The League of Extraordinary Ladies. Best female-driven movies to look for this summer

Wonder Woman’s record debut at the box office has started a bigger conversation about what female-driven movies, the sexism in Hollywood and it has brought up the idea that studios will be more likely to hire female directors for important projects. The successful debut of the film has also been a starting point regarding the lack of equal opportunities for women, who are now under-represented in the movie industry.

The superhero movie lead by actress Gal Gadot will go down in history for a few reasons. Firstly, it has grossed a record $100.5 million at the domestic box office on its opening weekend. Secondly, it is the first superhero film in the last 12 years to have a female superhero as its protagonist. Wonder Woman is also the first superhero film to have a female director — Patricia Lea Jenkins. the previous record was held by Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Fifty Shades of Grey, which made $85 million in its 2015 opening weekend.

Many are expecting that the box office success registered by Wonder Woman could actually spark a fundamental change in an industry which has frequently been accused of gender pay gap and that women are under-represented.

In 2016, women comprised just 7 percent of directors on the top 250 domestic-grossing films, according to San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film. That figure represents a 2 percent decline from 2015’s 9 percent. Among high-ranking roles on film productions (producers, editors, writers, and cinematographers), the number was higher, 17 percent.

The success registered by Wonder Woman coincides with more women-helmed projects coming in the following months.  Whether its impact will be significant enough to transform the current landscape in the film industry remains to be seen.

One thing is sure this summer there are plenty of female-driven movies to look for.

Wonder Woman 

The summer blockbuster was directed by Patty Jenkins (she also helmed Monster which brought an Oscar for Charlize Teron). This is only Jenkins’s first theatrical feature since 2003, which makes no sense at all. One surprising thing that has emerged since the release of the film on June 2 is that male-to-female ratio of viewers is not a fixed thing. Generally, superhero movies are assumed to attract a majority male population, with males constituting at least 60 percent of the audience

Generally, superhero movies are assumed to attract a majority male population, with males constituting at least 60 percent of the audience. Attracting a fan base of 53 percent women and 47 percent men, Wonder Woman opened to $228 million globally and the biggest domestic launch ($103 million) for a female director. Reflecting its “A” CinemaScore, the Gal Gadot film dropped just 43 percent in its second weekend, the lowest decline by a superhero movie since Batman Begins in 2005. As of June 13, its worldwide gross stood at $438.5 million.

Reflecting its “A” CinemaScore, the Gal Gadot film dropped just 43 percent in its second weekend, the lowest decline by a superhero movie since Batman Begins in 2005. As of June 13, its worldwide gross stood at $438.5 million.

The movie has already earned almost $450 million worldwide. If it sees a 40-45% drop from last weekend’s $58.5 million, it will still have made enough to most likely hold onto second place worldwide with the release of Cars 3, the third installment of the Disney and Pixar franchise.

Rough Night

Broad City writer-director Lucia Aniello helms this female-driven comedy after the also co-wrote the script.  Scarlett Johansson plays a bride to be that leads a group of former college friends heading to a bachelorette party in Miami. Kate McKinnon, famous for her comedic chops on Saturday Night Live, is also part of the cast.

Release date: 16 June

The Beguiled

Directed by Sofia Coppola (who received an Oscar Award for  Best Original Script for Lost in Translation), her sixth feature continues the series of strong female characters and female-driven stories. A remake of the 1971  Don Siegel/Clint Eastwood Civil War-set drama, The Beguiled follows a group of women at a girls’ school in Virginia sheltered from the outside world. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has brought Coppola a historic win at this year’s edition.

Coppola became the second woman ever, in the festival’s 70-year history, to win the Best Director prize, the first being Soviet filmmaker Yuliya Solntseva in 1961 for The Chronicle of Flaming Years.

The cast of the film is also stellar: Nicole Kidman plays the headmistress of Miss Martha Farnsworth Seminary for Young Ladies. Kirsten Dunst plays teacher Edwina, and Elle Fanning plays student Alicia.

Release date: June 23rd.

Atomic Blonde

Atomic Blonde (although directed by a man, David Leitch, who will also be in charge of Deadpool 2), will be released by Universal’s Focus Features on July 28 and stars Charlize Theron as a secret agent.

The Oscar-winning actress will play the type of role that one is expecting to see a male actor. Regarding the importance of challenging expectations and that of women playing complex roles, such a role could create a change in the movie industry,

Release date: 28 July

Detroit

Detroit is Kathryn Bigelow’s much-anticipated follow-up to the Best Picture nominee Zero Dark Thirty itself the follow-up to her Best Picture and Best Director Oscar wins with The Hurt Locker). The film focuses on the 1967 Detroit riots, which became one of the most violent riots in the history of the United States of America.

Release date: August 4th.

Game- changers to look for in 2018

Captain Marvel

After intense social media scrutiny of every development on a  huge film such as Disney’s Captain Marvel (to be played by Brie Larson), the industry may, at last, be changing. After a long search for Marvel’s first female director, Anna Boden landed the coveted gig, co-directing with Ryan Fleck.

A Wrinkle in Time

Director Ava DuVernay is at the helm of the $120 million Disney fantasy film A Wrinkle in Time, due March 9. With this fantasy, Ava DuVernay becomes the first black woman to direct a $100 million-plus feature.