Fantastic Female-Led Films that Men Should Watch
While women are still drastically underrepresented in film (only 30% of speaking roles are given to female characters), things are improving all the time, and 2015 on its own was a great year for the unsung heroes of cinema. There’s a common misconception that female-driven films are somehow only for women to watch and enjoy, with "women’s cinema" still being bandied around as a genre even though there is no equivalent "men’s cinema." There’s no reason for men not to enjoy these films just because they focus on female experiences, and there are plenty of fantastic movies that can be enjoyed by both men and women. Here are just some of the best.
Mean Girls
A cult classic in its own right, this female-led high school movie proved to be the exact opposite of what everyone was expecting. While on its surface it seemed like another candy-pink and shallow chick flick, "Mean Girls" actually turned out to be one of the funniest, most quotable and sharply satirical comments on high school life ever put to film. Written by comedian Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan leads the movie as a home-schooled student attempting to navigate the horrors of the average American high school where "the Plastics" reign supreme.
Bridesmaids
Who says that gross-out humour is just for the boys? 2011’s comedy "Bridesmaids" showed that women are just as capable at being foul-mouthed and outrageous, and remains a comedy classic five years down the line. Following the antics of Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, as she tries to keep her position of maid of honor for her friend’s upcoming nuptials, all the while trying to keep another woman from taking the job away from her while keeping everything on track. Rude and very crude indeed, "Bridesmaids" proved to be a smash hit with men and women alike and is a definite crowd-pleaser. You can even play "Bridesmaids"-themed slots through online casinos like Royal Vegas Casino, which represents the licensed movie games. Games like this often tie into popular movies and television programs, so it’s refreshing to see one of the strongest female-centric movies of the last 10 years being featured on sites like these.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Sure, it’s called Mad Max, but 2015’s smash hit action movie proved to be more about the female characters than Max himself. The post-apocalyptic road movie distinctly revolves around Charlize Theron’s character, the indomitable Furiosa. Max takes on the role as bystander as he helps Furiosa smuggle three women across the desert to a safe place, all the while fleeing the convoy of the big bad, Immortan Joe. Visually stunning, high-octane and compellingly watchable, "Mad Max: Fury Road" is proof that women can successfully lead an action movie and smash the box office takings too.
The Hunger Games Series
The young-adult book genre has sparked a spate of high-budget adaptions, and as the genre is typically geared towards girls and women we’ve seen an increase in female action stars over the last decade, and there’s no better role model for the disaffected youth than Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire. The story of the teenager accidentally sparking a revolution in the oppressive dictatorship of Panem has really captured the imaginations of men and women alike, and the franchise has smashed box-office records reliably over the last four years. It’s not hard to see why; the story is compelling, the world-building very strong and the gender dynamics incredibly progressive.
Now that the franchise has come to a close with "Mockingjay: Part 2," there’s no better time for guys to check out the action series and watch the revolution unfold.
As you can see, female-led movies are becoming about broader experiences and are finally starting to break into mainstream consciousness. The rise in themed slots like the "Bridesmaids" game at Royal Vegas Casino shows that interest in such films is on the rise and shows no signs of letting up. Let’s hope 2016 is just as strong a year for female-led cinema and that we’ll be seeing more classics stacking up.