Don't underestimate the power of strong female leads at the box office. Here is a list of some of the most butt-kickingest female characters in film.
Lucy, 'Lucy' (2014)
ScarJo becomes a superhuman merciless warrior after drugs are implanted in her body by the mob. We’re guessing they were something stronger than a few Xanax.
Trinity, 'The Matrix' movies (1999-2003)
No one knows Trinity’s real back story, but we suspect she was just a regular, run-of-the-mill computer hacker before Carrie-Anne Moss made her a “leather-clad butt-kicking girl.”
Rita, 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014)
Emily Blunt is known for almost killing Tom Cruise while filming this action/sci-fi thriller, by accidentally driving them both into a tree.
The Powerpuff Girls, 'The Powerpuff Girls Movie' (2002)
When Professor Utonium sought to create the perfect little girls, he added a mix of sugar, spice and everything nice. Sounds perfectly ordinary…until Chemical X accidentally was added to the mix, changing these three little ordinary girls into kickass heroines with superpowers.
Elsa and Anna, 'Frozen' (2013)
Okay, so they don’t have bows and arrows, guns or sexy leather catsuits. But these two princesses have succeeded in annihilating the competition at the box office – accumulating over $1.2 billion worldwide (so far). That’s some serious butt-kicking indeed.
Merida, 'Brave'
Okay, so this Girl Next Door also happens to be a princess – that’s how it works in fairy tales. But she’s a normal girl who knows how to shoot an arrow like a kick-ass warrior!
Elastigirl, 'The Incredibles'
One minute she’s a mom throwing dinner together for her kids, vacuuming the house and organizing the carpool. The next minute, she’s throwing on a supertight catsuit (despite those extra post-baby pounds) and fighting the forces of evil.
Samantha Caine, 'The Long Kiss Goodnight'
Geena Davis plays a schoolteacher and mom in a small town… who realizes she has amnesia and is really a professional assassin.
Sarah Connor, 'Terminator 2'
In 'The Terminator,' Linda Hamilton played a waitress with mall hair. But by the sequel, she’s a buff, badass mom who’s not about to let anyone mess with her or her kid.
Buffy, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
Kristy Swanson originated this iconic role of teen Girl Next Door who discovers it’s her fate to hunt vampires.
Hit Girl, 'Kick-Ass'
She’s your normal 11-year-old girl. Who bonds with her father by letting him train her to be a superhero and assassin. Couldn’t just do the father-daughter school dance thing, huh?
Mathilda, 'The Professional'
At 11 years old, Natalie Portman played an orphaned girl rescued by a professional assassin who trains her in the skills of his trade.
Ripley, the 'Alien' movies
When we first meet Sigourney Weaver’s iconic character, she is a warrant officer aboard a spaceship. A far cry from the bald-headed alien-fighting machine she will become.
Katniss, 'The Hunger Games' movies
Okay, so maybe this girl next door was a hunter, but not of people. Not until the Hunger Games.
Azumi, 'Azumi'
Orphaned as a child, Azumi is a trained to become an assassin of corrupt warlords. Is there any other kind?
Invisible Woman, 'Fantastic Four'
Jessica Alba plays Sue Storm, who goes from professional astronaut to superheroine after cosmic radiation exposure.
Mikaela Banes, 'Transformers'
Megan Fox plays the Girl Next Door – if the girl next door looked like a supermodel – who knows how to use a chainsaw as a weapon.
Alice, 'Resident Evil'
Actress/model Milla Jovovich is just your average amnesiac next door who winds up fighting zombies.
Black Widow, 'Iron Man 2'
Scarlett Johansson is Tony Stark’s assistant. A regular girl. Or so we think…. (Maybe that tight catsuit gave away the whole undercover-spy-superhero thing.)
Selene, 'Underworld'
Kate Beckinsale plays Selene, a Girl Next Door born to a blacksmith father. But then she becomes a vampire and a Death Dealer. You know, the typical Everygirl story.
Buy a ticket to the Winter Olympics and get 20% off the Team USA Shop!
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Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 9am PT on 1/14/26 and 11:59pm PT on 2/15/26 and purchase at least one movie ticket to "Wuthering Heights." Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing a link (“Link”) to the Atlantic website that is good for 15% off the purchase of the Charli xcx Wuthering Heights vinyl. Link expires, and can no longer be used, at 11:59pm PT on 2/18/26. Limit 1 purchase per Link. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive the Link. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. This offer is subject to Fandango’s terms and policies at https://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies and the Link is subject to Atlantic's terms and policies at https://www.atlanticrecords.com/terms-of-use.
Buy a ticket to Hoppers for a chance to win a trip for 2 to the Toy Story 5 Premiere!
NO PURCHASE OR APP NECESSARY. Purchase does not increase chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age and older, provided, however, that Grand Prize Winner must be 21+, or 18+ and accompanied by a guest that is 21+. Void where prohibited. Ends March 15, 2026, visit https://www.fandangomovietickets.com/hopintoadventuresweepstakes. Sponsor: Fandango Media, LLC, 10 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608.
This is your bias check—experience Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience and pull an exclusive OT8 photocard set, only with this Fandango bundle.
*STAY Together Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Fandango Exclusive OT8 Photocard Set will begin shipping in February. Please use a physical U.S. address where the photocard set shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/stay-together-bundle
Celebrate the rise, the rivalry, and the moments that make legends!
*GOAT bobblehead bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The bobblehead will begin shipping in March. Please use a physical U.S. address where the bobblehead shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/goatbobbleheadbundle.
Buy 1 ticket to see the Winter Olympics in theaters, get 1 free (with purchase of ticket of equal or greater price, up to $15 total) with code OLYMPICSBOGO.
Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log into your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 1/23/26 and 2/22/26, buy at least one adult ticket to see the Winter Olympics at a participating Fandango theater, and use the Fandango Promotional Code OLYMPICSBOGO (""Code"") to get up to $15 off a second ticket (equal or lesser value, up to $15 total ticket price and associated fees and charges) in the same transaction for the same showtime. Code expires, and can no longer be used, upon the earlier of 11:59pm PT on 2/22/26, or the limit of Code redemptions being reached, or the Winter Olympics no longer being available in theaters. One-time use only. Code must be entered at checkout. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. If cost of additional movie ticket and associated fees and charges is more than Code's maximum discount, then user must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code's maximum discount will not be refunded. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to redeem a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Void where prohibited. Not valid with any other offer. Offer valid in U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). Non-transferable. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. You may have to pay taxes additionally. Limit one Code per person. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Draft your team and bring your starting lineup to GOAT! Buy 4 tickets, get 1 free (equal or lesser price, up to $15) with code GOATB4G1.
Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log into your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 6:00am PT on 1/21/26 and 11:59pm PT on 4/30/26, purchase at least four (4) tickets to see GOAT, and use the Fandango Promotional Code GOATB4G1 (“Code”) to get up to $15 off one (1) additional ticket for the same showtime (equal or lesser value, up to $15 total ticket price and associated fees and charges). Code must be entered at checkout. Code expires and can no longer be used after 11:59pm PT on 4/30/26, or when GOAT is no longer in theaters, or when the limit of Code redemptions is reached, whichever comes first. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. You must have a Fandango account, and be logged into your account, to use the Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Void where prohibited. Not valid with any other offer. Offer valid in U.S. only (excluding U.S territories and where prohibited by law). Non-transferable. One-time use only. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. You may have to pay taxes additionally. If cost of the ticket (and associated fees and charges) obtained through the Code is more than Code’s maximum discount, then you must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code’s maximum discount will not be refunded. Limit 1 Code redemption per person. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Buy a ticket to I Can Only Imagine 2, get $5 off the I Can Only Imagine 2-Film bundle on Fandango at Home.
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 9pm PT on 1/27/26 and 11:59pm PT on 3/6/26 and purchase at least one movie ticket to I Can Only Imagine 2. Purchaser will receive a post-purchase email containing 1 Fandango at Home Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for $5 off the purchase (and not the rental) of the I Can Only Imagine 2-Film Bundle in My Offers in your account on http://athome.fandango.com and via participating Fandango at Home apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires on (and must be used by) 3/9/26 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You must have a Fandango at Home account to redeem your Code on Fandango at Home. Fandango at Home is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to open a Fandango at Home account. Credit card may be required for transactions on fandangoathome.com. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Pond Crew Pin Bundle and receive one movie ticket to Hoppers ticket plus one exclusive character pin featuring Mabel, Tom, or King George!
*Pond Crew Pin Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. Official Disney Exclusive Collector Pin will begin shipping in February. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Official Disney Exclusive Collector Pin shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/pondcrewpinbundle
FanClub members get 2 free tickets for the Winter Olympics in theaters with code OLYMPICSFREETICKET. Not a member? Add FanClub to your cart and your free tickets will be unlocked automatically
The “FanClub Members Get 2 Free Tickets Promotion” offer (the “Offer”) will run for a limited time and is available to both existing and new Fandango FanClub members, subject to the terms below. Existing Fandango FanClub members may receive up to two (2) free Winter Olympics 2026 tickets by entering promo code OLYMPICSFREETICKET at checkout during a qualifying purchase of Winter Olympics 2026 tickets on Fandango. Non-members must enroll in a paid Fandango FanClub membership by adding one (1) month of FanClub ($9.99/month + tax) to their cart during checkout of a Winter Olympics 2026 ticket purchase to qualify for the Offer; when FanClub is added to the cart, the Offer will be automatically applied at checkout and no promo code is required. The Offer is non-transferable, has no cash value, and adjustments to prior purchases are not permitted. Fandango reserves the right to withdraw or modify this Offer at any time, in its sole discretion and without notice. Additional terms and conditions apply. See the Fandango FanClub Program Terms for details at //www.fandango.com/policies/fanclub-terms.
Love classic films? Love someone who loves classic films? Check out Turner Classic Movies Film Festival exclusive holiday gifting items through Fandango FanStore.