20+ Films With Heroic Female Characters to Watch With Kids

Maybe Hollywood is finally getting it that women can make powerful and relatable leads (we are 51 percent of moviegoers after all). But progress still isn’t exactly steady. In 2025, women made up just 29 percent of protagonists in the top-grossing films, down sharply from 42 percent in 2024, according to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film. By comparison, 53 percent of those films featured male protagonists, while 18 percent featured ensembles.

Behind the camera, the numbers remain stubbornly low. In 2025, women accounted for just 23 percent of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers working on the 250 top-grossing films — the same percentage as in 2024. Women made up 13 percent of directors and just 7 percent of cinematographers; women of color remain deeply underrepresented. There is still progress to be made in Hollywood.

Still, there are plenty of great movies with strong, memorable female leads for family movie night. From Rumi, Mira and Zoey to Galinda and Elphaba, we’ve rounded up more than 20 films featuring brave, funny and unforgettable girls and women. Some save the day with superpowers. Others show everyday courage, resilience and heart. All of them are characters we’re proud to call positive role models.

Jump to the age-specific list you want to binge-watch tonight with the kids:

• Movies for younger kids
• Movies for older elementary-age kids
• Movies for older tweens and teens

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and was most recently updated on March 16, 2026, by ParentMap’s editorial team with updated data on the women and representation in the entertainment industry, new family movie recommendations and a thorough fact-check.