Top 10 Badass Women in Film

It's time to indulge in a bit of female empowerment. While men are so often the leading candidates for badass heroes in films, women definitely have their share of butt-kicking screen time as well. And over the years, we’re seeing more and more strong female characters challenge gender roles by refusing to sit in the corner and just look pretty, electing instead, to kick a little ass and take down names. How does that saying go,… behaved women rarely make history?

While there are tons of examples to be had, the following top 10 are among my favorites in this estrogen-fueled badass department. Some of the characters below have appeared in multiple movies, but I only listed the films where I felt they were at their toughest. Take a look at the 10 most dangerous, toughest, badass women to appear on the silver screen - every one of which could render you a quivering, pile of mush.


Honorable Mentions:
Maggie (Bridget Fonda) – Point of No Return, 1992
Tank Girl (Lori Petty) - Tank Girl, 1995
Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) - Machete, 2010



10. Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) – Kick Ass, 2010
Come on, it's pretty impressive watching a 12-year old kick some adult butt, taking on a hundred men at once, jabbing bad guys in the throat, blowing their heads off and swearing like a sailor... that's pretty badass! Chloe Moretz steals the show as Hit-Girl, the foul-mouthed minor makes good with knives, guns and grenades, in last year's film, Kick-Ass.

Best Line:"I'm just fu**ing with you Daddy! Look, I'd love a Benchmade model 42 butterfly knife."


9. Catwoman (Michelle Phiffer) - Batman Returns, 1992
Ignoring the foul-smelling odor that Halle Berry left on the big screen in 2004, the definitive Catwoman is most definitely Michelle Pfeiffer! We already knew she was hot, but no one could have guessed that she would look that good in a leather cat-suit, and be able to over-power the men in the film with her feline ass-kicking throw-down.

Best Line: "As I was saying, I'm a woman & can't be taken for granted. Life's a bitch, now so am I."


8. Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000
Okay, honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, so I don’t remember much. But Michelle Yeoh always stuck with in my mind. Her fight scenes are incredible. For such violence, she holds so much grace, discipline, and concentration that she masters the craft beautifully. I wouldn't want to piss her off.

Best Line: "To repress one's feelings only makes them stronger."


7. Miho (Devon Aoki) - Sin City, 2005
Deadly little Miho is a mute, so she lets her swords and shuriken do the talking. Nobody wants to get on Miho’s bad side, especially men. She’ll dispatch raiders and men alike with razor-sharp accuracy and kill you before you even realize you’ve been attacked, and it’s always going to be bloody.

Best Line: "..."


6. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) - The Matrix, 1999
Clad in latex and sporting shades and slicked-back hair, Trinity rarely smiles. This probably has something to do with the revelation that the so-called “real” world is nothing more than a sophisticated virtual reality created by humanity’s mechanical overlords. But that doesn’t stop this ultra-cool heroine from carrying on the revolution, and she’s perfectly content to team up with Neo (Keanu Reeves) and go on a gun-toting rampage in an office building. Whether you need a helicopter flown or someone to look really stylish while running up the wall in slow-mo, Trinity is your gal.

Best Line: “Dodge this.”


5. Alice (Mila Jovovich) – Resident Evil, 2002
A genetic alteration gave Alice advanced strength and speed, giving her the ability to fight numerous foes at once. It wasn’t until later in these series of movies that Alice evolved into a complete bad ass, developing telekinesis and psychic abilities to go with her already increased physical abilities.

Best Line: “Is that any way to treat a lady?”


4. Fox (Angelina Jolie) - Wanted, 2008
Part of a secret order of assassins, the badass Fox has the ability to curve bullets and drive cars like Richard Petty on steroids. Tasked with helping nine-to-fiver, Wesley Gibson realize his birthright as an enlightened killer, she engages in a series of running shootouts, shows off her multiple tattoos, and demonstrates a dedication to fate that’s more than a little fanatical. We should all have a mentor this cool.

Best Line: “Your father was one of the greatest assassins who ever lived. The man who killed him is behind you.”


3. Beatrix Kiddo - The Bride (Uma Thurman) – Kill Bill 2003
Uma unleashed her badass side and we all thanked Tarantino for it. As the multi-named heroine done wrong by her assassin ex-colleagues, Uma spent two entire films getting her own back. Blood was shed. Bodies fell. Daryl Hannah lost an eye. In Kill Bill Parts 1 and 2, Uma Thurman fought her way to the top of Hollywood's deadliest women. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side.

Best Line: "I am gonna ask you questions. And every time you don't give me answers, I'm gonna cut something off. And I promise you, they will be things you will miss. Give me your other arm!"


2. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) - Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991
After spending the first movie of the franchise being relentlessly pursued by a killer robot from the future, Sarah Connor adds some major muscle mass and throws herself into the role of preparing her son to be the savior of humanity. This of course leads to her winding up in an asylum, but the resourceful Connor has no intentions of staying there long. Her breakout scene is one badass thrill-ride you don't want to miss. While her son John and the latest Terminator from the future get the majority of screen time, it’s Connor and her intense, half-crazed stare who steals the show.

Best Line: "There's 215 bones in the human body. That's one. Now don't move."


1. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) Aliens, 1981
The queen of all badasses, Ellen Ripley, has spent numerous films fighting off deadly acid-blooded aliens. And even jumping into a vat of lava wasn’t enough to stop her, as she showed up centuries later as a more lethal genetic clone of the original. But Ripley is at her best in the James Cameron installment of the franchise, staying alive and thriving while Space Marines drop left and right. The lady also knows how to operate the heck out of a cargo-loader, taking on the alien queen head-to-head while fiercely protecting the young child, Newt.

Best Line: “Get away from her you BITCH!”


So next time you're thinking of making some loud mouth, chauvinist remark, just remember, it may be directed at one of these badass women. And if you're not careful you might find yourself crawling home... or worse. The floor is now yours, so let's hear it. Who are some of your favorite Badass Women in Film?