Best Women Characters In Sci-Fi Cinema

Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson and Tuva Novotnyin Annihilation from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

Contributed by Cate Marquis, Melissa Thompson and Michelle Hannett

Opening in cinemas on Friday, February 23rd, is Skydance Media’s and Paramount Pictures’ ANNIHILATION.

Lena (Natalie Portman), a biologist and former soldier, joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband (Oscar Isaac) inside “Area X” — a sinister and mysterious phenomenon that is expanding across the American coastline. Once inside, the all-female expedition discovers a world of mutated landscapes and creatures, as dangerous as it is beautiful, that threatens both their lives and their sanity. From visionary writer and director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, 28 Days Later) and based on the acclaimed bestselling Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, ANNIHILATION also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez and Tuva Novotny.

Women characters in sci-fi have gone from the films of the 40’s and 50’s where they fell into the traditional roles of having to be saved, to the 1970’s and beyond where they became the brave saviors. Ripley, Sarah Connor, Princess Leia to Katniss Everdeen and Beatrice “Tris” Prior, women of the genre are now presented as ferocious, bright and intelligent warriors.

Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER L to R: Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Ayo (Florence Kasumba) with the Dora Milaje ©Marvel Studios 2018

And Marvel has done an amazing job with the portrayal of powerful women throughout their films. This is particularly true for the women of Wakanda in BLACK PANTHER, especially Dora Milaje, the all-female Wakandan Special Forces, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), the elite fighter of the Valkyrior who are incredibly powerful female warriors, and Hela (Cate Blanchett), the first lead female villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with cybernetic warrior Nebula and deadly assassin Gamorra (Karen Gillan and Zoe Saldana), and Black Widow played by Scarlett Johannson.

Theaters during the summer of 2017 saw the rise of DC Comics hero, Wonder Woman. For 75 years, Diana of Themyscira has stood as one of the world’s foremost super heroes and an icon for women worldwide. The combination of beauty, brains, and brawn, she’s been a feminist icon since her star-spangled intro in 1941.

The women of WAMG take a look at some of the best female women characters in sci-fi. While these protagonists may have began their journeys lacking the confidence or fortitude, they became strong-willed, take charge leaders that young girls and women have looked up to for decades.

Lt. Ellen Ripley from Alien series (Sigourney Weaver)

The fact that the role of Ripley was originally written for a man is part of why the character is so strong, but Ridley Scott’s decision to cast a woman and his choice of Sigourney Weaver sealed the deal on this ground-breaking sci-fi heroine. The Nostromo is a gritty working ship, even if it is in space, and a tough woman like Ripley is a perfect fit. Weaver takes this character way beyond just strong, with a woman who has brains as well as bravery, keeping her head while those around her lose theirs.

Weaver garnered an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Ellen Ripley in James Cameron’s sequel ALIENS.

Read our look at at ALIEN here.

Wonder Woman (DC Comics)

It took a group of mighty Wonder Women to rescue the 2017 summer box office. Lead by director Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright, one of the world’s greatest superheroes had the largest opening of all time and the biggest opening in June for a superhero movie. Wonder Woman was one of the best-reviewed superhero films ever and we said as much in our review of the blockbuster.

“WONDER WOMAN is here to straighten things out, and put all those squabbling men in their place. A woman superhero movie was long overdue, and Wonder Woman is a terrific character. Many agree that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman was the highlight of the ponderous BATMAN VS SUPERMAN. Having a woman director, Patty Jenkins, at the helm is just that much sweeter.”

Princess Leia from Star Wars (Carrie Fisher)

“I don’t know who you are or where you came from but from now on you’ll do as I tell you, okay?”―Leia Organa

When it comes to female badass characters, Princess Leia Organa (Skywalker) is hands-down, the OG.

Fans first met Her Highness back in 1977 in STAR WARS, the first of 5 Star Wars saga films she would appear in. From the minute we saw her, she was breaking both royal protocol and stereotype by acting as a spy for the Rebel Alliance, against the evil Imperial Empire. I mean, come on, acting as a spy and receiving stolen plans to take down an entire Empire? That’s about as badass as it gets. But to be fair, it’s in her DNA. Leia and her twin brother Luke were the children of Galactic Republic Senator Padmé Amidala, who died right after labor, and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, who had recently fallen to the dark side of the Force to become everyone’s favorite villain, Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Using both her fighting skills (she can wield a blaster with the best of them) and her sharp wit, Princess Leia is not one to tangle with. Oh, and there’s also that little thing she has called THE FORCE. Go on Leia, lead the way for all the badass chicks that followed in your footsteps.

Sarah Connor from The Terminator series (Linda Hamilton)

“I didn’t ask for this honor and I don’t want it! Any of It!” No one is born the mother of a man who will save the world, but Sarah Connor rises to the occasion and confronts Skynet and the unstoppable killing machines in the sci-fi classic. Facing the various Terminators, Connor goes from mousy waitress to a tough, buff soldier resolved to protect humanity and her son. “Do I look like the mother of the future,” she asks Kyle Reese… and to that, we say a resounding YES!

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider series (Angelina Jolie) 

Kaiser Hwang of PlayStation Magazine commented that she “brought girl power” to video games. Tomb Raider is the story that sets a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero. The latest film stars Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, but it was Angelina Jolie who boldly combined sexuality, ferocity with a sharp mind. Croft’s inherently stubborn spirit was a perfect fit for Jolie and we look forward to Vikander’s new perilous adventure earning her the name Tomb Raider.

Alice from Resident Evil series (Milla Jovovich)

Resident Evil has grown to become one the most successful game-to-movie franchise in the history of cinema, the first five installments in the franchise having grossed in excess of $1 billion worldwide and earning consistent No. 1 openings at the box-office. Thrilling fans of Capcom’s original video game and action/sci-fi movie audiences alike, the movie franchise has built up a hardcore fan base in the millions and reputation of its own over the 14 years that it has enthralled audiences with cutting edge action and a continually novel approach to the sci-fi/action genre.

In the world of cinema that is saturated with male leads in action films, Milla Jovovich’s Alice is an example of a strong female action hero who can hold her own while battling the T-virus in Raccoon City.  Jovovich is a fierce actress (as she showed in THE FIFTH ELEMENT) and she conveys focused rage well … especially against the zombie apocalypse.

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (Jennifer Lawrence)

“Who run the world? Girls!” Led by a teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen is a warrior, but a different kind.

Author Suzanne Collins has described Katniss as being an independent strong survivalist, lethal, but good at thinking outside the box in the post-apocalyptic world. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death — televised for all of Panem to see.

When the film arrived in theaters, NY Times‘ Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott examined how the film was marketed. “Just look at Kristen Stewart in those posters for the next “Snow White” movie, looking more like a killer Joan of Arc than a Disney ingénue. The female warriors of an earlier generation — Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and then Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor in the “Terminator” movies — were vessels of maternal rage, grown-ups weaponizing their protective instincts. Katniss and her cohort seem to be channeling a different kind of anger and playing to a different set of fantasies.”

Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max (Charlize Theron)

Director George Miller turned his signature Mad Max formula inside out, with Tom Hardy’s Max virtually the timid damsel to Charlize Theron’s the fierce warrior Furiosa. Theron has played tough women before, drawing on her own challenging childhood in rural South Africa, but Furiosa is bracing in her power and presence. The fiercest of the fierce, Furiosa has the drive and resourcefulness to triumph no matter how many times she’s knocked down.

The extraterrestrial (Scarlett Johansson) from UNDER THE SKIN (2014, director Jonathan Glazer)

In the part sci-fi, part horror, part mystery film UNDER THE SKIN, Scarlett Johansson plays a mysterious alien disguised as a woman, who uses her sexual appeal to lure lonely men into a room filled with viscous inky liquid into which they sink. In Glazer’s disturbing, frightening film, Johansson’s character plays out the strange ritual unthinkingly at first but a dawning awareness sends her on a quest of self-discovery. In this surreal and scary film, Scarlett Johansson creates an unforgettable character that is both human and otherworldly.

Trinity from the Matrix films (Carrie-Anne Moss)

Trinity may not be “the one” but Neo is never going to get there without her, making this strong female character the linchpin of the MATRIX films. Resourceful, intelligent, strong, and damn beautiful too, this fierce warrior is the opposite of the fainting heroines of the ’50s. In ultra-cool black leather and toting an arsenal, Trinity is the one who does the rescuing, thank you very much. Carrie-Anne Moss creates the perfect smart and smart-ass sharp-edged tool, equally skilled at computers and martial arts, to deliver the oft-clueless Neo to his destiny.

Maria from Metropolis (Brigitte Helm)

One of the most iconic images of cinema is the gleaming metal female robot in Fritz Lang’s silent sci-fi masterpiece METROPOLIS. Brigitte Helm played both Maria, the inspiring Joan of Arc-like leader of a rebellion in a futuristic city and the robot built by a mad scientist and the city’s ruthless leader to impersonate her and derail the uprising. The unforgettable image of the shining steel android robot being brought to life by arcing electricity has inspired countless imitators, including James Whale’s FRANKENSTEIN. Brigitte Helm is mesmerizing as both the strong, charismatic leader Maria and the wild, powerful evil robot “Maria” in this great classic film, made in the first feminist era when women demanded and won the vote.

Tris Prior from the Divergent series (Shailene Woodley)

A strong willed girl who’s doesn’t easily let her guard down, Woodley’s Tris embodies bravery, courage and above all intelligence. While solidifying her status as Divergent in the post-apocalyptic society, she understandably has her fears while transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Her never give up attitude is what makes her a great role model for young women and a spot on our sci-fi list.

Ryan Stone of GRAVITY (Sandra Bullock)

Facing adversity with courage is what defines Bullock’s character in Alfonso Cuaron’s GRAVITY. It is very much a woman’s passage from a place of loss and being in an emotionally numb state to a place where she rediscovers her purpose and reason for life…and then fights for it in the final riveting scene. Compared to a modern-day Ripley, Ryan Stone has also lost a child and finds the inner strength to go on. It’s clear that Ryan’s struggle is a metaphor for anyone who has to overcome adversity in life and get to the other side. It is a wonderful journey of rebirth.