One aspect of Hollywood that sadly hasn’t changed is that it is still largely male-dominated. That’s why movies directed by women are so refreshing—they come from a perspective that we rarely get to see on the silver screen.
Women have been helping shape the world of cinema since its early days, and the last couple of decades have seen some real momentum, with strong women directors delivering some groundbreaking work. Here, then, is our list of some of the best women-directed films you can stream onNetflixright now.
1992
Runtime
1 hour, 35 minutes
Wayne’s Worldis one of the best movies to ever come from aSaturday Night Livesketch. The movie follows the adventures of two music-loving airheads (Wayne and Garth) whose surreal public access TV show catches the eye of a big-time TV producer. However, the show going pro threatens to change the lives of its hosts on and off the screen, which is particularly bad news for Wayne as he tries to win over the girl of his dreams.
Directed by Penelope Spheeris, the movie perfectly creeps up to the edge of self-awareness without stepping over it. The result is a film that lampoons everything from public access TV to the record industry, generating laughs from some truly bizarre punchlines. Plus, watching the movie feels like hanging out with two of your silliest friends. And if the onscreen duo of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey can’t get you to sing along toBohemian Rhapsody, you may need to verify that you have a pulse!
2024
1 hour, 49 minutes
After the first Venom movie became a surprise success for Sony, this antihero became a film franchise unto himself. AndVenom: The Last Dancebrings this trilogy to a close with a plot that builds directly off the events of the previous film. Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is the prime suspect of a murder, and he and his alien symbiote are racing to clear their names. Along the way, we learn about Brock’s newest allies and enemies, including a cosmic-level threat who is also the source of all the symbiotes in the universe.
Director Kelly Marcel has a very deft hand at adapting some of the crazier characters from the comics into the more grounded world of the Venom film franchise. Plus, Hardy once again does a great job as the title character, imbuing a surprising amount of charm and empathy into a character that mostly wants to devour his enemies. And Sony does something with this movie that even the MCU has been struggling with lately—bringing a long-running story to a satisfying conclusion.
2018
2 hours, 4 minutes
Bird Boxis a film that proves the old adage is true: horror is at its best when it is driven by concepts as simple as they are scary. In this post-apocalyptic film, mysterious beings have spread throughout the planet, and simply looking at them causes madness and suicidal urges. Our main character is a mother trying to guide her children to safety, but that means navigating the world blindfolded, as it’s seemingly the only way to stay alive.
Thanks to director Susanne Bier, this film draws all of the potential out of its awesome premise. We get to see characters acting very intelligently as they try to understand the chaos that has been unleashed on the world, effectively answering our questions about this fictional universe before we can even pose them. And in the finest horror tradition, this movie relentlessly underscores that humans are often the scariest thing you can encounter, even in a world of cosmic terrors.
2020
2 hours, 5 minutes
The Old Guardadapts the comic series of the same name from superstar scribe Greg Rucka. It follows the adventures of a group of warriors who have Wolverine-like healing abilities. Because of these abilities, they are seemingly immortal. These characters are trying to track down and protect someone who has only recently manifested her own ability. Unfortunately, a shady Big Pharma exec is trying to track our heroes down and use them for his own nefarious research purposes.
In the wrong hands, this film could have felt like generic superhero slop. Fortunately, director Gina Prince-Bythewood helps give the film a style and verve that make it very distinct from the usual Marvel and DC fare. Additionally, Charlize Theron gives an effortlessly awesome performance, and she’s a big reason why this quirky superhero film ended up getting a sequel. While that sequel is solid, it can’t beat this first film when it comes to world-building and characterization.
2008
1 hour, 48 minutes
Mamma Mia!is a crazy movie with an even crazier premise. A young woman is about to be married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. Unfortunately, her mother had a romantically adventurous past and doesn’t know exactly who the father is. Therefore, the bride-to-be takes matters into her own hands by inviting all three possible daddies to the wedding. Of course, this “solution” kicks off plenty more problems for her and her mother, all of which play out in hilarious fashion, all to songs by ABBA.
For many with anxiety about family matters, the plot ofMamma Mia!could easily be a horror movie. But director Phyllida Lloyd keeps things light, mining all kinds of sidesplitting humor from the bonkers story of this romantic comedy. And thanks to this cast of big names (including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried), every scene is positively buzzing with talent.
2023
1 hour, 34 minutes
There are few genres quite as popular now as true crime.Woman of the Hourtaps into our collective fascination with the macabre by focusing on the strange case of Rodney Alcala, a man who appeared onThe Dating Gamebefore being arrested one year later and revealed as a brutal serial killer. And the movie alternates between scenes of his gruesome crimes and scenes of him trying to woo a young woman on a reality TV show where she must choose the best match among possible suitors.
That woman is played by Anna Kendrick, andWoman of the Houris also her directorial debut. As it turns out, she is just as talented behind the camera as she is in front of it, adding drama and tension to a story that was already pretty darned scary. The result is a movie that appeals to both those who love true-crime stories and those who just love a well-constructed and tightly-paced horror film, one that is very different (in all the best ways) fromthe classic horror films of the ’80s.
2006
2 hours, 18 minutes
Put simply,The Holidayis a romantic comedy for those who don’t typically enjoy this genre of film. The plot involves two women from opposite sides of the pond (one from LA, the other from Surrey, England) who decide to fight heartbreak in a very unconventional way: by temporarily swapping homes. In traditional genre fashion, they each encounter potential suitors who might transform this into a holiday season to remember. Unfortunately, drama from back home threatens to derail each woman’s chance at creating a new life.
Writer and director Nancy Meyers helps breathe new life into a genre that had gotten a bit stale. She does this with the help of a killer cast that includes Jack Black, who takes his usual brand of over-the-top comedy down a few notches. His more subdued performance helps the other leads (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law) shine as they create a story about just how messy romance can really be. And nearly two decades later, this film still stands out as one of the best modern romantic comedies ever made.
2021
1 hour, 47 minutes
Fear Street Part One: 1994is the first part of a trilogy that loosely adapts the books written byGoosebumpsscribe R.L. Stine. While theGoosebumpsbooks were light horror for young children, theFear Streetbooks were written for an older audience. Interestingly, this first film is more brutal than any of Stine’s books, detailing the story of plucky ’90s teens trying to stay one step ahead of an ancient curse. What they discover may completely change their lives, but that’s assuming they survive all the monstrous mayhem threatening to kill them.
Director Leigh Janiak gives the movie a fun throwback feel, and horror fans of a certain age will certainly enjoy this loving (if imperfect) recreation of the ’90s. She also did a great job creating a movie that can stand on its own while still laying out the complex mythology required to fully understand the next two films. Admittedly,Fear Streetis best enjoyed as part of a complete trilogy. But watching this first film is a great way to learn whether you want to take the entire ride or just get off after the first (and arguably best) movie in the series, one that proves why this wasa streaming movie that deserved a sequel.
Do you love movies directed by women? Or maybe you just want to experience a few films that are very different from the usual Hollywood fare? Either way, these female-directed films have you covered!
Netflix
Looking for something fun to watch? All of these fun, fearless, and female-directed films are currently streaming on Netflix!
