Inspiring Movies You Can Watch as You Celebrate Women's History Month

Celebrate Women's History Month this March - and the incredible contributions of women all year long - with empowering movie nights the whole family can enjoy. From pioneering leaders and real-life trailblazers to unforgettable fictional heroines, these films highlight the strength, intelligence, and resilience of women across generations.

Elevate your family movie nights with this curated list of 30+ inspiring movies, each offering a meaningful glimpse into the lives and stories of remarkable women. Whether you’re in the mood for historical dramas, heartwarming comedies, or adventurous tales, there’s something here for every age and interest. You’ll also find ratings and helpful guidance to support parents in choosing age-appropriate options for their kids, making this guide easy to revisit any time of year.

Time to grab your popcorn, a favorite snack, and something to sip, then settle in to learn about some truly amazing women — some well known, and others whose stories deserve to be discovered.

🎬 Inspiring Movies That Celebrate Remarkable Women 🎞️

Akeelah and the Bee - Rated PG

Akeelah, a young gifted 11-year old girl, comes from a dysfunctional family and is on the verge of quitting school. She discovers that she has a high aptitude for spellings and enters a spelling bee contest. While this is not a true story it's an inspiring tale of an ambitious young lady.

Amelia - Rated PG

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly a plane solo across the Atlantic Ocean. At age 39, during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe, her plane suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, and she was never seen again.

A Ballerina’s Tale - Rated NR

This documentary about the beautiful and talented ballerina Misty Copeland covers her career, race, and body image in the world of dance.

Barbie - Rated PG-13

While this is a fictional tale, it touches on the history of Barbie and the woman who created her, Ruth Handler. The Barbie doll has inspired generations of girls, encouraging them to imagine the women they could become. Not for all ages, the story is lively and heartwarming, with a touching mother-daughter subplot. Reviews may be mixed, but I found it to be fun and entertaining, as a Barbie lover, this movie brought back so many childhood memories - it's a great family watch if you have teens.

A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story - Rated NR

Once called "the world's ugliest woman," Lizzie Velasquez, who has an extremely rare congenital disease, has been bullied her entire life, both online and in person. Now a motivational speaker and author, Velasquez has made it her mission to inspire and empower a more positive online environment. Her story is worth knowing.

Erin Brockovich - Rated R

In this true David-and-Goliath story, a single mother without a formal law education is instrumental in building a legal case against California's Pacific Gas and Electric Company for polluting the water supply of the town of Hinkley. The case was settled for $333 million, the largest settlement that had ever been paid in a direct-action lawsuit.

👉 A Note to Parents: This is a "soft R" film since foul language is the primary reason for the rating. Erin Brockovich's courage and passion are inspiring; she continues to advocates for clean water and the environment today!

📍 Local Highlight: During this time depicted in the film Erin Brockovich worked for an attorney in Thousand Oaks and lives here locally in Agoura Hills.

Fly Like a Girl - Rated NR

A documentary that follows a movement of young girls and women relentlessly pursuing their passion for aviation, a field currently dominated by men. Hear first-hand stories from girls and women who dared to aim higher. From a Lego-loving young girl who includes female pilots in her toy airplanes, to a courageous woman who helped lead shuttle missions to space, showing us that women are in charge of their own destiny.

Frida - Rated R

A biography of artist Frida Kahlo, one of the most intriguing women of her time, who channeled her physical and emotional pain to create incredible works of art. Nominated for six Academy Awards^®, including Best Actress.

Girl Rising - Rated PG-13

This inspiring documentary follows nine girls from different countries — Afghanistan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru, and Sierra Leone — on their journeys to acquire an education.

Golda - Rated PG-13

Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel,' faced during the Yom Kippur War while she was Prime Minister of Israel.

Gorillas in the Mist- Rated PG-13

The story of Diane Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

He Named Me Malala - Rated PG-13

The true story of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban on her way to school. Since then, she has become a vocal activist for girls' education, addressing the United Nations, establishing the Malala Fund, and pursuing a college degree at Oxford University.

Harriet - Rated PG-13

Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery and became one of America's greatest heroes. With courage and determination, she helped free hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad.

Hidden Figures - Rated PG

Based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book, Hidden Figures is the incredible true story of the black women who worked for NASA and played an instrumental role in some of America's greatest achievements. In 2017, the movie received three Academy Award^® nominations, two Golden Globe^® nominations, and nearly 80 additional nominations!

Iron-Jawed Angels - Rated TV-14

Alice Paul and Lucy Burns are not as well-known as some of the other American suffragists, but their story deserves to be told. These two activists pushed boundaries and fought valiantly for the right to vote.

👉 A Note to Parents: This made-for-HBO movie is not for young viewers; these women were brutalized and tortured in an attempt to silence their voices. But after watching this movie, I vowed to honor their sacrifices by always, ALWAYS casting my vote in every election.

The Iron Lady - Rated PG-13

Margaret Thatcher was one of the 20th century's most interesting and influential women. Get an in-depth look at the life of the first and only female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, played by Meryl Streep, one of Hollywood's most interesting and influential women, who earned an Oscar^® for this role.

Jackie - Rated R

All eyes were on Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy after the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. This movie is an intimate look at the days following his death, as Jackie struggled to walk through her own grief while preserving her husband's legacy. Natalie Portman earned a Best Actress Oscar^® nomination for her role as the iconic First Lady.

A League of Their Own - Rated PG

Although this movie about two baseball-playing sisters is fictional, it was inspired by the documentary of the same name about the short-lived, but very real, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - AAGPBL. It's a comedy, not a tear-jerker, because "there's no crying in baseball!"

Lilly - Rated PG-13

Follow the inspiring true story of Lilly Ledbetter, a trailblazer in the fight for fair pay in the United States. One of the first women to rise into management at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1979, Lilly spent years fighting for equal pay in the workplace. Her persistence helped lead to the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which protects workers’ rights to challenge ongoing pay discrimination, even if it began years earlier.

Mona Lisa Smile - Rated PG-13

Set in the 1950s, Katherine Watson is a college professor at a women-only school, where she encourages her students to question society's traditional gender roles. It isn't based on true history... or maybe it is... since many women can name a mentor who encouraged them to grow into the woman they were always meant to be.

Mulan - Rated G for animated version | Rated PG-13 for the live-action film

Based on an ancient Chinese ballad, Mulan tells the story of a young woman who disguises herself as a young man so she can take her father's place in the Imperial army.

Norma Rae - Rated PG

Based on the biography of Crystal Lee Sutton written by New York Times reporter Henry P. Leifermann, Norma Rae is a young single mother who helps unionize the employees in the textile factory where she works. Sally Field won the Oscar^® for Best Actress for her role.

On the Basis of Sex - Rated PG-13

This inspirational true story follows Ruth Bader Ginsburg early in her legal career, focusing on the landmark case that helped launch her fight for equal rights. The film highlights the challenges she faced, the cases that shaped her path, and the determination that eventually led to her nomination and confirmation as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice.

Pocahontas - Rated G

Animated: An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.

Queen of Katwe - Rated PG

A young girl from Uganda sees her life dramatically change after exploring the game of Chess.

Radioactive - Rated PG-13

The incredible true story of Marie Sklodowska-Curie and her Nobel Prize-winning work that changed the world.

RBG - Rated PG

The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.

Selena - Rated PG

The true story of Selena, a Tejano singer from Texas who quickly became a Latin music star be for her young life was cut short.

Silkwood - Rated R

Based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, one of the first nuclear whistleblowers, this powerful film follows her efforts to expose serious health and safety violations at a nuclear facility, including dangerous radiation exposure. Karen became a vocal advocate for worker safety, showing remarkable courage in the face of growing risks. The story is heartbreaking at times, but deeply moving and a testament to her determination. Though an older film, it remains a compelling and important watch.

The Six Triple Eight - Rated PG-13

An inspiring tale based on the true story of the only all-Black, all-female U.S. Army unit stationed in Europe during WWII. The 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion, made up of 855 women, was given the seemingly impossible task of fixing a three-year backlog of undelivered mail. Facing discrimination, sexism, and a country devastated by war, they managed to sort more than 17 million pieces of mail in record time. I hadn’t heard this story before and only accidentally stumbled across this awesome and powerful film — these women were true she-roes working behind the scenes.

Soul Surfer - Rated PG

Bethany Hamilton, a 13-year old professional surfer, loses her left arm in a shark attack. Unwilling to pay attention to the gravity of her situation, Bethany decides to get back into the ocean and surf again.

Suffragette - Rated PG-13

In early 20th century England, women risked all to join the growing suffragist movement and fight for equality for women. Parliament passed an act in 1918, granting the vote to more than 8 million women. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the vote was ratified in 1920.

Till - Rated PG-13

In 1955, after Emmett Till is murdered in a brutal lynching, his mother vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice.

Choosing age-appropriate movies for kids can be challenging

Choosing age-appropriate movies for kids can indeed be a daunting task, especially considering the diverse rating systems and evolving standards over time. Whether you're selecting a film for a family movie night or for your children to watch independently, it's essential to make informed decisions. To assist you in this endeavor, we've compiled a list of reliable resources that offer comprehensive movie ratings and detailed information. These resources include searchable databases and additional insights, empowering families to confidently select suitable movies for their children. Remember, taking a moment to check beforehand can prevent unexpected surprises and ensure an enjoyable viewing experience for everyone. Trust us, a little preparation goes a long way! 🍿🎬

Common Sense Media Movie Reviews: A valuable resource that rates and assesses various media content, empowering families to make informed choices for their kids.
Movieguide: A valuable resource for families seeking suitable entertainment options, covering movies, series, DVDs, and streaming. While rooted in Christian values, their reviews benefit all families concerned about child-friendly content.
IMDb: The Internet Movie Database is a helpful resource full of information related to films, television series, home videos, streaming content, plot summaries, ratings, and fan and critical reviews and more. Utilize the 'Parents Guide' feature, offering more details for some movies.
Motion Picture Association - Film Ratings: Information about the film ratings

👉 Publisher's Note:

This guide celebrating inspiring women is updated from time to time as new and noteworthy movies come across my radar. Bookmark this page and revisit it whenever you’re searching for something meaningful to watch — whether it’s family movie night or a quiet evening for yourself. If this guide is helpful, please share it with friends, and subscribe to the newsletter for more family-friendly recommendations, local events, and things to do throughout the year.

🎦 More Movies That Celebrate Inspiring Characters and Spark Meaningful Conversations

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