The term “badass” is bandied about a lot these days, but in this circumstance, it means “someone…you admire or find impressive.” While all of these moments and characters are different in many ways, they have one thing in common: they showcase women’s brilliance. To celebrate International Women’s Day (on the 8th of March), here is my list of Top 10 Badass Female Moments in Film. Number one shall be the best moment out of all of them.

WARNING: There will be spoilers.

We start with an outstanding act of selflessness.

Image Description: Meg lies on the ground as Hercules gently cradles her head. While she smiles weakly up at him, he looks heartbroken and dark clouds are building overhead.

10) Meg sacrifices herself to save Hercules – Disney’s Hercules (1997)

As part of his plot to claim Mount Olympus for himself, Hades orders Meg (the underrated Susan Egan) to soften Hercules with her feminine wiles. Meg is magnificently sassy and cynical after selling her soul to save the man she loved, only for him to go off with another woman. Except Hercules is a genuine sweetheart who exchanges his super-strength to keep Meg safe. Bless him. Hades immediately tries to kill Hercules in his weakened state – only for Meg to sacrifice herself to restore his strength.

Meg’s brave act could be perceived as character development or just another stupid decision for the sake of love. With that said, Hades is the God of the Underworld; it was very likely Meg knew Hercules would eventually rescue her soul and bring her back to life. That’s forward-thinking, for sure.


Image Description: The sky is overcast as Wonder Woman strides across an open stretch of land strewn with dead trees. With her round shield strapped to her back like a shell, she pays an explosion behind her no heed.

9) Wonder Woman enters No Man’s Land – Wonder Woman (2017)

This scene was too iconic not to include here. Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) could arguably have a Top 10 Badass Moments all of her own – because y’know, she’s Wonder Woman, but that would be unfair on the other characters featured.

After leaving her home island made up entirely of women, Diana lands in the Great War. Her mission is to defeat Ares, the God of War, but she encounters much moustachioed misogyny along the way. Undeterred, Diana travels with her human beau, Trevor, and his fellow soldiers to the front. They desperately try to stop her as she climbs the ladder into No Man’s Land, but what happens next makes the soldiers really wonder (pun intended) kind of woman Diana is as she unveils her true powers on the Germans (not to mention and that fabulous outfit, though the platform shoes let it down somewhat). The moment is shot perfectly and never fails to give me goosebumps!

8) Okoye is “made” – Black Panther (2018)

I’ve already gushed about how much I love Black Panther and how Okoye is one of the main reasons for that. As General of Wakanda’s female army, and King T’Challa’s bodyguard, Okoye knows how to handle most situations – she does not, however, work well in a wig. While undercover in South Korea, it isn’t long until Okoye is caught talking in her earpiece, surrounded by bad men.

Catch!

GIF Description: In a fancy club, Okoye grimaces while a man in black winces behind her. She snatches a short brown wig off her head and throws it. The gold lights blur as the wig flings into the face of another baddie like an angry cat.

It’s a stunning fight scene, made all the more entertaining when Okoye uses that accursed headwear as a weapon of distraction. By throwing it at her assailant, she unleashes her signature spear. If those men in suits were bewildered then, they are afraid now.

7) Rey defeats Kylo Ren – Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

Say what you like about the Star Wars sequels; this moment is still brilliant. After Kylo Ren/Ben Solo murders his father Han Solo, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn, and Chewbacca vow retribution. Despite his training as a stormtrooper, Finn is quickly overpowered by a wounded Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel. Seemingly triumphant, Kylo Ren then reaches out with the Force to take the weapon as his own – that is, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber – only for it to fly through the air and land in Rey’s hands.

Image Description: A fierce battle in a snow-covered forest at night. Kylo Ren is frozen in movement (left), raising his red lightsaber. Rey (right) bares her teeth and wields a blue lightsaber with both hands.

The look of complete shock on Ben Solo’s face is hilarious, and the ensuing battle is absolutely breath-taking. We see Rey use her existing skills with long, pointy weapons, and her new Force sensitivity to conquer Kylo Ren. Also, I love snowy scenes in films, and the contrast between the dark forest and the glowing lightsabers looks stunning even on a smaller screen.

6) Natasha Romanoff outsmarts Loki – Avengers Assemble (2012)

For the longest time, Avengers Assemble was the MCU’s biggest gamble, bringing four years-worth of superheroes together. While Iron Man, Thor, Bruce Banner, and Captain America squabble, it’s Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) who uncovers the first of Loki’s schemes.

GIF Description: With an angry grimace, Loki hits the glass of his cell with a fist. Natasha flinches back in surprise and fear.

With the God of Lies oddly content locked in a cell, Romanoff intends to find out what he has done with Hawkeye. The scene is almost unbearably tense as she and Loki try to outsmart one another, but by revealing aspects of Black Widow’s dark past without batting an eyelid, it looks like Loki has won. As Natasha turns away from him in horror, Loki makes the mistake of bragging (because all villains love to monologue). Natasha then puts two and two together and figures out Loki’s dastardly plan for the Hulk.

This moment paved the way for Black Widow’s film; while we may have a little longer to wait for it than we would like, the message was and remains abundantly clear: God or not, do not mess with Natasha Romanoff.

5) Katniss prevents history from repeating itself – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)

Image Description: On a sunny day, Katniss holds her bow aloft, pulling the string back with her other hand against her cheek. She wears black armour and a finger guard. She is surrounded by people behind her.

Like Okoye and Wonder Woman, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has plenty of badass moments to choose from. However, this one has far more enormous consequences. With President Snow finally on trial for his crimes, Katniss is asked to pass sentence. Give all that Snow has put her through, Katniss is more than ready to do this. Who will replace him? Senator Coin. Except as punishment for the Capitol, she plans to put children of the higher-class families into arenas each year. It all sounds a little too familiar. So, Katniss lets her arrow fly – killing Coin instead.

I was dumbstruck by this moment when I read the novel the first time around. Katniss was a unique main character in that she was not instantly likeable, but her selfless nature shone through right to the very end. The film brought this alarmingly to life.

4) Professor McGonagall takes on Severus Snape – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

GIF Description: Hogwarts’ Great Hall is dim and crowded with students. They shuffle back to give Snape and McGonagall space. Harry jerks away as she attacks Snape first with a fiery spell which he deflects, again, and again, six times. As McGonagall flourishes her wand over her head, ready for another go, Snape finally Disapparates, spiralling out of the window in a wispy, black form and vanishing into the night.

Following the death of Professor Dumbledore, Harry’s journey to find all of Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes brings him back to Hogwarts. With Severus Snape now Headmaster, Harry is more than ready to confront his most hated teacher (not to mention Dumbledore’s killer). Harry is not alone, however. The other students might gasp as Snape pulls out his wand, but when Professor McGonagall (the magnificent Dame Maggie Smith) steps forth to defend Harry? They jump back in fear as Gryffindor’s most formidable Transfiguration teacher unleashes every bit of her fury on Snape before flees out of a window.

The films omit many of McGonagall’s best moments (particularly in the Order of the Phoenix, but that’s for another review). Nevertheless, this moment of unapologetic vitriol against Snape more than made up for that.

Speaking of brilliant witches…

I could watch this all day!

GIF Description: With a forest backdrop, Draco Malfoy, and one of his sidekicks, sneer as Hermione turns away. Then she swings back and hits Draco right between the eyes, and he crumples against an up-upended rock. His friend grabs his shoulder, looking worried.

3) Hermione punches Draco Malfoy in the face – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Draco Malfoy is the epitome of a smug Slytherin. When he’s not threatening to tell his father on anyone who would oppose him, he also enjoys nothing more than calling Hermione a “Mudblood.” Still, unlike Harry and Ron, Hermione uses her brain rather than her fists to prove a point – that is, until Buckbeak the Hippogriff is wrongfully put to death for injuring Malfoy. A furious Hermione goes so far as to threaten Malfoy with her wand, but as he whimpers, a bewildered Harry and Ron tell her that he’s not worth it. Hermione backs down, turns to leave, only for Malfoy to laugh at her. Hermione then does what we were all waiting for, swinging around and punching him right in the face.

The best part about it, Harry and Hermione get to see it twice…because, you know, time-travel. It was a long while coming, but it was so worth it and so very satisfying.

2) Elle Woods triumphs in the courtroom – Legally Blonde (2001)

Image Description: In an otherwise dull and drab courtroom, Elle is resplendent in a bright pink dress with a sequined belt. Her blonde hair tumbles down her shoulders as she leans on a book on her desk with her other hand on her hip. The public gallery is full. Elle smiles confidently. Her client, Brooke, smirks at the desk beside Luke, Elle’s friend, who looks nervous.

When her lawyer boyfriend breaks up with her because she’s “too blonde,” sorority girl Elle decides to prove him wrong by getting accepted at Harvard Law School. She is undermined by almost everyone, but Elle powers through. She defends Brooke Windham, a successful fitness instructor accused of killing her husband. Though she is the only one who believes that Brooke is innocent, Elle is still an intern and is nervous in the courtroom at first. However, with her knowledge of hair products and the differences between gay and straight men, Elle uncovers the truth. The chorus of “oh my God!” around the room (including the judge) makes it all that more incredible.

While it’s somewhat of a cheesy, guilty pleasure of mine these days, I would go so far as to say Legally Blonde was way ahead of its time. Elle navigates misogyny and bitchy women on all sides, but so as the music swells, it’s hard not to get a little choked up. To paraphrase Elle, “She did it!”

Honourable Mentions:

Molly Weasley VS Bellatrix Lestrange – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Princess Fiona beats the Sherwood out of Robin Hood and his Merry Men – Shrek (2001)

Andy keeps on fighting despite not healing – The Old Guard (2020)

1) Eowyn vanquishes the Witch-King of Angmar - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

For all Tolkien’s impressive world-building, Middle Earth doesn’t have many female characters. Okay, the few that exist are awesome as hell (see also: Galadriel), but none more so than Eowyn. Her sub-plot kind of fizzles out towards the end of the film, but at its peak, it is one of the most legendary (and quotable) film sequences of the early 2000s.

Now that’s what I call sticking it to the man…

Image Description: As the final battle for Middle Earth rages around them, we see the back of the Witch-King’s spiked helmet. Eowyn stabs him in the face with her sword, long blonde hair loose and arm partially obscuring her face.

We first meet Eowyn (Miranda Otto) in The Two Towers. Orcs are running wild, and she desperately beseeches her uncle, King Théoden is under the evil Saruman’s spell. We later learn that Eowyn is a Shield-maiden of Rohan and pretty damned nifty with a sword. Even Aragorn, the erstwhile and future King of Gondor, admires her, although only platonically (he only like brunettes and elves, apparently).

We don’t see any of Eowyn’s sword skills until The Return of the King. After sneaking into the king’s army with Merry, it turns out they are a superb team, riding on horseback, killing orcs, and slicing giant oliphants left, right, and centre. It looks as though Rohan has saved Gondor after all. Enter the Lord of the Nazgûl on his fell beast, attacking King Théoden right before Eowyn’s eyes. She takes on the Witch-King and his terrifying mace as he whispers about how no man can kill him (which was previously confirmed by Gandalf. Thanks, Gandalf). Though Merry wounds the Witch-King, Eowyn fatally stabs him in the hole where his face should be, after saying those fateful words.

“I am no man.”

It still gives me the happy chills nearly twenty years on.

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So, those were my top 10 Badass Female Moments in Film. Do you agree? If not, what is your favourite moment? Let me know on @WheelsOfViolets. You can also find out more about International Women’s Day here.

Sources:

Dictionary definition of “badass” - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/badass

Image: Meg and Hercules - https://thedisneywoman.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/meg/

Image: Wonder Woman/Diana Prince - https://carlocarrasco.com/2019/03/09/why-the-no-mans-land-scene-in-wonder-woman-is-iconic/comment-page-1/

GIF: Okoye - https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/chosen-one-of-the-day-okoyes-throwing-wig-from-black-panther

Image: Kylo Ren VS Rey

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsCantina/comments/9w3w1m/rey_vs_kylo_round_2_who_do_you_think_will_win_who/

GIF: Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff and Loki - https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/16608/what-are-these-events-from-widows-past

Image: Katniss Everdeen - https://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/movies/athe-hunger-games-mockingjay-a-part-2a

GIF: Professor McGonagall VS Severus Snape - https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Ousting_of_Severus_Snape

GIF: Hermione Granger – https://www.buzzfeed.com/morganmurrell/emma-watson-punch-tom-felton-harry-potter-movie

Image: Elle Woods - https://livinthedistrict.com/2019/12/20/why-elle-woods-is-my-generations-it-girl/