# Looking for films with heroic/brave girls **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311 "2012-06-16T02:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/61 "2012-06-18T13:51:06Z")
Most of my favorites have been named, but I didn’t see: Madeline The King of Masks (in Chinese) was Ever After and Not One Less mentioned? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/62 "2012-06-18T14:28:42Z")
[Temple Grandin](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Sir\_Not\_Appearing\_In\_This\_Film](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Not_Appearing_In_This_Film)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/63 "2012-06-18T14:44:57Z")
> [@bmoak](#): > > Lots of people have mentioned Studio Ghibli films, but have left out Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, and Laputa, which are probably the most action-oriented of Miyzaki’s films. And Kiki’s Delivery Service. Nausicaa was my immediate thought upon reading the OP. Porco Rosso is also a good fit, and for a more everyday type of bravery, Whisper of the Heart. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/64 "2012-06-18T15:13:10Z")
Well, loose fit, but: **9** , the 2009 animated film. The only female of the group is 7, and she’s by far the most fearless, and the most skilled warrior. She has a [wicked bird-skull helmet](http://www.binarymoon.co.uk/2010/04/9-movie-review/9-movie-poster-7/), too. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/65 "2012-06-19T14:08:45Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > _Spirited Away_ From the same director, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. She’s an incredibly strong character without being aggressive. She is capable of violence but she is not a violent person. She is excellent at handling crisis situations. She does whatever is in the best interests of her people. I adore this movie. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/66 "2012-06-19T15:36:24Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Um…those aren’t girls. If it helps, let’s go with 18 or younger. I’ll second True Grit (the Coen brothers version; I haven’t seen the other one and don’t plan to, based on what I’ve heard). Given the 18-and-younger deal, consider **Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** for a very brave and kickass girl. ---
**Author:** ![sideshowkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sideshowkar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sideshowkar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/67 "2012-06-19T16:04:28Z")
Bridge to Terabithia Candleshoe The Bad News Bears Paper Moon Whistle Down the Wind The Trouble With Angels Meet Me In St. Louis (the younger sisters are awesome) The Secret Garden (1949 or 1993 (theatrical as opposed to TV versions)) Matilda The Borrowers (1997) The Secret Life of Bees Peter Pan (2003) Adventures in Babysitting My Girl Beetlejuice Bend it Like Beckham Heathers Hairspray (either version) Ponette Forbidden Games London to Brighton Most of these are just films with central girl characters; I’m not sure they do anything heroic or brave besides maybe standing up to authority/bullies, show they’re as good as boys, or just get past their own fears. There are plenty more that I can think of, but a lot of them tend to have the same young actresses in them (Hayley Mills, Jodie Foster, Dakota Fanning, Christina Ricci, Wynona Ryder…). ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/68 "2012-06-19T20:23:38Z")
[Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronia,_the_Robber's_Daughter_(film)) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/69 "2012-06-19T20:54:43Z")
If the OP was taking TV shows, I’d suggest **Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water**. **The City of Lost Children** Any of the **One Piece** films > [@DrDeth](#): > > For five minutes or so?😕 I can’t remember the name of the little girl, but she was pretty involved with the events throughout the movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has more screen time than any of the member’s of the Baron’s team. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/70 "2012-06-19T21:16:48Z")
Sarah Salt, played by a young Sarah Polley and she is basically the protagonist of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/71 "2012-06-19T21:34:43Z")
I’ve never seen this movie, but _Island of the Blue Dolphins_ is one of my favorite young adult books, and I just thought I’d check to see if there was ever a movie, and [there was](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058241/). ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/72 "2012-06-20T12:20:08Z")
Dot and the Kangaroo, perhaps? I don’t remember much of it aside from that super-creepy bunyip sequence, but I think it fits the bill. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/73 "2012-06-20T12:28:54Z")
What about Nancy the protagonist of the original A Nightmare On Elm Street? She certainly isn’t a coward, and is the only one brave enough to take on Kruger. Ditto for Wes Craven’s New Nightmare where the actress is playing both herself and Nancy(yea it is a fourth wall/reality warping kinda movie) she has to save herself and her son. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/74 "2012-06-20T16:42:43Z")
Anything by Joss Whedon. StG ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/75 "2012-06-20T16:49:33Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Anything by Joss Whedon. > > StG Which reminds me that the movie _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ might fit the criteria. Theoretically 18 or so, kick-ass, and only very mildly sexualized. Whedon’s Buffy TV series has all kinds of brave and/or butt-kicking under-18 females. They’re thinner on the ground in _Angel_, I think, and Firefly/Serenity definitely have strong and non-stereotyped females, but the only girl is a combo of butt-kicker and (not-her-fault) crazy, so I’m not sure I’d describe her as ‘brave’. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/76 "2012-06-21T16:50:34Z")
> [@bmoak](#): > > Lots of people have mentioned Studio Ghibli films, but have left out Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, and Laputa, which are probably the most action-oriented of Miyzaki’s films. And Kiki’s Delivery Service. It blew my mind that _Nausicaa_ didn’t show up until page 2. Like **Sir Not Appearing In This Film** , that was my immediate thought upon opening this thread. Since _Hanna_ is cited in the OP, can I suggest [_Léon_/_The Professional_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_(film))? Is Noa Izumi from _Patlabor_ (the [first movie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patlabor:_The_Movie) is fantastic!) too old to qualify? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311/77 "2012-06-21T20:01:20Z")
Matilda. Danny Devito’s film adaptation based on the book by Roald Dahl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-films-with-heroic-brave-girls/625311.md?page=3)