Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesFilms directed by a lady. Vote up your favorite female-directed film.
It’s no longer just a man’s world out there, women have been taking over Hollywood for years in some pretty big ways and there are some amazing female directors out there! From becoming some of the world’s top actresses to screenwriting and directing, women have certainly started to make their mark in the world of movies. In fact, some of the top box office hits and award winners of recent years have been produced or directed by women! But what are the best movies directed by a woman?
The movies featured on this list have been ranked as the all time best films directed by women. Perhaps one of the most surprising success stories of women in film came when Kathryn Bigelow but a woman's stamp on the usually male-dominated war movie genre. Her film, The Hurt Locker was both a commercial and critical success. No matter what genre you’re craving there is sure to be a movie, directed by a woman, on this list that will do.
This list is made up of the best movies that were directed by a woman, including: Away From Her, Frida, Clueless, The Piano, The Kids Are All Right, Lost In Translation, and American Psycho. Vote up your favorite female-directed films below or add your favorite movies, directed by a woman, if they aren't already on the list.
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36690Wonder Woman
Patty JenkinsActors: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis
Released: 2017
Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins, based on the DC... more on Wikipedia
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485164Clueless
Amy HeckerlingActors: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Wallace Shawn
Released: 1995
Clueless is a 1995 American comedy film loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma. It... more on Wikipedia3
390174Brave
Brenda ChapmanActors: Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson, Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, Julie Walters
Released: 2012
Brave is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film produced by Pixar Animation... more on Wikipedia4
470150A League of Their Own
Penny MarshallActors: Madonna, Tom Hanks, Rosie O'Donnell, Geena Davis, Téa Leoni
Released: 1992
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account... more on Wikipedia5
411171Wayne's World
Penelope SpheerisActors: Alice Cooper, Mike Myers, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Meat Loaf
Released: 1992
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike... more on Wikipedia6
420199Lost in Translation
Sofia CoppolaActors: Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Anna Faris, Giovanni Ribisi, Hiromix
Released: 2003
Lost in Translation is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Sofia... more on Wikipedia7
379195Frozen
Jennifer Lee, Chris BuckActors: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds, Jonathan Groff
Released: 2013
Frozen is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy–comedy film produced by Walt... more on Wikipedia8
329171Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Amy HeckerlingActors: Nicolas Cage, Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker
Released: 1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by... more on Wikipedia9
346182Point Break
Kathryn BigelowActors: Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Patrick Swayze, Anthony Kiedis, Tom Sizemore
Released: 1991
Point Break is a 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Patrick... more on Wikipedia10
621243American Psycho
Mary HarronActors: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny
Released: 2000
American Psycho is a 2000 American neo-noir satirical psychological horror film directed by... more on Wikipedia11
537180Big
Penny MarshallActors: Tom Hanks, Jon Lovitz, Elizabeth Perkins, Mercedes Ruehl, Robert Loggia
Released: 1988
Big is a 1988 American fantasy comedy film directed by Penny Marshall, and stars Tom Hanks as... more on Wikipedia12
367183Monster
Patty JenkinsActors: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Rose Byrne, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson
Released: 2003
Monster is a 2003 drama film about Aileen Wuornos, who was executed in Florida in 2002 for... more on Wikipedia13
451198The Hurt Locker
Kathryn BigelowActors: Evangeline Lilly, Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce, David Morse
Released: 2008
The Hurt Locker is a 2008 American film about a three-man Explosive Ordnance Disposal team... more on Wikipedia14
17649Lady Bird
Greta GerwigActors: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet
Released: 2017
Lady Bird is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Greta Gerwig. The adventures of a... more on Wikipedia15
296145The Parent Trap
Nancy MeyersActors: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Kat Graham, Dina Lohan, Natasha Richardson
Released: 1998
The Parent Trap is a 1998 romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Nancy Meyers, and... more on Wikipedia16
16390Bend It like Beckham
Gurinder ChadhaActors: Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi, Parminder Nagra
Released: 2002
Bend It like Beckham is a 2002 British comedy-drama film starring Parminder Nagra, Keira... more on Wikipedia17
251154The Piano
Jane CampionActors: Anna Paquin, Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Cliff Curtis
Released: 1993
The Piano is a 1993 romantic drama film about a mute female piano player and her daughter. Set... more on Wikipedia18
294221Carrie
Kimberly PeirceActors: Julianne Moore, Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort
Released: 2013
Carrie is a 2013 American supernatural horror film. It is the third film adaptation of Stephen... more on Wikipedia19
258146Sleepless in Seattle
Nora EphronActors: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Rosie O'Donnell, Rob Reiner, Rita Wilson
Released: 1993
Sleepless in Seattle is a 1993 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and co-written by... more on Wikipedia20
266154Pet Sematary
Mary LambertActors: Stephen King, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, Susan Blommaert, Miko Hughes
Released: 1989
Pet Sematary is a 1989 American horror film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same... more on Wikipedia21
301155Zero Dark Thirty
Kathryn BigelowActors: Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Mark Strong
Released: 2012
Zero Dark Thirty is a 2012 American war thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. A chronicle... more on Wikipedia22
14967Little Women
Gillian ArmstrongActors: Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, Claire Danes, Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon
Released: 1994
Little Women is a 1994 American drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong. The screenplay by... more on Wikipedia23
230150The Virgin Suicides
Sofia CoppolaActors: Kirsten Dunst, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Hayden Christensen
Released: 1999
The film is a 1999 American drama written and directed by Sofia Coppola, produced by her... more on Wikipedia24
254146Boys Don't Cry
Kimberly PeirceActors: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Natalie Zea, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III
Released: 1999
Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 American independent romantic drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce... more on Wikipedia25
191113The Prince of Egypt
Brenda Chapman, Simon WellsActors: Sandra Bullock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Val Kilmer, Helen Mirren, Ralph Fiennes
Released: 1998
The Prince of Egypt is a 1998 American animated epic musical biblical film and the first... more on Wikipedia
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