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Netflix‘s latest flick, The Most Hated Woman in America, tells the story of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the atheist activist who was kidnapped and murdered in 1995. This tragic, complex true story being put to screen is certainly not the first told about a dynamic woman; ladies have been at the center of powerful biopics for years. Whether a famous singer, serial killer, or lawyer, these women lived fascinating lives that eventually lent themselves to make great movies.
While there have certainly not been nearly enough movies about amazing women from history (ladies like Harriet Tubman, Josephine Baker, and Amalie Noether are a few just begging for a movie to be made about their incredible life stories), there have been a handful of truly great female biopics. Here are the top ten available to stream.
'La Vie En Rose'
Marion Cotillard won an Academy Award for her performance as Édith Piaf in French film La Vie en Rose, a non-linear telling of the troubled singer’s life and struggles from childhood. Cotillard truly gives her all to the role; she’s intense, emotional, and completely dedicated. While the film itself may lag at moments, Cotillard’s performance compensates for all of its weaknesses.
'Selena'
Jennifer Lopez stars as beloved late singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez in this biopic that chronicles her rise to stardom. The film focuses on her successes and relationships rather than dealing heavily with her tragic murder, and Lopez shines in this breakthrough role. Selena was clearly a magical young woman taken too soon, and the film does a beautiful job at capturing her energy and spirit.
'The Queen'
While many movies have been made about Britain’s Royal family, few have had as detailed and nuanced a focus as The Queen. Starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, the film chronicles the tragic death of Princess Diana and the backlash that the Queen and the rest of the family received after appearing unsympathetic to her death. Mirren won an Academy Award for her performance, and it’s not hard to see why.
'Erin Brockovich'
In this dramatization of a real legal case that brought down a California power company that was polluting a city’s water supply, Julia Roberts stars as the still-practicing Erin Brockovich. Roberts won an Academy Award for her performance as the ferocious, determined, single mother-of-three who refused to back down even when the going got tough. This real-life spin on the David and Goliath tale is one you won’t want to skip.
'My Week With Marilyn'
Michelle Williams won a Golden Globe and earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance as famed blonde screen vixen Marilyn Monroe in this small snippet of her life during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. The film chronicles Monroe’s tense relationship with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and relationship with young filmmaker Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne). Williams delivers a layered, vulnerable performance as the infamous woman who so desperately wanted love and acceptance.
'Monster'
Charlize Theron is near-unrecognizable in her Oscar-winning turn as real-life prostitute-turned-serial-killer Aileen Wuornos. Her performance is one sure to be burned into your brain forever. Female serial killers are rare, but Wuornos lured men under the guise of her occupation as a hooker and eventually murdered and robbed them. Also starring Christina Ricci, this gripping thriller is harrowing in more ways than one.
'Wild'
If you need to remember Reese Witherspoon as a happier character than her Big Little Lies role, give Wild a go. This moving biopic about author Cheryl Strayed’s solo 1,100 mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail somehow manages to be simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, and features one of the best performances of Witherspoon’s career.
'Frida'
Directed by Julie Taymor and starring Salma Hayek, this film tells the story of surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. This passionate, visually stunning (as if we would expect anything else from Taymor) account of her personal and public life paints a picture as colorful as the late Kahlo’s work.
'Julie & Julia'
This Nora Ephron film tells the story of two amazing women: chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams). The beginnings of Child’s career are presented alongside contemporary, Queens-based blogger Powell as she attempts to cook her way through Child’s cookbook. The growth of both characters alongside each other and their respective chemistries with their male counterparts combine to make this film a heartwarming and breathtaking one.
'What's Love Got to Do with It'
Angela Bassett stars as Tina Turner in the story of the singer’s rise to stardom and relationship with abusive husband Ike Turner (the brilliant and terrifying Laurence Fishburne). The film is a hard-hitting revelation about the dark side of Turner’s life and how hard she fought to reclaim her life and independence. This glamorous and dynamic journey through Turner’s rapid rise to stardom and eventual turn to Buddhism and discovery of her solace serves as a showcase for every actor involved.
