There’s nothing more powerful to witness on the big screen than a tight-knit group of women. These collectives come in many forms, from crime-fighting vigilantes (Birds of Prey, The Heroic Trio) to musical acts (Spice World, Mamma Mia!) to simple friendships between older women (Steel Magnolias, Book Club). These women may have their conflicts (What group doesn’t?) but it always comes back to looking out for each other’s best interest, no matter what life throws at them.
Here are our picks for the best female-focused ensembles in film.
Birds of Prey (2020)
Claudette Barius/Warner Bros.
As Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) teaches us, all you have to do is surround yourself with a mismatched group of badass ladies and, voilà, your brutal breakup can become a fantabulous emancipation.
Hustlers (2019)
Barbara Nitke/STXfilms
These dancers–turned–con artists are so fabulous it’s criminal.
Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
Everett Collection
What a thrill! Phyllis Nefler’s (Shelley Long) troop of SoCal-stylish protégées are Evian-guzzling masters of dancing the Freddie, eagle-eyed jewelry appraisers, and divorce court veterans with a black belt in shopping. Good luck taking on these Wilderness Girls — they’ve been expertly trained to survive in the wilds of Beverly Hills.
The Pink Ladies of Grease (1978)
Paramount/Rso/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
Rydell High’s resident cool-girl squad have no time for your prudery or your school spirit, thanks. Don’t annoy them, or you just might find yourself on the wrong side of a mean-spirited sleepover singalong.
The Sanderson Sisters of Hocus Pocus (1993)
Andrew Cooper/Disney
They put a spell on you? Yeah, us too.
The Dora Milaje of Black Panther (2018)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Everett Collection
Yet another one of the ways in which Wakanda is light years ahead of the rest of the world? Their profound respect for women-powered badassery of the highest level. Good luck to anyone trying to take on this fierce national force of warriors.
Spring Breakers (2013)
Annapurna Pictures/Everett Collection
There’s no crew we’d rather do impromptu Britney karaoke with! Or get arrested in neon bikinis with! Or rob college students at gunpoint with! Or…actually, wait.
Heathers (1989)
New World
Chaos may be what killed the dinosaurs, darling, but that’s only because teenage girls weren’t around yet to take them down with plaid-jacketed cruelty and killer one-liners.
The women of Steel Magnolias (1989)
Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty
As Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) declares, “Well, you know what they say: if you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!” Gladly.
The girls of Jawbreaker (1999)
TriStar/Everett Collection
And on the heels of Heathers… What is a friend, anyway?
The Rockford Peaches in A League of Their Own (1992)
Everett Collection
There may be no crying in baseball, but we know this team would have our back if we shed a tear or two.
The women of Sex and the City (2008)
New Line Cinema/Everett Collection
Who needs men? These four are Sex and the City‘s true soulmates.
The Spice Girls circa Spice World (1997)
Columbia/Everett Collection
A year before Carrie Bradshaw & Co. first hit HBO, the Spice Girls taught us in their own big-screen adventure that friendship never ends.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Universal Pictures/Everett Collection
A bridal party is just a group of women wearing matching pastel dresses for a single day. A stone-cold pack of weirdos like this, though, lasts forever.
The Heroic Trio (1993)
Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
We would trust this trio of ass-kicking avengers with our life.
The Plastics of Mean Girls (2004)
Everett Collection
How many of you have ever been personally victimized by the overwhelming desire to be embraced by the Plastics? …no?
The ladies of Book Club (2018)
Melinda Sue Gordon/Paramount Pictures
There’s no one we’d rather drink a river of white wine and read racy elevated fanfic with than these four.
Ocean’s 8 (2018)
Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros.
Step aside, Clooney. This Ocean — and her seven associates — has more style than you could fit into all the vaults in Vegas.
The coven of The Craft (1996)
Everett Collection
Careful around this cult classic’s supernatural crew! Bewitching though they may be, make no mistake — they are the weirdos.
Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Columbia Pictures/Newsmakers/Getty Images
On their own, they’re falling for bad guys, struggling to cook soufflé, and starting oblivious solo dance parties, but when these three come together there’s no trio in heaven that can kick more ass.
Donna and the Dynamos in Mamma Mia! (2008)
Universal/courtesy Everett Collection
The most iconic ABBA cover band of all time.
The First Wives Club (1996)
Andy Schwartz/Paramount Pictures/Getty Images
You don’t own them.
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