Dan Trachtenberg's latest Predator film, streaming now on Hulu, stars Amber Midthunder as Naru, a Comanche woman who battles a towering space alien. Midthunder's most recent role is the latest of great science fiction heroines in film.
Science fiction is usually a genre starring resourceful and cocky heroes, with the heroine or sidekick being saved. Women of these films have stepped up to the plate and become leaders in their own right. These sci-fi heroes stand out for their leadership in high-stakes, high-pressure situations.
Neytiri (Avatar)
Neytiri, the Na'vi heroine in James Cameron's 2009 sci-fi epic, Avatar, starts the film as the enemy alien to ex-Marine Jake Sully, who infiltrates Pandora's native race to learn their ways. She is revealed to be incredibly fierce and always puts her people first.
Neytiri's love for the Na'vi and her resolute determination to protect their ancient ways outweighs anything else, even her budding romance with Jake. When it becomes apparent Jake has betrayed them and the humans are infiltrating Home Tree, Neytiri steps up to help the Na'vi get to safety. Though she's blindsided by the betrayal, her fierce need to safeguard her family makes her a great heroine.
Trinity (The Matrix)
Trinity is the lead female protagonist of the Matrix trilogy, and is a computer programmer who escaped from The Matrix. She also serves as Neo's love interest. Her adept skills in martial arts serve her well when protecting herself and her friends.
Trinity is Neo's closest ally beyond Morpheus, and is a stern and respected member of the Alliance. She's a deadly combatant to her enemies, and fiercely supports Morpheus in his endeavors against The Matrix. While she follows the Oracle's prophecy and falls in love with Neo, it's an important connection that aids him in his journey.
Rey (Star Wars)
Rey is the quintessential female heroine whose resourcefulness and spirit audiences follow through the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Rey has had some great moments, and although fans have had polarizing opinions on the sequel trilogy, her strategic and driven mindset makes her a great heroine.
Rey makes some big, life-altering decisions throughout the trilogy, but audiences empathize with her. When fans first meet Rey, her solitary life on Jakku is disrupted by her decision to help BB-8. In the last two installments, due to her connection to the dark side, she's pulled in different directions emotionally but doesn't falter in doing what is right. Her need to save the galaxy is apparent in all three installments, and she's rarely led astray in her conviction.
Zoe Washburne (Serenity)
Serenity is based on the beloved, canceled science fiction television show, Firefly starring Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, and Gina Torres among others. Zoe Washburne is one of the female heroes aboard the spaceship, Serenity, and her clear-cut intelligence makes her a great leader.
Zoe is fiercely loyal to Mal as she serves on his crew aboard Serenity. Having been a veteran of the Unification War, she knows how to make hard decisions, lead both by emotion and by reason. Her rationale and calm demeanor often aid the crew in various zany situations, and her strength in leadership is instrumental to them.
Gamora (Guardians Of The Galaxy)
Gamora appears as the lead female protagonist in Marvel's 2014 film, Guardians of the Galaxy. She's quick, resourceful, and on a mission to steal the orb (an Infinity Stone) when she joins Peter Quill and Rocket. Together they become a rag-tag crew of galaxy-trotting superheroes.
Gamora is incredibly resourceful and her desire to break from her father's influence leads her down a path of selfless leadership. Her need to protect Xandar from Ronan and her father shows her empathy and compassion, and she's a dutiful companion to her friends. Her rationale cements her status as a heroine who seeks to help rather than destroy.
Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery)
In Star Trek: Discovery, Michael Burnham begins the series having committed mutiny, and establishes herself as a determined protagonist with a unique tie to Spock that improves her experience.
The emotional conflict in Burnham is perhaps her greatest asset as a protagonist. A human living in an alien world, Burnham's experiences only illuminate her leadership qualities. As a Vulcan-raised first officer, she spends the first season paving the way for a redemptive arc, gaining the trust of her crew on Discovery. Over four seasons, she remains a leader to stand by.
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
The film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian YA series of the same name follows a fierce but poor girl who participates in a game to the death. Catapulting Jennifer Lawrence to fame and fortune, Katniss has many strengths and is a heroine who knows how to survive.
Since Katniss' home life in the poorer District 12 required her to fend for herself, she uses many of her life-sustaining skills to survive the Hunger Games. She's a survivor by nature and knows how to hunt, track, and use a bow and arrow. Throughout the four films, she proves herself a worthy adversary and a strong leader.
Sarah Connor (The Terminator)
James Cameron's The Terminator franchise kicked off with a dystopian future where a cyborg assassin from the future comes to kill a woman whose unborn son has a bold destiny. Sarah Connor is at the center of this sci-fi adventure, and her team-up with Kyle helps her in her ultimate mission.
Conner is incredibly self-sufficient, and she's a strong protagonist. Her drive to protect her unborn son, and her unlikely bond with Kyle help her throughout the film. Her need to defeat the Terminator and throw off Skynet makes her a capable hero. Conner eventually fends off the killer cyborg, and after Kyle is killed, she begins to understand how to be a good mentor to John.
Ellen Ripley (Alien)
1979's Alien was a masterpiece of science fiction, using classic movie monster jump scares and likable characters to draw in audiences. Viewers follow Sigourney Weaver's central heroine, Ripley, as she and her spaceship crew are terrorized by a fearsome alien. Ripley's draw for audiences is her relatable reluctance in her role, and is one of the greatest sci-fi heroines of all time.
Throughout this film, Ripley is mostly led by fear, especially in the latter half of the film when she's on her own. Her need for survival outweighs all else, and she frequently takes the lead in dire situations. She's the only character to confront Ash for plotting to take the creature back to Earth and uses several tactics to outsmart the alien, including hiding in plain sight and flushing it out with gas.
Imperator Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)
2015's Mad Max: Fury Road is George Miller's standalone sequel/reboot of the 1979 Mad Max action film. Starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, this dystopian chase film utilizes lush visuals and masterful special effects that help the desert wasteland come to life.
Furiosa's plight to help Immortan Joe's wives and her partnership with Hardy's Mad Max makes her a character driven by intelligence. She's incredibly fearsome with her mechanical arm, and her drive through the film is centered on returning to the lush, feminine land of her childhood. Furiosa tears up the road, and she never lets her unwavering spirit run out of fuel.