30 Women-Led Movies Streaming on Netflix Now

Strong women leads have been dominating the big and small screens, giving viewers a look into complex, complicated, intriguing, and inspiring women characters of all kinds. From movies that motivate to flicks you can veg out to, Netflix has titles that pack a punch with good storylines and badass female leads. The best part is, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to absorb inspiration from these kick-ass women.

The streaming service has an incredible selection of movies featuring girls and women who grow up, take risks, kick butts, and take names. We’ve rounded up a selection of women-led films you can stream now, including meditative films like “Marriage Story” to rom-coms like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Get ready to binge the best movies on Netflix featuring your favorite leading women.

– Additional reporting by Lauren Harano, Haley Lyndes, and Naomi Parris

Related: The Best Lesbian Romances to Stream on Netflix This Month

Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Marriage Story"

This dramedy stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a New York City theater director and his wife, a former teen actress turned stage performer. Charlie and Nicole’s already rocky marriage comes apart after Nicole accepts a starring role in a TV pilot and moves to Los Angeles with their son. The movie follows the subsequent unraveling of their marriage. If you need a good ugly cry, this one’s for you.

Watch “Marriage Story” on Netlfix now.

Netflix / Jessica Kourkounis

"Lost Girls"

Based on the book of the same name by Robert Kolker, this drama tells the true story of a mother who relentlessly pushes law-enforcement agents to search for her missing daughter. In the process, a series of unsolved murders are uncovered – the victims of which were young women sex workers in Long Island.

Watch “Lost Girls” on Netlfix now.

Everett Collection

"Falling Inn Love"

Netflix’s feel-good romance “Falling Inn Love” has everything you need in a cheesy rom-com: a punny title, a gorgeous setting, and a scenario built to make its leads fall in (sorry, inn) love against all odds. Singer and actress Christina Milian stars as Gabriela, a city girl who spontaneously enters a contest to “win an inn” – aka renovating the dilapidated Bellbird Valley Farm – after a breakup. Lo and behold, she’s chosen! Which means she has to travel from her home in San Francisco to New Zealand, where the Bellbird is located. Luckily, with the help of a handsome contractor (Adam Demos), Gabriela fixes the building – and her heart.

Watch “Falling Inn Love” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Linda Kallerus

"Otherhood"

Directed by “Sex and the City” executive producer Cindy Chupack, this comedy is based on the novel “Whatever Makes You Happy” by William Sutcliffe. It tells the story of three suburban moms (played by Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, and Felicity Huffman) who show up unannounced to the NYC apartments of their adult sons.

Watch “Otherhood” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Sarah Shatz

"Someone Great"

Starring “Jane the Virgin”‘s Gina Rodriguez, “Pitch Perfect”‘s Brittany Snow, and “She’s Gotta Have It”‘s DeWanda Wise, this comedy tells the story of Jenny (played by Rodriguez), an aspiring music journalist whose boyfriend of nine years unceremoniously dumps her after she lands her dream job in San Francisco. Her two BFFs, Blair and Erin (played by Snow and Wise, respectively) help her get over her ex with one last crazy weekend in New York City before she moves across the country.

Watch “Someone Great” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

"The Incredible Jessica James"

A struggling playwright navigates her career and breakup while falling for a divorced app designer in this quirky romantic comedy. Former “The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams stars as the titular heroine, and you also might recognize her costars: Lakeith Stanfield from “Get Out” and Chris O’Dowd from “The IT Crowd.”

Watch “The Incredible Jessica James” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment

"Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé"

This concert film takes viewers on an in-depth, behind-the-scenes journey into the iconic Coachella performance by world-renowned singer Beyoncé.

Watch “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” on Netflix now.

Netflix

"Juanita"

Fed up with her life, Juanita, spontaneously hits the road for a fresh start, leaving her adult children behind.

Watch “Juanita” on Netflix now.

Netflix / ALEX BAILEY/LEGENDARY ©2020

"Enola Holmes"

Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown plays Enola Holmes, a young girl who is left to the care of her two brothers, Mycroft Holmes and Sherlock Holmes, after she wakes up on her 16th birthday to find her mother gone. Mycroft wants to send her to finishing school, but Enola has other plans: she escapes to London to find her mother, becoming a detective in her own right.

Watch “Enola Holmes” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Enola Holmes 2"

Brown returns as the title heroine in “Enola Holmes 2.” Struggling to find clients for her newly launched detective agency, Enola enlists the help of her brother, Sherlock, her crush Lord Tewkesbury, and her mother to help find a missing girl.

Watch “Enola Holmes 2” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Matilda: The Musical"

As its title suggests, “Matilda: The Musical” puts a sing-song twist on the childhood classic about a little girl who stands up to her neglectful family and her bully of a headmistress using her magical power of telekinesis.

Watch “Matilda: The Musical” on Netflix now.

Netflix / DOMINIC MILLER/NETFLIX © 2021

"Malcolm & Marie"

John David Washington and Zendaya star in this drama as a film director and his girlfriend who contend with revelations about their relationship following his movie premiere.

Watch “Malcolm & Marie” on Netflix now.

Netflix / HOPPER STONE/NETFLIX © 2021 

"Thunder Force"

In this action-adventure comedy, estranged childhood best friends Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) and Emily (Octavia Spencer) reunite after Emily creates a formula that gives ordinary people superpowers in a world where supervillains are commonplace.

Watch “Thunder Force” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

"To All the Boys I've Loved Before"

Jenny Han’s bestselling novel meets the big screen in this sweet adaptation, which focuses not only on Laura Jean’s (Lana Condor) love life but also her ever-evolving relationships with her best friend and two sisters.

Watch “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

"To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You"

Lara Jean and Peter’s new relationship hits a speed bump when the last recipient of Lara Jean’s secret letters shows up. Torn between two different boys, Lara Jean struggles to figure out what she really wants out of life and love.

Watch “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Gerald's Game"

Steamy and suspenseful, the Netflix film “Gerald’s Game” is based off of Stephen King’s dark novel about a couple whose harmless sex game goes awry during a mini vacation. The woman, played by Carla Gugino, is left handcuffed to the bed while confronting her demons.

Watch “Gerald’s Game” on Netflix now.

Netflix

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

A young writer known for her comedic columns decides to switch things up by following a story about a literary and potato-peel pie society in Guernsey. She develops a close bond with the locals as she learns about their experiences during the occupation.

Watch “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Colleen Hayes/NETFLIX © 2020

"Moxie"

In “Moxie“, a shy high schooler publishes an anonymous feminist magazine calling out sexism at her school.

Watch “Moxie” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Bob Mahoney / Netflix

"Dumplin'"

An outsider for much of her life, a young girl named Willowdean Dickson (Danielle Macdonald) decides to enter her hometown’s beauty pageant – run by her ex-beauty queen mother (Jennifer Aniston) – in this coming-of-age comedy film.

Watch “Dumplin’ “ on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

"Dude"

Four best friends (Alexandra Shipp, Lucy Hale, Kathryn Prescott, and Awkwafina) navigate their final two weeks of high school while dealing with love, loss, and the stress of wondering what comes after graduation.

Watch “Dude” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Fun Mom Dinner"

A group of friends finds themselves on an unexpectedly rowdy journey through LA.

Watch “Fun Mom Dinner” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Daniel McFadden

"Step Sisters"

A sorority president and star student who dreams of attending Harvard Law School helps a rowdy rival sorority with a step-dancing competition after the group inadvertently trashes their school’s reputation.

Watch “Step Sisters” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Tina Rowden

"Nappily Ever After"

Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) seems to have it all together – until she hits a snag in her love life. After giving herself a dramatic makeover, she slowly begins to rediscover herself and what is truly important in life.

Watch “Nappily Ever After” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Steve Dietl/Netflix

"Mudbound"

Mary J. Blige and Carey Mulligan play two household matriarchs who develop an unconventional friendship in Dee Rees’s critically acclaimed historical drama “Mudbound”.

Watch “Mudbound” on Netflix now.

Netflix / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

"To the Bone"

Ellen is an anorexic teenager who becomes part of a quirky, loving group home run by her offbeat doctor. Highlighting performances from Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, and Retta, “To the Bone” is a touching drama based on the personal experiences of the film’s writer and director, Marti Noxon.

Watch “To the Bone” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Pride and Prejudice"

Keira Knightley‘s starring role as Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” holds a special place in our hearts. Elizabeth is headstrong, stubborn, and quite judgmental (the title refers to her just as much as it does to her love interest, Mr. Darcy), but she’s one of the most complicated and interesting protagonists in all of literature.

Watch “Pride and Prejudice” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Momentum Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The Young Victoria"

Emily Blunt plays Queen Victoria in “The Young Victoria,” bringing to life the queen’s courtship and marriage with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Most fictional portrayals of the monarch focus on her in her old age, so “The Young Victoria”‘s portrait of her early years is particularly remarkable.

Watch “The Young Victoria” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Arrival"

In “Arrival,” Amy Adams stars as Louise, a linguist who’s called on to help the US government communicate with aliens who have invaded all over the world. Using her skills, Louise untangles just what’s going on with their new arrivals and unlocks her own destiny in the process.

Watch “Arrival” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Miss Congeniality"

Sandra Bullock stars as FBI agent turned pageant queen Gracie Hart in “Miss Congeniality.” As she does her best to protect the other pageant contestants, she also learns to embrace all sides of herself – and some romance, too.

Watch “Miss Congeniality” on Netflix now.

Everett Collection / TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The Woman King"

“The Woman King” has a stacked cast led by Oscar winner Viola Davis. She’s joined by Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and Sheila Atim as warriors known as the Agojie who protect the kingdom of Dahomey in 1823. The fighting in this is intense, but what really sings is the bond between the women.

Watch “The Woman King” on Netflix now.

Recent Posts

Exit mobile version