Whenever it comes to the month of March, one of the most notable holidays is St. Patrick’s Day; however, the entire month of March encompasses Women’s History Month. It’s a time to celebrate women all over the world and look back on the challenges that women have overcome throughout history. It allows women a time to embrace femininity and feminism while learning about outstanding women who shook the world. A great way to celebrate Women’s History Month is by watching strong female leads on the big screen. Here are some movies that’ll empower anyone to take a stand for themself.

1. “Promising Young Woman” (Where to watch: HBO Max Genre: Thriller/Drama Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes) – “Promising Young Woman” is one of the most inspiring and heart wrenching female-lead movies that has been recently released. It follows Cassie, a drop-out medical student who looks to seek vengeance on men who take advantage of women under the influence. However, there’s a much deeper reason for Cassie’s vengeance that leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat. It’s an incredibly written story but be warned, this film does feature some violent scenes that’ll have your heart in your stomach.

2. “A League of Their Own” (Where to watch: Peacock Genre: Comedy/Sport Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes) – “A League of Their Own” is a classic feminist story about the first professional women’s baseball league that formed during World War II. With a stellar cast starring Tom Hanks, Madonna and Geena Davis, it’s a must-see with strong female characters who stand up to the misogynistic sports world. The movie is a comedy and carries solid jokes throughout but also touches on serious subjects in a successful manner.

3. “The Witch” (Where to watch: Showtime Genre: Horror Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes) – “The Witch” is not your traditional independent female lead movie, in fact, you might not even think of it as a feminist type of movie the first time you watch it. The movie takes place in early 1600s New England when witch hunts occurred in all the puritan communities. It follows Thomasin, a young girl who has been accused of being a witch and has gotten her family casted away from their community. The movie evolves as Thomasin becomes more independent the more her family pressures her into admitting she’s a witch. This is a great movie for those who love horror, and it gives a unique spin on strong female characters.

4. “The Hate U Give” (Where to watch: FXNOW or to rent Genre: Drama Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes) – Based on the novel by Angie Thomas, Starr is a young African American student attending a predominantly white school while living in a poor neighborhood. She has difficulties with finding her balance between her school side and home side, and things only get more complicated when she witnesses her childhood friend die because of a white police officer. This movie is a really empowering film for young adult women as the viewer watches Starr slowly stand up for what she believes is right, calling out those who won’t stand up for her childhood friend. It’s a touching film, especially with the current political climate and an important watch for any college student.

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate how far women have come, but it’s also a time to appreciate the media that represents women in a powerful and insightful way. This list of movies has a variety of genres so there’s something for everyone to love and get inspired by. Throw on one of these movies and appreciate the women in your life this Women’s History Month.