Although the cinema world is beginning to change and diversify, it's still undeniable that men are the focal point of many "based on a true story" movies that make it to the big screen. But, that doesn't mean that there isn't a plethora of great dramatized biopics about really fascinating and badass ladies too.
Whether it's an average woman who is on a journey of self-discovery or a literal queen, an incredibly famous name or someone no one has ever heard of, these are the best female-led movies about real people and stories.
Can You Ever Forgive Me
While she is best known for her comedic abilities, her slightly more dramatic turn in Can You Ever Forgive Me? demonstrated Melissa McCarthy's chops as a true leading lady who can carry her own movie.
The film is based on real-life author and literary forger Lee Israel. When Israel hits a career low, she decides to start writing fake letters from deceased celebrities in order to support herself, and manages to create her own cottage industry out of the fakery.
Wild
Reese Witherspoon takes on one of her best roles in Wild, the big-screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's memoir about her journey hiking over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Despite tackling such a long and grueling goal, Strayed had no real hiking experience and learned much of her skills as she went. Strayed spent nearly a hundred days on the trail, and thankfully survived despite encountering some seriously dire circumstances (although luckily she encountered some great people along the way too).
Erin Brockovich
While many biopics that follow true stories are about characters that seemed destined for greatness, one of the most appealing aspects of Erin Brockovich is that the titular character feels very much like an everywoman.
Julia Roberts plays Brockovich, a legal clerk who helped to uncover the water contamination from Pacific Gas & Electric that was causing an entire town a litany of serious health problems. Roberts won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the plucky real-life heroine.
The Iron Lady
Margaret Thatcher has been portrayed by many actors in TV and film throughout the years, but unsuprisingly Meryl Streep might just be the best to ever tackle the role of the intense, idiosyncratic politician.
Although Thatcher was one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in UK history (as well as being the first woman in the position), the perspective on the aggressively conservative leader is mixed. Even with that said, her impact on English history is undeniable, and Streep makes her fascinating to watch.
The Blind Side
Undoubtedly, The Blind Side wouldn't have become nearly the critical or commercial success that it was were it not for Sandra Bullock's great performance and effortless charm. She manages to make the unflappable, sometimes disagreeable Leigh Anne Tuohy consistently appealing and dimensional.
The true story of Tuohy and her adopted son-turned-professional football player Michael Oher is impressive, but it's really the relationship that develops between them throughout the movie that makes this film worth all the attention and accolades.
On The Basis Of Sex
On The Basis Of Sex was a great insight into the early years of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's burgeoning career and landmark work on gender discrimination in professional settings.
Most viewers would expect the film to be a rousing, heroic story arc, but On The Basis Of Sex really punctuates the difficulties of Ginsburg's undertaking by highlighting her failed attempts at changing things rather than her successes. And, the film thankfully shows much of her human side and the realities that made her so passionate about altering these legal precedents.
Julie & Julia
In a bit of lighter fare, Julie & Julia is a fun film that tells the parallel story of Julia Child, one of the most famous chefs in history, and Julie Powell, a writer who aspires to cook every recipe in Child's cookbook over the course of one year.
Amy Adams and Meryl Streep really carry both sides of this film, and Nora Ephron's masterful directing made the filmmaker's final film into something that was both heartfelt and memorable.
Hidden Figures
The title of Hidden Figures is really apropos, as it examines the story of real-life Black women who were the backbone of some of NASA's biggest projects.
The trio of leads in Janelle Monáe, Taraji P. Henson, and Octavia Spencer play mathematicians that made huge contributions to America's space program while being treated as second-class citizens by their employers. The film shines a light both on the injustice that these women faced, and these brilliant minds who should be household names.
Elizabeth
There are plenty of royal women in history who have earned their own film adaptation, but arguably the most iconic queen is the focus of one of the best biopics.
Cate Blanchett plays Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth, a film that chronicles the early years of Henry VIII's heir. Given that the Elizabethan age is one of the heights of England's culture, it's fascinating to see a young and inexperienced leader find her footing and rebuild the currently chaotic country.
Silkwood
This mostly forgotten biopic is absolutely a hidden gem of female-led movies. Meryl Streep once again carries the lead playing Karen Silkwood, a nuclear plant worker who revolutionized the safety protocols for employees handling dangerous materials and who ultimately died under very suspicious circumstances.
Cher also plays a supporting role in the film in a surprisingly dressed-down and understated performance, and the movie really shines in the sense that it doesn't seek to glamorize or sanitize its occasionally unappealing subjects.