All 9 Solo Superhero Movies With a Female Star, Ranked

As a huge superhero movie fan, it’s honestly shocking how few actually center around female heroes. Out of all the superhero films out there, only about eleven truly put a woman in the lead – and that would be twelve if you count the upcoming Thunderbolts, though that one feels more like a team-up movie. For a long time, it’s been a bit of a boys’ club, even though films like Batman Returns did a great job making its female characters just as strong and interesting as the male ones. Today, I wanted to highlight the nine superhero movies where a single woman really carries the story. That means some popular ones didn’t make the cut! Birds of Prey, while starring Harley Quinn, spends too much time with Huntress, Cassandra Cain, Black Canary, and Renee Montoya to be considered solely her movie. And The Marvels, fantastic as it is, splits its focus between three different women. I was really looking for films where one female hero is the clear center of the action.

Let’s take a look at the nine movies starring female superheroes as the main character and see which one is the best, and which one is the worst.

9) Madame Web

If you want to see a perfect example of a film failing to deliver on its potential, look no further than Madame Web. It manages to take a $100 million budget and create a movie with absolutely no thrilling moments. To make matters worse, the film is poorly made, with noticeable errors in editing and sound work.

Okay, as a movie fan, I have to say this one was a real struggle. The lead actress honestly looked like she regretted every single line of dialogue, and the villain, played by Tahar Rahim, was just…forgettable. Seriously, he might be the most boring villain I’ve ever seen in a superhero film. Honestly, watching this made Morbius look good, and that’s saying something! At the end of the day, it’s basically a really, really slow and boring babysitting movie. It just didn’t work for me.

Stream Madame Web on Disney+.

8) Catwoman

Why does Catwoman rank higher than Madame Web? Because at least it’s so bad it’s good.

Look, Ezekiel in Madame Web is a truly terrible villain, but honestly, Sharon Stone’s character in Catwoman – a beauty product peddler, no less – is right up there with him in terms of being forgettable. The movie itself? Totally skippable. It’s strange, because it could have been a cool feminist take, but it just feels like a long showcase of Halle Berry’s body. Still, I’m a bit of a completist, so I watched it, and I have to say, you’ll spend the whole time wondering why anyone thought making a Catwoman movie that completely ignores the original character was a good idea. Don’t bother looking for an answer, though – you won’t find one. Just accept the mystery and watch if you’re curious.

7) Elektra

As a movie fan, I have to say the biggest problem with Elektra is just how boring it is. I really enjoyed the connection between Elektra and Daredevil in the 2003 film – they had great chemistry! It was a shame her character didn’t last, because I felt like we didn’t get to know her well enough. But honestly, Elektra kind of proves that sometimes, a little bit of a character is all you really need.

This movie isn’t quite as boring as Madame Web, and unlike Catwoman, it doesn’t have that enjoyable ‘so bad it’s good’ quality. However, it’s a bit more earnest – you can tell the filmmakers were genuinely trying to make something good. Ultimately, if you’re craving more of Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Deadpool & Wolverine is a better bet.

Stream Elektra on Disney+.

6) Supergirl (1984)

The movie Supergirl feels overly dramatic and low-budget, and it doesn’t come close to capturing the magic of the classic Christopher Reeve Superman films. It’s much more similar in quality to the less-successful Superman IV: The Quest for Peace than to the original Superman or Superman II.

Despite its flaws, the movie does have some good points. Helen Slater was perfectly cast in the lead role, and Peter O’Toole managed to deliver even the silliest lines with charm. However, the 2026 DCU film doesn’t need to be great – it just needs to be passable to succeed.

Stream Supergirl on HBO Max.

5) Wonder Woman 1984

Unfortunately, Wonder Woman 1984 didn’t live up to the success of the first film. It likely wouldn’t have performed well regardless of the pandemic, as it lacked the strong audience response and positive word-of-mouth that made the original such a hit.

Patty Jenkins’ first Wonder Woman film successfully blended serious action with lighthearted moments, but Wonder Woman 1984 struggles to find that balance, constantly shifting between the two. The film portrays Wonder Woman as going from feeling overlooked to overly confident, and then dramatically transforming into a cartoonish villain. The plot also features Pedro Pascal as a wish-granting character who inexplicably avoids consequences. Ultimately, the movie is too silly to be taken seriously. While Gal Gadot and Chris Pine still have good chemistry, the way Steve Trevor is brought back into the story feels forced and problematic – having the hero allow her love to possess another person’s body isn’t heroic, it’s essentially stealing their life.

Stream Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max.

4) Captain Marvel

While The Marvels might not be a strong comparison due to its team-up nature, its earlier film was a success. Plus, the movie is generally a fun and nostalgic tribute to the 1990s.

It’s great to watch Brie Larson shine in an action-packed blockbuster, and her connection with Samuel L. Jackson is fantastic – you can tell they enjoyed working together before on Unicorn Store. However, the most compelling part of Captain Marvel is the story behind the Skrulls. It takes what could have been simple villains and turns them into surprisingly sympathetic and tragic figures. While Captain Marvel came out around the time some fans started feeling the MCU was losing its spark, it still has a lot to offer.

Stream Captain Marvel on Disney+.

3) Black Widow

Some Marvel Cinematic Universe movies haven’t gotten the appreciation they deserve, like The Marvels, the first Ant-Man, and Iron Man 2. But Black Widow really stands out. While it’s sometimes criticized for its less-than-perfect special effects, it’s actually a very well-made spy thriller.

Replacing the original Avengers has been tough for the MCU, but Florence Pugh’s introduction as Yelena Belova as Black Widow was a huge success. From her very first scene, she was instantly likable – strong, determined, and caring, just like her sister. Hopefully, Pugh will continue to be a key part of the MCU going forward. The film also excels at portraying a complicated but loving family dynamic, showing a group of four characters who genuinely care for each other despite their issues.

Stream Black Widow on Disney+.

2) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Following up Black Panther was a huge challenge. The first film had won an Oscar and been nominated for Best Picture – a first for superhero movies – and it was also a massive hit with audiences. Then, the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman left many wondering if a sequel would ever be made.

Honestly, I can’t picture Black Panther: Wakanda Forever being any more impactful, considering the incredibly sad circumstances surrounding its production. What really struck me was how respectfully the film handled Chadwick Boseman’s passing. They didn’t rush through it with a quick explanation; instead, they genuinely mourned him for the first part of the movie, which felt really earned. It’s a genuinely moving film, and I have so much respect for Ryan Coogler for navigating such a difficult situation and still delivering something special. And Letitia Wright? She absolutely shines. She gives a really complex and powerful performance that I think Chadwick would have been incredibly proud of.

Stream Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Disney+.

1) Wonder Woman

Many superhero movies fail to make audiences truly feel the hero’s bravery. Wonder Woman succeeds. We genuinely believe in her kindness, her willingness to sacrifice for others, and her incredible strength – especially in that unforgettable scene where she crosses No Man’s Land, a moment that stands out in all of superhero cinema, whether it’s a DC or Marvel film.

As we noted in our review of 1984, the love story in this film is genuinely charming. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine share a strong connection throughout, which makes the heartbreaking, yet heroic, fate of his character particularly impactful. The movie does get a bit over-the-top—reaching *1984level silliness—when the CGI god Ares appears for the final fight, but before that, director Patty Jenkins delivers a consistently strong and engaging film.

Stream Wonder Woman on HBO Max.

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2025-12-23 02:46