6 BADASS action heroines you need to watch on demand

There is something about women in action-packed movies that we all find captivating. Mad Max:Fury Road was wildly successful at the 88th Annual Academy Awards – and we think we know the reason why: the warrior Imperator Furiosa, who is played by the gorgeous Charlize Theron.

Furiosa is the definition of fierce with her rebellious nature and her love for saving lives. If you (like us) can’t get enough of her, here are six movies featuring badass action heroines like Furiosa – confident and driven women who won’t let anyone or anything get in their way. We think watching these movies will inspire you to let out your inner lioness (if you’re not already one)!

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Netflix made a gift of this movie by releasing it online the same day it hit theatres. In this sequel to the 2000 classic, Yu Shu Lien returns from retirement and departs on a journey to find and prevent a 400-year-old sword from getting into the wrong hands. Along her journey, she becomes a teacher to Snow Vase, a young woman who is eager to learn from the legendary warrior. Snow Vase and Shu Lien work together to defend The Green Destiny sword. Besides the sword slinging, this movie follows the theme of young love and a quest for redemption.

2. Kill Bill: Vol 1

Here comes the badass bride! Uma Thurman stars as a former assassin named The Bride who wakes up from a coma after four years. Now she’s hell-bent on killing those who betrayed her, especially Bill, her ex-lover. Expect lots of physical conflict as The Bride checks off the list of people she hopes to get revenge on.

3. Sin City

Superstars Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson are the ultimate bad girls in this Frank Miller based graphic novel thriller. Alba plays a stripper with a difficult past and Dawson plays a dominatrix with a love for submachine guns. In this four part movie, the story explores the lives of people in the dark and grungy Basin City, a town filled with violence and corruption.

4. Catwoman

In this DC Comics adaptation of the same name, Halle Berry plays a graphic designer who finds herself in the middle of her employer’s corporate conspiracy, changing her life forever. Although this movie didn’t do very well at the box office, we can’t deny Berry was at her physical prime in it. Halle’s barely-there kitty cat costume makes us want to go out and become vigilantes ourselves.

5. Charlie’s Angels

Can you say #girlpower? In this first segment based on the hit TV show, Dylan, Natalie and Alex join together to retrieve a stolen software under the directions of their boss Bosley and the intelligent voice of Charlie. As well as having plenty of explosions and martial arts action, this movie is hysterically funny.

6. Serenity

If you loved Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, then you will love this continuation of his short lived cult favourite Firefly. Crew members of the spaceship Serenity decide to hide the kickass fugitive River Tam from a group of military men who want to stop her from revealing top government secret. However, this woman can more than protect herself (and the rest of the ship and captain) with her incredible hand-to-hand combat skills.