These International Women’s Day movies highlight women who challenged injustice, reshaped history, and inspired new generations to fight for equality and opportunity.
Every year on March 8th, the world celebrates women—their struggles, their contributions to the fight for justice, human rights, and equality.
It is also an opportunity to pause and watch at home some of the great stories of women that have become iconic films. Parriva recommends five impactful films that highlight resilience, the fight for equality, and female empowerment. These films showcase women overcoming systemic barriers, advocating for justice, and defying traditional constraints, with powerful performances based on true stories.
Watching inspirational movies on International Women’s Day (IWD) is important because it empowers, educates, and inspires action towards gender equality by showing the strength, intelligence, and achievements of women. These films break stereotypes, highlight historical, and contemporary struggles, and amplify diverse voices, fostering a more inclusive society.
Here is why watching these films is impactful:
Promotes Representation & Inclusion: Films with strong female protagonists challenge traditional gender roles, providing young girls with role models and allowing women to see themselves portrayed authentically rather than through a limited “male gaze.”
Highlights Key Issues: Movies focusing on IWD themes (like “Choose to Challenge” or #EmbraceEquity) draw attention to ongoing struggles, such as inequality, patriarchy, and the need for systemic change.
Inspires Action & Empowerment: Stories of courageous women, both real and fictional, motivate viewers to take personal action, speak up against injustice, and foster a more equitable world.
Celebrates Progress & History: These narratives honor the trailblazers of the past and present, commemorating the journey toward women’s rights and liberation.
Educational & Relatable: Documentaries and films often share relatable stories that bring, for example, issues around female education to a wider audience, facilitating deeper discussion and understanding.
MOVIES
Iron Jawed Angels (2004): Tells the story of suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns as they risk their lives to help American women win the right to vote.
Hidden Figures (2016): Follows three brilliant African-American women at NASA who overcame racism and sexism to launch astronaut John Glenn into space.
On the Basis of Sex (2018): Explores the early career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she fights to overturn a century of gender discrimination.
The Eagle Huntress (2016): A documentary about a 13-year-old Mongolian girl who defies tradition to become the first female eagle hunter.
Erin Brockovich (2000): Based on true events, “Erin Brockovich” tells an inspiring story about single mother Erin Brockovich who achieves self-redemption through unwavering perseverance against powerful energy giants. What touches hearts most is not just the dramatic nature of her case but rather her astonishing resilience shown during dire circumstances.
