Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women was first published in 1868, and it lent a new meaning to feminism, female empowerment, and sisterhood. Little Women is the coming-of-age tale of four sisters who lived in a pitiful condition in their New England home during the Civil War. It was seen differently from the 19th-century literature targetted towards females. The novel created ripples in publishing and later in the entertainment industry. The latest adaptation comes from Greta Gerwig (director and writer).
Greta has beautifully adapted the March sisters’ story into a mainstream movie. Little Women released on December 25, 2019. Just like Greta’s previous film, Lady Bird, this is a phenomenon in itself.
We thought it’d be great to bring 10 more movies like Little Women to you today.
Updated by Saim Cheeda on May 1st, 2020: The success of Little Women has brought about calls for more films that have a predominantly female ensemble cast. The message behind the movie also made it out to be a quality feature, something that helped Little Women gain nominations at top award shows.
However, there are already a lot of options for viewers to try out further films in this genre, with many ranging from drama to comedy. These films highlight the themes brought forward by period films, as well as stories that focus on the journeys of female protagonists. To this end, here are further entries that have been added to this list.
The Women
On the face of it, a group of friends all seem to lead enviable, upscale lives that seem impossible to be bettered, but when one of the women’s husband is unfaithful, the group begins to realize they all have flaws in their lives.
Unique for having absolutely no male characters show up onscreen, The Women is a comedy-drama that has its main focus on self-reflection and sisterhood during times of crisis. The jokes might not be the best, but the message behind it carries a lot of heart.
Love & Friendship
At the end of the eighteenth century, a recently widowed woman spares no time in calculating a plan to secure future husbands for herself and her daughter. It takes a significant amount of planning and talent to pull it off, but her resilience knows no bounds.
In a change from the norm of generally releasing drama films in a period setting, Love & Friendship is an all-out comedy that makes light of archaic tropes. A fabulous cast charms in their performances, while the beautiful execution of the eighteenth century backdrop is especially enticing.
Far From The Madding Crowd
A beautiful young woman gains attention from three eligible suitors, who all vie for her heart. However, due to her independent mindset, she finds it difficult to conform with the times, as she seeks to follow her heart.
Rather than focus too much on clandestine relationships and dramas as many of the period genre films do, Far from the Madding Crowd takes a realist approach and has the protagonist’s independence take center stage in telling its story. It’s a good film to remind oneself that women were making progress even back then.
Emma
A charming young woman, with an attitude far ahead of the times she lives in, plans to play matchmaker for another girl who seems helpless in love. Along the way, though, the fiery Emma learns she doesn’t know as much as she thought about romance.
Diving almost completely into comedic territory, Emma is a breath of fresh air as it has some great replay value due to the abundance of laughs. While it retains the themes of women being challenged like the rest of the movies on this list, Emma manages to be its own thing by putting a positive spin on proceedings.
The Help
During the Civil Rights Movement, a writer helps two maids in exposing the racism that runs in the houses that employ them. This bold step brings with it numerous consequences that heavily impact each woman’s lives, but paves the way for the future.
Although the movie is more contemporary than most here, The Help is the best example of solidarity between women in times of crisis. It’s also a genuine story that educates people of trying times of the past, and is notable for its strong characterization of women.
Lady Bird
Let’s see the similarities: Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet and of course, Greta Gerwig. 2018’s Lady Bird was made on a humble budget and yet, it resonated with audiences well.
Lady Bird is the coming-of-age story of a girl Christine McPherson (Ronan), who has given herself the name, ‘Lady Bird’. She has a tumultuous relationship with her mother, her best friend has just walked out of her life, her father respects her right to education, and she has a nasty encounter with a badly raised boy (Chalamet). But she won’t give in, no matter how big the ordeals are.
If you’ve lived through high school wreckage and if you are battling post-adolescence issues, Lady Bird is your answer.
Hannah And Her Sisters
Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters is centered around Hannah (Mia Farrow), and her two sisters Lee (Barbara Hershey) and Holly (Dianne Wiest). Hannah and Her Sisters is the story of these three, along with their lovers/husbands, and two bickering parents.
Only a few filmmakers possess the storytelling knack that Woody Allen does. Naturally, the screenplay and story unfold elements beautifully one after the other. The sisters meet regularly to discuss the latest eccentricities of their personal lives. Hannah’s husband, Elliot (Michael Caine) also has an unrequited love for Lee.
Pride And Prejudice
Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice is the adaptation of Jane Austen’s book by the same name. The lead Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) is way ahead of the age she lives in. Her mother constantly pressures her into marrying a wealthy man for Lizzie’s nonchalance could force the four of her sisters into destitution.
Elizabeth has a change of heart when Mr. Darcy arrives in town. But must she sacrifice her ideals for a social convention that requires her to be of high birth?
Sense And Sensibility
Led by Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, Sense and Sensibility is adapted from Jane Austen’s novel by the same name. It is the tale of the diametrically opposite Dashwood sisters, Marianne and Elinor.
It is a highly manneristic story of these sisters from the 19th century who are caught in the struggles of daily life. Just as in Little Women, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are left in abject poverty after their father Mr. Dashwood dies. What is it with 19th century period dramas and poor sisters? The elder Elinor must keep it together for the family. Thompson and Winslet give fine performances as does Hugh Grant’s Edward.
Mona Lisa Smile
A woman who breaks the convention of marriage, notwithstanding the societal pressures, even though she has reached the social expiration age. Meet Katherine Ann Watson, the lead of Mona Lisa Smile. It is the 1950s, Katherine is an art professor at the all-girls Wellesley College. She teaches her students to continually question the conventions and traditions of the past.
Non-conformity is the basic character principle that you will find converging with almost all of the movie characters in this compilation. Directed by Mike Newell, Mona Lisa Smile brilliantly showcases Julia Roberts as the unbent, unbowed and unbroken Katherine. The supporting cast of her students includes Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ginnifer Goodwin and most importantly, Kirsten Dunst add to the brilliance of the movie.
Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias figures on the list because it is another sisterhood classic. With a dominant female cast of six, led by Sally Field’s M’Lynn, it is a classic tale of love and friendship. Although the focus on the movie is Julia Roberts’ Shelby Eatenton, a newly married, diabetic pregnant lady, it is Sally Field’s performance that steals the show.
M’Lynn is worried about her daughter’s pregnancy, so that’s where her closely-knit support group of friends come to aid. Comedy, drama and the miracle of life, what’s not to like about Steel Magnolias?
Ocean’s 8
Girls don’t always have to worry about finding good husbands you know. Sometimes it’s also about heist and histrionics. Ocean’s 8 is led by an all-female star cast. Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), Danny’s sister, is released from prison. She wastes no time in assembling a gang of female crooks, all specialists in their respective fields. The heist is to steal a necklace worth more than 150 million dollars.
You’ll love the Anne Hathaway twist towards the end. Ocean’s 8 toppled the ‘all-male shenanigans’ convention and placed and outshined the Ocean’s movies.
Mystic Pizza
Mystic Pizza tells the tale of partners and friends, three girls who work at the Mystic Pizza shop. Although Julia Roberts’ Daisy Araujo is the center of the pizza story, it’s her little sister Kat (Annabeth Gish) who steals the show. The two sisters live with an up-tight mother who wants nothing but happiness for her girls while making sure they stay on track.
Mystic Pizza is the sentimental tale of how love trumps all. And you have to give it to Julia Roberts for her jealous genius portrayal. She dumps two barrels of fish on her boyfriend’s Porsche!
The First Wives Club
The First Wives Club is about three women, dumped by their husbands for newer twinkies in town. A classmate’s suicide reunites Brenda, Elise, and Annie. Left high and dry in their middle-ages, they want nothing but revenge, so they partner to make their husbands’ lives miserable.
103 minutes of a delightful revenge comedy and finding your own, who said coming-of-age was only for young people?
The Color Purple
Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. It is a heartbreaking tale of servitude that black women have been victims of. Whoopi Goldberg is at the heart of The Color Purple. She plays Cecile, a young girl, first impregnated by her father and later, sold in marriage. She’s married to a widower and an abusive man, Albert (Danny Glover). Young Cecile tends to Danny’s house which includes his children from the previous marriage. She shares a deep bond with her sister, Nettie.
By the end of her saga, Cecile breaks free of her husband’s abusive household to live her own life. The Color Purple is a triumphant tale of survival. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards, need we say more?
