Better or worse? A glimpse of the 6 female lead action films of 2023

2023 is almost over, and when I look back on this year I can’t help but wonder: have I seen any good movies? Honestly, my mind just can’t get any more blank.

Sadly, I have to admit that I haven't been thrilled in a movie theater for a long time. Even action movies that are supposed to be exciting often just feel loud to me. I can't help but wonder if I'm getting old and no longer enjoy these kinds of films, or if the quality of action movies is really going downhill.

Look what action films we’ve got in 2023: Mission: Impossible , John Wick 4, Fast & Furious 10, Meg 2, The Equalizer 3, Transformers: Rise of the beasts, Indiana Jones 5, Expendables 4... The list of sequels can be extended. Oh, and there are also some flicks that might not seem like sequels, but they're actually retellings of the same story. In the past fifteen years, we've been served with over ten "rescue" themed movies starring Liam Neeson. If you're not a huge Liam Neeson fan, I bet you probably wouldn't even realize that these eight movie posters down below are all from different .movies.

Nothing new, nothing amazing. It's no wonder that the audience's excitement for these action movies is going down. Even a big hit like Mission: Impossible 2023 had to rely on insurance company compensation to cut losses in the end.

As Barbie has pointed out, patriarchy is all about "men and horses." It's the same in the world of action movies. Most Hollywood action flicks revolve around a heroic man, driving his car (a modern version of a horse) and wielding his gun (another form of power, similar to a horse), saving the world or the weak. I think it’s time to say: enough, we don't need more action movies centered around "men and horses." If someone still wants to invest in making action movies, why not change the perspective and tell stories about "women and horses"?

In fact, such attempts are not lacking, and some turn out pretty awesome. From Kill Bill in 2003 to Atomic Blonde in 2017, these movies have achieved great success both at the box office and reputation. The only downside is that there still aren't enough action movies with female leads.

But having some is better than having none, right? Here are seven action movies led by women that you can stream. Each one has its own unique qualities compared to the typical "male-led" ones, although some still fall into the stereotypes of how Hollywood portrays women. You can check out my reviews first and then decide whether to add them to your weekend movie list~

Wingwomen: Women and Horse

This action film is totally my favorite of the year! The main characters in the movie are all badass women. They're just as skilled in fighting, sniping, and strategizing as the male leads in action movies. They're top-notch agents and assassins. But hey, don't get it wrong, they're not just female versions of male secret agents. They have their own unique qualities, personalities and emotions as women. They even discuss their favorite dishes while skydiving. Their ultimate goal isn't just about saving the world, but also about living happily and freely together.

Some people think this movie is shallow, but I totally disagree. Let me give you an example. This movie breaks new ground when it comes to depicting female friendship. Usually, from a male perspective, female friendship is portrayed as being based on shared pain and sympathy. It's like a substitute for men’s happiness and enjoyment that women can’t share with. But in Voleuses, female friendship isn't because of men, nor is it "for" men. They genuinely find joy in their friendship. I mean, when I saw Adele's adorable and triumphant smile after a successful sniper shot, my love for this movie went through the roof. Just seeing them happy is reason enough for me to watch this movie over and over again.

Kill Boksoon: Being a mother is cooler than being a killer

The movie's marketing trick is a female version of Kill Bill, but it doesn't have the usual sadness and suppression found in female revenge films. The main character is not only the strongest killer, but also a single mom with a teenage daughter. In addition to her intense job, she also has to handle the everyday aspects of life. The main character always takes the lead in the movie. The ultimate problem she wants to solve is not a matter of life or death, but the emotional gap between her and her daughter.

There are way too many action movies with male leads who are also fathers, but family is just a "warm" label for them. They just have to "come home" to enjoy family love. But in Kill Boksoon, family is something that needs to be nurtured. The mutual understanding between mother and daughter, as well as the raw emotions between killers, become the heart of the story. If you're tired of male killers like John Wick who have no restraint or logic, you might want to give Kill Boksoon a try. It has awesome fight scenes and nuanced emotional portrayals. After watching it, I fell in love with Jeon Do-yeon all over again. As a South Korean film actress who has won numerous awards, she truly deserves it.

Khufiya: When women are spying on women

This movie is all about an Indian main character and it's not your typical Bollywood action flick with singing and dancing. There's not a whole lot of action scenes in the movie. The main character, as a secret agent, doesn't really get into physical fights much and mostly relies on strategy. What I find most interesting is the same-sex emotions between the female lead and other female characters. The scenes where the main character spies on another female character are pretty steamy. Usually, it's the guys who do the spying on-screen. But in Khufiya, it's all about women spying on women and how their destinies are intertwined. It kinda reminds me of Killing Eve. Overall, I think it's a really classy film that's definitely worth checking out, even if you're not into Bollywood.

The Mother : Like mother, like daughter

This movie is also about a woman taking back her identity as a mother. Jennifer's motherly qualities and her strong physique make her performance more believable. And the daughter learning to fight back with her mother's guidance adds a feminist touch to the film. It's not a big theme, so it might not satisfy those who are used to action movies where heroes save the world. But as someone's daughter, it's inspiring to see the strength and protective abilities of mothers. If you have a daughter, you can watch this simple yet heartwarming action film together.

Ballerina: Mocking men is scarier than killing them

Another badass Korean action flick. It's about the main character getting payback for her dead friend. This time, she's the one calling the shots and the revenge part is surprisingly smooth sailing. One thing that cracks me up is how, right after the chick's first act of revenge, the dude she's after is more worried about her scratching his fancy Lamborghini. A man's car is like his prized stallion and the ultimate symbol of his macho pride. But here, it's effortlessly snatched away by a woman.

By portraying the male gang as weak, the movie totally undermines the seriousness and authority of male power. The female lead's anger and sassiness speak volumes about the current wave of Korean feminism. And when those ladies whip out their flamethrowers, it's like they're setting the night on fire. This ain't just your average action movie, it's got that dark humor twist. And trust me, “humor" is key in shaking up the narrative of female suffering.

Heart of Stone: A practice exercise for a female action film

The best part of this film is Gal Gadot's awesome fight scenes. However, the character development and emotional portrayal are just okay. The plot is just okay too, yet still I really think it's important to give more opportunities to female stars like Gal Gadot to be the main characters in action films. You can think of this film as a practice run for female-led action blockbusters. For the audience, it's not a bad idea to grab some snacks and watch Gadot navigate through snowy mountains with a cool parachute.

You might notice that most of these movies are from Netflix. There's a reason for that. Out of the 1,300+ action films released in 2023, less than 7% had female leads. However, among the those released by Netflix in 2023, 6 of them had female leads, which is 13% of the total. That's higher than the average. Maybe the production process of streaming platforms allows for their quick response to the demand in the movie market, especially that for movies with a female perspective. These six movies really have some feministic characteristics. The female protagonist's identity is unique and can't be easily replaced. For example, all of them show female friendship and give the female lead personality traits that aren't typically seen as feminine, like humor and toughness. What's even more notable is that three of them focus on the protagonist's role as a mother, making the mother-daughter relationship the main driving force of the story.

Why do female action films focus so much on motherhood? Is it because being a mother provides a stronger reason for the killing done by female agents or killers? Or is it because audiences are not used to seeing a cold and emotionless woman, so deep down they expect her to have some unbreakable emotional connections? I got to watch more movies to figure it out. Until then, I'll keep eagerly waiting for more cool and diverse female action films.