# How many more uberviolent ass-kicking chick movies will they make? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506 "2006-02-01T15:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/1 "2006-02-01T15:02:13Z")
Lara Croft II, Elektra, Catwoman, Aeon Flux and Resident Evil were all dismal at the box office. The Underworld movies did ok, but mostly only with Underworld fans probably same for the original Lara Croft Bloodrayne hasn’t even been released and it looks like a living joke And Milla Jovovich has some new cliche ridden futuristic action flick called UltraViolet. Really only Kill Bill is the only film in that genre (unless you want to also count Trinity’s contribution to The Matrix) that can be described as a good film. So the questions are: 1. How many more bad movies about ass-kicking chicks will they continue to make? 2. Why didn’t they just take the best elements from each movie and just make one good one? 3. How many actresses are left in Hollywood who can believeably play an ass kicking chick? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/2 "2006-02-01T15:08:56Z")
I dunno, but I don’t think they’re great for the image of woman. I think the “empowerment” thing they’re trying to convey is backfiring. I always thought one of the strong points of being a woman was that they didn’t have to kick the shit out of anyone to be powerful. We’ve had that over our male counterparts historically. We were superior in that respect and have since kinda been sucked into believing in braun over brain. I’m sure that’s not what you were looking for here, but it’s been bugging me for a while. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/3 "2006-02-01T15:21:24Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > 1. How many actresses are left in Hollywood who can believeably play an ass kicking chick? Jennifer Garner’s done okay for herself playing Sydney Bristow. For a long time in movies, women were always rescued by men. First they would simply scream in a corner while the man fights for “his woman.” Then they started fighting back, but they still needed the man to rescue them in the end. Then the women started doing the ass kicking herself. I prefer the latter, myself, though I also like it when a female character is strong (mentally/emotionally) without being an uber bad ass. I don’t mind women being rescued by men, sometimes, but I hate those women in movies who stand in the corner and scream and don’t make any attempt to take care of herself. I’m screaming at the screen, “For god’s sake, woman, do something for yourself!” I think the biggest mistake those movies do is implant in people’s minds the idea that a woman (or a man, for that matter) could actually fight half a dozen men and walk away from it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/4 "2006-02-01T15:30:39Z")
I guess the studio execs figured if we enjoy watching some dude kick the crap out of 20 badguys, we’d love it even more if it was a super-hot girl doing the ass whupin’. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/5 "2006-02-01T16:04:10Z")
I think at least 50% of the Alien movies were really good. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/6 "2006-02-01T16:13:21Z")
I don’t know, but the next one I watch will be the first. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/7 "2006-02-01T16:13:39Z")
All the movies mentioned in the first line of your OP didn’t do poorly because they featured an ass kicking sexy woman, the did poorly because they sucked. (Confession: haven’t see them all, but feel confident saying they sucked nonetheless.) And from what I’ve heard Bloodrayne would have be completely redone before it would rise to the level of sucking. Underworld was mediocre and did OK. Kill Bill was very good, and did well. Make a good ass-kicking hottie flick, and it will do well. I’d love to see a live action version of Ghost in the Shell SAC, though I shudder to think what Hollywood would do to it. “Perhaps you should switch from video games to anime, Mr. Boll.” ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/8 "2006-02-01T16:32:39Z")
Maybe one day half of all kicking butt films will feature chicks. How many men in Hollywood can believably play an ass kicker? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/9 "2006-02-01T16:40:28Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > 1. How many more bad movies about ass-kicking chicks will they continue to make? Until everybody’s convinced there’s no more money in it, they’ll keep making them. And even then, I doubt they’ll quit forever. So my answer is “some large number.” 😉 They’ve been making movies like this for decades, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/10 "2006-02-01T16:45:18Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Bloodrayne hasn’t even been released and it looks like a living joke I’m pretty sure it is out. I wouldn’t mind seeing it, actually. Admittedly for the MST3K value, though. > [@](#): > > Really only Kill Bill is the only film in that genre (unless you want to also count Trinity’s contribution to The Matrix) that can be described as a good film. Or [Serenity](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/serenity/). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/11 "2006-02-01T16:53:28Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Or [Serenity](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/serenity/). I haven’t seen Serenity but from what I understand it mainly only appealed to Firefly fans. Besides, I wouldn’t call it a ass-kicking chick movie, more of a movie with an ass-kicking chick in it (like The Matrix). > [@Zebra](#): > > I think at least 50% of the Alien movies were really good Doesn’t count. Ripley did not wear a tight leather outfit and roundhouse kick Aliens in the face like Chuck Norris. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/12 "2006-02-01T16:59:15Z")
T3 - The White-Hot Sexiness of Kristanna Loken. And although it was small screen, Dark Angel fits the genre nicely. I’d pay money to watch Jessica Alba organize her sock drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/13 "2006-02-01T17:02:45Z")
Oh, then you’ll LOVE this… [DoA](http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/media/player.php?id=2288)😃 BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/14 "2006-02-01T17:09:53Z")
That movie looks like it could be a whole lot of fun. As long as they didn’t take themselves seriously, that is. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/15 "2006-02-01T17:11:12Z")
Did Resident Evil do so bad at the box office? They did make a sequil and I think they’re working on another. I don’t know if you want to add Charlie’s Angels in here somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/16 "2006-02-01T17:13:57Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Lara Croft II, Elektra, Catwoman, Aeon Flux and Resident Evil were all dismal at the box office. Well, _Resident Evil_ may not have shone at the box office, but it apparently made a profit on DVD. Why else would they have made a sequel? I expect this genre will be around for quite a while. As long as there is some profit to be made, even if the profit is modest, we’ll see 'em. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/17 "2006-02-01T17:15:45Z")
I think it’s still plenty popular on TV, though, isn’t it? I haven’t had cable in a while. IIRC, the original formula was “Female empowerment for the women, T & A for the men. Plus action.” ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/18 "2006-02-01T17:25:31Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > And although it was small screen, Dark Angel fits the genre nicely. Hell, if TV counts, then Buffy’s the most successful example and probably a big reason for the genre’s proliferation. Honestly, I don’t care about the gender of the protagonist, but a strong asskicking feminist is still enough of a novelty to be interesting. The movie still has to be good, overall. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/19 "2006-02-01T17:29:14Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Bloodrayne hasn’t even been released and it looks like a living joke [It was released January 6th.](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bloodrayne/) It’s not surprising you missed it, it really was that much of a joke. But then, [Uwe Boll doesn’t make movies, he makes tax shelters.](http://www.cinemablend.com/feature.php?id=209) ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506/20 "2006-02-01T18:18:50Z")
**1) How many more bad movies about ass-kicking chicks will they continue to make?** Thirty years from now, once the well is dry and the genre has long surpassed exhaustion, there will be seven more. **2) Why didn’t they just take the best elements from each movie and just make one good one?** Because there aren’t enough “best elements” yet to make a good one. **3) How many actresses are left in Hollywood who can believeably play an ass kicking chick?** This one is tough. All those actresses are probably background characters in other films/TV shows. What I never understood is all the acrobatics used in “ass-kicking chick” movies. Well, I know _why_ it’s there, I just see it as unnecessary. Ass-Kicking Dude would just pull a gun. I guess I’m just sick of all the lame kung-fu, especially non-Kryptonians being able to fly because they studied martial arts. I agree with Kalhoun. How about a movie where a male hero uses his wits? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-more-uberviolent-ass-kicking-chick-movies-will-they-make/342506.md?page=2)