucy, as a companion. What follows is a series of heartbreaking events, which I won't speak of here, for fear of crying. You'll just have to watch it to see for yourself.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

11. An Education by Lone Scherfig

BBC Films

I first watched this film straight out of high school and I think it should be essential viewing for every young woman. Carey Mulligan's breakout role is as Jenny Mellor, an intelligent and curious 16-year-old school girl, who meets and is seduced by David Goldman, an older and charismatic man. Whether she meant to or not, Scherfig does well to remind women not to pin their dreams on one person.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

12. Boys Don't Cry by Kimberly Peirce

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

I left my synopsis of this film for last because it's devastating to write. It's even more devastating to watch — but you absolutely should. Hilary Swank won her first Oscar in this biopic of Brandon Teena, a transgender man who, in the process of finding himself and a loving relationship, is subject to a brutal hate crime. Watch because it is impossible to leave this film without more compassion in your heart.

Watch it on Amazon Prime here.

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