Best Movies & TV Shows With Female Leads in 2023

Publish date: 2024-06-24

Whether we consume movies and TV shows to feel entertained, to get distracted, or to feel inspired, there’s something special about watching stories where women are at the forefront. And, luckily for us, the entertainment industry has focused more and more on women in the past few years with stories of female grief, love, struggle, and everything in between.

Of course, 2023 was no different. From the inspiring story of Miep Gies in A Small Light and the fearless Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry to the incredible group of women in the upcoming musical adaptation of The Color Purple, so many of the shows and movies we’ve seen and look forward to catching up on had some incredible women in the lead.

So, as we enjoy the holiday season with family and friends, why not stream or go to the movies to watch some of these awe-inspiring stories? To check out some of our picks with powerful female characters, scroll below!

‘Barbie’
To start off the list, we couldn’t forget this year’s biggest box office hit, Barbie! The movie, which stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon and many others, tells the story of a Barbie who has an identity crisis and ventures out to the real world to see what life is all about.
'Barbie'
$5.99
on Amazon.com
‘Eileen’
Eileen, starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie, tells the story of two completely different powerhouse women. The movie, which was adapted from Ottessa Moshfegh’s bestselling novel by the same name, follows a young girl named Eileen (McKenzie) in 1964 who works at an all-boys prison and becomes enamored by the prison’s new counselor, Rebecca (Hathaway). Eileen is currently in theaters.
‘Priscilla’
After the astounding success of Elvis last year, director Sofia Coppola decided to tell the story of the woman behind the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Priscilla Presley. The movie, which is currently in theaters, tells the story of a young Priscilla (played by Cailee Spaeny) as she meets Elvis (played by Jacob Elordi) and gets wrapped up in his world.
‘Nyad’
Starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, Nyad tells the true story of Diana Nyad, a woman who began at 60 her dream to achieve the nearly impossible: to swim from Cuba to Florida across more than 100 miles of open ocean.
'Nyad'
$6.99/month
‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’
In a prequel to the beloved Hunger Games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes tells the story of an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he becomes the mentor to the young and charming Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12.
The movie is currently in theaters.
‘The Color Purple’
While it’s not simply a remake of the 1985 classic The Color Purple, this year’s musical adaptation of the movie will surely have everyone singing, dancing, and reaching for the tissue. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Chloe Bailey, 2023’s The Color Purple, which is set in the South in the 1900s, follows the story of four women who survive domestic and sexual violence and abuse thanks to one another.
The movie hits theaters on Dec. 25.
‘Polite Society’
Polite Society, starring Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya, tells the story of just how strong the bond between sisters is. The movie follows aspiring stunt woman Ria Khan (Kansara) as she starts getting suspicious of her sister Lena’s new fiancé. As they get closer to the wedding, Ria gets closer to revealing the truth about his family.
'Polite Society'
$14.99/month
‘Past Lives’
Starring Greta Lee, Past Lives is one of the most breathtaking and subtle movies of the year. The movie follows Korean-born Nora (Lee) as she reconnects with her childhood best friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) years after emigrating to the United States. When Hae Sung finally makes it to U.S. waters, the two begin to question if it’s too late for them to ever have something.
Past Lives is currently in theaters.
‘Anatomy of a Fall’
In this breakout French film, Anatomy of a Fall follows one woman (played by Sandra Hüller) as she undergoes a torturous trial for the murder of her husband (Samuel Theis).
Anatomy of a Fall is currently in theaters.
‘Poor Things’
Starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things tells the story of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman who’s brought back to life by unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Dafoe).
The Yorgos Lanthimos-directed movie is currently in theaters.
‘May December’
Starring Hollywood powerhouses Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, May December tells the story of an actress who researches the two people who inspired her next role: a woman who groomed and later married a seventh grader.
x
$6.99/month
‘The Morning Show’
While The Morning Show has had viewers glued to their screens since season one, this year’s season three has some of the show’s biggest female characters, including Jennifer Aniston’s Alex, Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley and Nicole Beharie’s Cris, in more compromising situations than ever. The show follows the hosts, executives and behind-the-scenes crew of the largest morning show in America.
'The Morning Show'
$6.99/month
‘Poker Face’
In Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne’s character Charlie has an undeniable skill: to automatically know when someone is lying or telling the truth. And, as she hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda, she meets a crazy set of characters and their crimes she can’t help but solve.
'Poker Face'
$4.99/month
‘The Last Thing He Told Me’
Starring Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, The Last Thing He Told Me is a series based on Laura Dave’s bestselling novel. The show follows a woman named Hannah (Garner) who finds herself searching for her husband, the ever-so-mysterious Owen (Coster-Waldau), with her stepdaughter Bailey (Rice) after he goes missing and just leaves a note saying “Protect Her.”
Watch 'The Last Thing He Told Me'
$6.99/month
‘Citadel’
Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, Citadel tells the story of two former spies who had their memories wiped. When sinister forces start happening, however, the former lovers begin to piece back together the life they once shared.
'Citadel'
$14.99/month
‘The Crown’
While The Crown has always fascinated us with the inside view of the British royal family, this year’s focus on Princess Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) has compelled us even more. The first part of the last season, which is currently available on Netflix, tells the story of the Princess of Wales’ last years and the stressful moments that led to her fatal car crash in Paris.
'The Crown'
$6.99/month
‘Lessons in Chemistry’
Starring Brie Larson, the TV adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry just recently reached Apple TV+. The series follows scientist Elizabeth Zott in the 1950s as she begins hosting a TV cooking show and teaching women all around the country about much more than recipes.
'Lessons in Chemistry'
$6.99/month
‘Never Have I Ever’
While she may not always make the best choices, 17-year-old Devi Vishwakumar is fearlessly herself in Never Have I Ever. The series, which released its last season this year, follows Devi and her friends as they tackle friendships, first relationships, first times and academics.
'Never Have I Ever'
$6.99/month
‘Yellowjackets’
In addition to the last season of Never Have I Ever, 2023 also saw the long-awaited second season of the fan-favorite show Yellowjackets. The series, starring Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis and Christina Ricci, follows a group of teenagers who survive a plane crash in the woods and have to deal with the consequences of their actions many decades later.
'Yellowjackets'
$7.99/month
‘A Small Light’
While we may all be familiar with the sad story of Anne Frank and her family during World War II, National Geographic’s A Small Light gives the story a whole different dimension. The series tells the incredible story of Miep Gies (played by Bel Powley), a young woman and Otto Frank’s secretary who puts her life on the line to provide for and protect the Frank and Van Pels families in the secret annex.
'A Small Light'
$7.99/month
‘All the Light We Cannot See’
In another Netflix show, All the Light We Cannot See is a book adaptation of a novel by the same name. Set in multiple periods during World War II, the series tells the story of Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti), a blind French girl who flees Paris with her father (Mark Ruffalo). Seeking refuge with her uncle (Hugh Laurie), Marie-Laure participates in his resistance by transmitting forbidden radio broadcasts.
'All the Light We Cannot See'
$6.99/month
‘Beef’
Starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, Beef tells a story of a road rage incident gone to the extreme. After one incident, two strangers, Danny and Amy, begin a feud that brings out their darkest impulses.
'Beef'
$6.99/month
‘Dead Ringers’
In a David Cronenberg reboot, Prime Video’s Dead Ringers tells the story of two twin sisters (played by Rachel Weisz) who are determined to twist the bounds of medical ethics to challenge antiquated practices and bring women’s healthcare to the forefront.
'Dead Ringers'
$14.99/month