The 35 Best Women-Directed Movies of All Time

While we're well aware that women are just as capable as men of directing critically acclaimed and box-office topping movies, Hollywood unfortunately has some catching up to do.

In fact, women have been behind a number of our favorite films of all time, and it seems that the lack of female-fronted movies has a lot more to do with opportunities than it does actual talent.

In fact, we bet you didn't even know that women directed some of these huge films, spanning comedy, action, drama and so much more. Keep reading to discover our top 35 women-directed movies of all time.

1. The Farewell (Lulu Wang)

The Farewell is based on a true story from director Lulu Wang's life, which makes the film and its messages all the more poignant and gripping. It tells the story of a Chinese-American woman named Billi who discovers her grandmother doesn't have long to live, and joins her family in visiting China to see her. She soon discovers that the family doesn't intend to tell the grandmother about her illness, conflicting with her own feelings about the subject, resulting in a struggle between her culture and what seems right.

(The Farwell via A24)

 

2. Whip It (Drew Barrymore)

Whip It was actress Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, proving her talents both on and off the screen. It's about a young woman named Bliss who wants to break away from her mom's expectations, which involve fitting in and participating in beauty pageants. When she discovers—and joins—the town's roller derby team, she finally finds a place where she fits in, but must keep it a secret from her overbearing mom.

(Whip It via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

 

3. Enough Said (Nicole Holofcener)

Enough Said director Nicole Holofcener was also the screenwriter of the film, partially basing the script on her own life. It's a romantic comedy about a friendship between a man and a woman that threatens to develop into something more, only to become incredibly complicated when the woman realizes he's the ex-husband of a new friend.

(Enough Said via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

 

4. Blackfish (Gabriela Cowperthwaite)

Gabriela Cowperthwaite's Blackfish documentary was necessary not just for the statement it made, but for the incredible changes that swept the marine theme park industry afterward. The doc emphasized the state of captive killer whales, in particular telling the story of Tilikum, an orca at SeaWorld. Revealing the stress these creatures are under, and the attacks on trainers in the park, eventually led to the end of orca shows at the park, as welll as the end of their breeding program.

(Blackfish via Magnolia Pictures)

 

5. Pay It Forward (Mimi Leder)

While director Mimi Leder is best known for her action flicks, we think the drama film Pay It Forward is her best film work. It's about an 11-year-old boy who develops a plan to change the world, which he calls "pay it forward." When one person does something for someone else, rather than returning the favor, they pay it forward to three other people, resulting in an exponential explosion of goodwill that ripples out in unexpected ways.

(Pay It Forward via Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

6. Across the Universe (Julie Taymor)

While Julie Taymor might be best known for her theater work and creating the stage adaptation of The Lion King, her resume also includes some impressive film direction. Our favorite movie in her filmography is Across the Universe, a musical drama set against a '60s backdrop that utilizes the music of The Beatles to tell an incredible story of love, revolution and survival.

(Across the Universe via Columbia Pictures)

7. Jennifer's Body (Karyn Kusama)

Don't let the reputation of black horror-comedy Jennifer's Body convince you that Karyn Kusama is anything but an incredible director. The film received a lot of undeserved ire after being marketed to the wrong audience, when it was always supposed to be a story about relationships between women. Today, it's become a beloved cult film thanks to its themes of friendship and codependence, as well as its incredible wit.

(Jennifer's Body via 20th Century Fox)

 

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8. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Amy Heckerling)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is proof that you shouldn't assume any kind of movie was made by a man. It was the directorial debut of the prolific Amy Heckerling, and is a coming-of-age comedy centered around an inexperienced high school sophomore named Stacy. When Stacy seeks dating advice from her older friends, she gets wrapped up in a confusing love triangle. And then there's the surfing slacker Spicoli, who mounts an all-out war against his least favorite teacher.

(Fast Times at Ridgemont High via Universal Pictures)

 

9. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Susan Johnson)

We believe that romantic comedies should never be underestimated, and Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before is one of the reasons why. Based on the novel of the same name and directed by Susan Johnson, it revolves around a girl named Lara Jean who keeps unsent love letters to all the boys she's loved in the past. When they mysteriously get sent out to their recipients, she must cope with the aftermath—including the attention of Peter Kavinsky, with who she soon finds herself in a fake relationship.

(To All the Boys I've Loved Before via Netflix)

 

10. Billy Madison (Tamra Davis)

Some of the greatest comedies of the '90s were directed by women, and that includes Tamra Davis's Billy Madison. This goofy Adam Sandler comedy focuses on the titular Billy, heir to a successful hotel chain. When his immaturity leads his father to believe he'd be unfit to take over, Billy decides to prove himself by finishing school (completing every grade in two-week chunks), finding himself with the help of his young classmates and one of his teachers.

(Billy Madison via Universal Pictures)

 

11. The Babadook (Jennifer Kent)

The Babadook made such an impact among horror fans when it released in 2014 that you'd never know it was Jennifer Kent's directorial debut. The incredibly creepy film follows an Australian widow named Amelia and her son, Samuel. When Samuel becomes obsessed with an imaginary monster from a picture book, she soon discovers it may not be make-believe after all.

(The Babadook via Entertainment One)

 

12. Queen of Katwe (Mira Nair)

While Indian-American director Mira Nair has directed a number of powerful films, we adore the biopic Queen of Katwe. The film tells the true story of Phiona Mutesi. Though she was born in a slum in Uganda, her life transformed when she met a missionary who taught chess, becoming a chess prodigy who went to become a Woman Candidate Master at World Chess Olympiads.

(The Queen of Katwe via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

 

13. Brave (Brenda Chapman)

Brave was technically co-directed by Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews and Steve Purcell, but we still believe the incredible film deserves a spot on this list. It features Scottish princess Merida who causes chaos when she goes against tradition by announcing she refuses to be betrothed. Meanwhile, a curse turns her mother into a bear, forcing the two to reconcile and come to an agreement before it's too late.

(Brave via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

 

14. Sleepless in Seattle (Nora Ephron)

Nora Ephron was both a legendary writer and director of incredible romantic comedies, and we think her best in the director's chair was Sleepless in Seattle. After losing his wife to cancer, a man named Sam reluctantly goes on a radio show to discuss his grief, leading thousands of women to sympathize with him and send him letters. One such woman is Annie, who's engaged but feels there's something missing from her life, never realizing where that letter might lead.

(Sleepless in Seattle via TriStar Pictures)

 

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15. A League of Their Own (Penny Marshall)

A League of Their Own was directed by the prolific and always hilarious actress, director and producer Penny Marshall, and it shows in the film's ingenious laughs. It's a sports comedy-drama that tells a fictional version of the real All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was created during World War II while many of the male players were off fighting the war. Along the way, conflicting personalities threaten to derail an attempt to save American's pastime.

(A League of Their Own via Columbia Pictures)

 

16. Wayne's World (Penelope Spheeris)

What did we say about women directing legendary '90s comedies? Few expected this film, directed by Penelope Spheeris and based on a Saturday Night Live sketch, to become the instant classic it was, but it had all the right ingredients to make it work. It's about two guys who host their own popular public access show about rock music, and a greedy producer's attempts to change the show—and steal Wayne's girlfriend.

(Wayne's World via Paramount Pictures)

 

17. The Edge of Seventeen (Kelly Fremon Craig)

The incredible The Edge of Seventeen was written, directed and co-produced by Kelly Fremon Craig in her directorial debut. The coming-of-age- dramedy tells the story of high school junior Nadine, who after her father's passing, only feels close to her best friend, Krista. When Krista starts seeing her brother, Nadine feels more alone than ever, leading her to seek kinship in new places that just might lead to something more.

(The Edge of Seventeen via STX Entertainment)

 

18. Booksmart (Olivia Wilde)

Booksmart was the sleeper hit of 2019, beloved by both critics and average viewers, and proving that actress Olivia Wilde had some serious chops in her directorial debut. It's about two overachieving high school girls who decide to let loose on their last day of high school, finally getting up to all of the antics and rule-breaking they've denied themselves their whole high school careers, resulting in a journey they could have never anticipated.

(Booksmart via United Artists Releasing)

 

19. Late Night (Nisha Ganatra)

Late Night is one of those films that proves just how funny women can really be, both in front of the camera and behind it. It was directed by Canadian-American filmmaker Nisha Ganatra and is about a late-night TV host who finds her ratings floundering, hiring inexperienced newbie Molly Patel purely on the basis she's a woman in order to mix things up. Though things are contentious at first, they soon realize they have much to offer each other, even if scandal threatens to get in the way of their success.

(Late Night via Amazon Studios)

 

20. Clueless (Amy Heckerling)

We told you that Amy Heckerling was prolific! She's on this list more than once because she's made an incredible contribution to the film industry, including directing Clueless. It's one of those movies that shouldn't be judged by its cover, as its a brilliant modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's Emma, with hilarious moments as well as an important commentary on identity and what it means to be a woman.

(Clueless via Paramount Pictures)

 

21. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)

Kathryn Bigelow is one of those incredible directors who simply can't be pinned down to just one thing (and this isn't the only time she'll appear on this list). The Hurt Locker is one of her most critically acclaimed films, following an American bomb squad team in the Iraq War and the vastly different ways in which they deal with the incredible pressure of their work.

(The Hurt Locker via Summit Entertainment)

 

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22. Bend It Like Beckham (Gurinder Chadha)

Bend It Like Beckham is one of the most beloved sports comedies of the 21st century, and that's in part to its incredible creator Gurinder Chadha, who wrote, produced and directed the film. It features Jesminder, the daughter of British Indian Sikhs in London whose parents forbid her from playing soccer, despite her love for the sport. She takes it up anyway, hiding it from her family, which proves tougher and tougher as her skills bring her more success—and potential opportunities in the United States.

(Bend It Like Beckham via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

 

23. The Parent Trap (Nancy Meyers)

The 1998 remake of The Parent Trap is an absolute classic, and it was both directed and co-written by filmmaker Nancy Meyers. When American Hallie and English Annie coincidentally meet at a summer camp, they're baffled by the fact that they're completely identical. After a prank war results in their being punished together, they share stories that reveal they're actually twin sisters—and put a plan in motion to swap places to meet their other parent and finally get their parents back together.

(The Parent Trap via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)

 

24. Winter's Bone (Debra Granik)

Debra Granik was responsible for directing as well as adapting Winter's Bone from the novel of the same name, and the fact she was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay prove the film deserves its spot on this list. It stars Jennifer Lawrence as a teen girl who strives to protect her family from being evicted from their home. To save their house, she must find her mysteriously missing father before it's too late.

(Winter's Bone via Roadside Attractions)

 

25. Little Women (Greta Gerwig)

Little Women is a story that's been adapted again and again, but the 2019 version by actress and filmmaker Greta Gerwig may go down in history as the very best. This interpretation of the coming-of-age period drama was both written and directed by Gerwig, and shows the classic characters as driven, passionate and assertive. They question the way things were, making the story relevant to any audience.

(Little Women via Sony Pictures Releasing)

 

26. Whale Rider (Niki Caro)

Whale Rider may not be all that well-known to American audiences, but the film, written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Niki Caro, is powerful nonetheless. It tells the story of a Māori girl named Pai who wants to become the chief of her tribe, despite the expectations being that only men can take on the role. She defies these authorities, setting out to follow in the line of her descendant, the "Whale Rider," and take on this title for herself.

(Whale Rider via Newmarket Films)

 

27. Point Break (Kathryn Bigelow)

Kathryn Bigelow returns to this list with the incredible action-crime film Point Break, starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. It follows Johnny Utah, a former college football star who joins the FBI and is soon put on a case of bank robberies. Following a lead, he takes up surfing to potentially infiltrate the gang of thieves, getting caught up with their philosophical leader, Bodhi, who shows him a captivating new way of life.

(Point Break via 20th Century Fox)

 

28. Wonder Woman (Patty Jenkins)

It's hard to believe that until 2017's Wonder Woman, women-led superhero movies were untested territory. Director Patty Jenkins absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one, proving powerful ladies could make audiences flock to theaters. It tells the story of Amazon heroine Diana from the island of Themyscira, who gets pulled into the realm of humans when World War I forces approach the island. Believing the war god Ares is to blame, she seeks to destroy him, only to discover larger forces may be at play.

(Wonder Woman via Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

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29. The Matrix  (Lana and Lilly Wachowski)

The Matrix is an unusual film on this list, as its directors and writers, Lily and Lana Wachowski, didn't come out as trans women until years after the film released. The philosophical film is itself a trans allegory about the process it takes to become your true self, but even before the world knew that, it was lauded for its mind-bending ideas, groundbreaking CGI and action set pieces that would often be imitated, but never truly repeated.

(The Matrix via Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

30. Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)

Greta Gerwig has quickly cemented herself as one of the most important directors in the industry, and it was her solo directorial debut, Lady Bird, that really put her on the map. The coming-of-age story follows "Lady Bird," an opinionated high school senior who yearns for a better life and finds herself in constant conflict with her mom, who's just as strong-willed as she is. It's a story about family and faith, and how sometimes we struggle to appreciate what's right in front of us.

(Lady Bird via A24)

 

31. Big (Penny Marshall)

Though Penny Marshall has directed a number of iconic films that easily could have made it on this list, we think Big is one that deserves special recognition. It stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin. After getting fed up with being a kid, 12-year-old Josh makes a wish on a fortune-telling machine, only to wake up the next morning as a fully grown adult. He's forced to leave home and find his way in the world, dealing with adulthood for the first time through the eyes of a kid. Though his childlike sense of wonder does help him succeed in the adult world, he realizes that being grown up isn't all it's chalked up to be, providing a valuable message for kids and adults alike.

(Big via 20th Century Fox)

 

32. Selma (Ava DuVernay)

Few stories are more important to modern U.S. history than that of Martin Luther King Jr. and his struggle for civil rights, and director Ava DuVernay handles the Montgomery voting rights marches with serious skill. The film shows the moments leading up to Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "How Long, Not Long" speech on the Montgomery, Alabama State Capitol, which eventually led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

(Selma via Paramount Pictures)

 

33. Boys Don't Cry (Kimberly Peirce)

Boys Don't Cry was a pivotal film when it released in 1999, covering subject matter that hadn't often been broached before, and it was both directed and co-written by filmmaker Kimberly Peirce. It's based on the true story of a young trans man named Brandon who moves to Nebraska. Though he finds love and some happiness there, he falls victim to horrendous violence because of his gender identity.

(Boys Don't Cry via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

 

34. American Psycho (Mary Harron)

Many people are unaware that the black comedy and psychological horror film American Psycho was both directed and co-written by Canadian filmmaker Mary Harron. It's the twisted story of Patrick Bateman, a banker living in 1988 who is obsessed with his appearance, lifestyle and belongings, and who becomes a serial killer—or does he? The film has an ambiguous ending that's led to much debate, which is part of what makes it so memorable.

(American Psycho via Lions Gate Films)

 

35. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)

Lost in Translation is a romantic comedy-drama masterpiece, winning a writer and director Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, as well as nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. It follows Bob, a washed-out American movie star, and Charlotte, the wife of a celebrity photographer, who both find themselves feeling lonely and isolated in the same hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The two meet and form an unusual friendship that might be the most meaningful relationship in both their lives.

(Lost in Translation via Focus Features)

 

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