Good for Her: The 10 Best Woman Revenge Movies To Watch
Everyone loves a classic revenge tale. These movies offer an idealized, simplified sort of world where the wronged get justice and the wrongdoer is punished. The only thing that makes these movies more satisfying is when it’s a female revenge story.
Women are more likely to face crimes, yet are often failed by systemic lapses in the justice system. Additionally, for circumstances like infidelity or bullying, there often isn’t really any viable avenue for justice. However, several films have envisioned a world where the woman gets her revenge, and they’re just about as satisfying as you’d imagine. Head over to Prime Video, Apple TV, and more, to watch these 10 movies now!
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Carrie centers on Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), a teenage girl who faces bullying from her classmates due to her sheltered religious upbringing. When she realizes she has telekinetic abilities, she quickly uses them to get vengeance on her tormentors. Carrie is an excellent film that blends a coming-of-age tale with horror and vengeance, and it will resonate with viewers of all ages.
The film perfectly captures just how cruel teenagers can be, while also shining a light on the difficult home life the most ostracized and bullied kids often have to return to after school. Meanwhile, the revenge plot is both satisfying and horrifying. Carrie is an excellent revenge tale for those seeking a horrific yet oddly sympathetic account of what happens when one not only gets the chance for vengeance but also takes it way too far.
Fatal Attraction tells the story of Dan (Michael Douglas), a married man who begins an affair with his colleague, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close). Things take a dark turn when Dan attempts to end the affair. Angered at being used and rejected, Alex begins stalking and threatening Dan and his family, her actions growing more and more unhinged with time. Fatal Attraction is one of those films whose quality depends on interpretation.
It’s easy to watch the film and dismiss it as a problematic portrayal of a woman who can’t handle rejection. However, Close plays Alex with a hint of power. She makes her truly terrifying, allowing you to enjoy the film as a revenge tale in which a man is punished for infidelity. While Fatal Attraction has flaws in its depiction of women and in placing more blame on Alex, it still works as a provocative revenge thriller.
Presumed Innocent follows Rusty Sabich (Harrison Ford), a prosecutor who finds himself the prime suspect in a homicide case when his mistress, Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi), is found murdered in her home. It’s an interesting genre-bending film that mixes revenge themes with an intense legal drama, whodunit mystery, and a psychological thriller. The film explores the intricacies of the justice system while probing a tale of guilt, jealousy, and infidelity.
Presumed Innocent is a lot like Fatal Attraction in that it has its merits and flaws. Like Fatal Attraction, it has some problematic depictions of women and reflects the tendency of the times to villainize working women. However, it also works surprisingly well as a female revenge story. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a more subtle revenge story where the success of the revenge is truly chilling to think about.
If you like your revenge with a side of dark humor, The First Wives Club is the film for you. The film centers on three middle-aged divorcees who, following the untimely death of their friend, decide it’s time to get revenge on their sleazy ex-husbands. It’s a funny, charming revenge tale elevated by the comedic performances of its lead trio. The First Wives Club puts a lighthearted spin on some darker subject matter and will resonate with anyone who has had marriage woes.
It’s not just about comedy and chaos; it hides a deeper message about sisterhood and encouraging women to stand up for themselves and each other. There’s a nice balance of silliness, revenge, and great acting chops. If you’re looking for a film with the talent of Book Club (2018) and similar themes to Bad Moms (2016), The First Wives Club is the perfect watch.
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a stylish revenge film. In the movie, mercenary Beatrix “The Bride” Kiddo (Uma Thurman) wakes up from a four-year coma and sets off on a brutal mission to get vengeance on the assassins whose attempt on her life cost her four years and her unborn child. Revenge has never looked as sweet as in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, as it's dished out with an exhilarating fast pace, dazzling choreography, and an action-packed premise.
The film, especially Thurman’s standout performance, is nothing short of epic. On the surface, it’s a pretty standard revenge story. However, Tarantino’s stylish filmography and genre-blending elevate it to something more. It’s a great film that’s highly reminiscent of John Wick (2014) and Inglourious Basterds (2009) in its explosive action and style.
Hard Candy tells the story of Hayley Stark (Elliot Page), a 14-year-old girl who successfully lures and traps a 34-year-old predator, John Kohlver (Patrick Wilson), intending to get vengeance for the girls he has harmed. It’s an intimate, haunting, and intense revenge thriller that’s not afraid to touch on heavy subject matter. You’ll enjoy this film if you’re looking for a movie that delves into a darker, psychological portrait of revenge without the humor or style.
Hard Candy can be disturbing and uncomfortable, but it’s the kind of film you find hard to look away from or forget. Seeing the tables turned on a predator, and a teenager with such conviction and cruelty, is morbidly fascinating. If you’re looking for a movie that makes you think about the ethics and haunting nature of vengeance, Hard Candy is a must-see.
For those seeking a Western revenge tale from a female perspective, True Grit delivers. Based on the book of the same name by Charles Portis, the film follows 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) as she seeks vengeance on outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) after he kills her father. Along the way, she teams up with U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Daniels) and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon).
True Grit is an excellent modern Western and a faithful adaptation of the source material. However, it’s also a great revenge story. True Grit offers one of those rare revenge tales where it’s very hard to find fault with the one carrying out the vengeance. Mattie has grit and determination, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her as she displays her bravery, conviction, and strong moral compass.
Gone Girl is a psychological thriller that centers on the Dunnes. While Amy (Rosamund Pike) and Nicholas Dunne (Ben Affleck) are the picture-perfect couple, the illusion of their happiness shatters when Amy goes missing, and Nicholas becomes the prime suspect in her case. Like True Grit, the revenge aspect is just one bonus element of Gone Girl, which thrives as a twisty, mind-bendingly dark thriller.
What makes Gone Girl especially appealing is that you don’t really know what you’re getting into. You go into the film assuming a typical disappearance/mystery movie, but get something entirely different. Gone Girl is bold, dark, and thrilling, and really goes to extremes in its revenge tale. If you love dark psychological killers and are looking for a top-tier female rage revenge tale, Gone Girl will do the trick.
Promising Young Woman follows Cassandra (Carey Mulligan), a young woman who carries out a series of revenge plots to get justice for her late best friend Nina. It’s a female revenge film that subverts the genre's tropes. Emerald Fennell manages to capture female rage, the impact of trauma, and the nature of vengeance without ever feeling exploitative or gratuitous.
Promising Young Woman is excellent if you’re looking for a revenge thriller that has depth and delicacy. It explores themes and concepts similar to Hard Candy's, but without veering into the controversial torture elements. The film strikes the perfect balance between provocation, thrills, and dark humor, crafting a tale that is difficult to watch yet never loses sight of its purpose.
In Blink Twice, Frida (Naomi Ackie) is a cocktail waitress, whom billionaire tech CEO Slater King (Channing Tatum) takes an interest in and invites to his private island. However, what appears to be a dream vacation turns dark when Frida realizes everything is not as it seems. Blink Twice is similar to Presumed Innocent in that it doesn’t appear to be a revenge story at first glance, but rather chooses to surprise you with the revenge twist.
The film is an excellent blend of genres, part female revenge story, part psychological thriller, and part mystery. Blink Twice is also reminiscent of Gone Girl in its rare ability to genuinely take you by surprise with its twisty, dark story. Despite the dark storyline, Blink Twice is the kind of psychological revenge thriller that leaves you feeling satisfied by the end.
