▲Directed by Jane Campion, the 1993 film received huge critical acclaim and was very financially successful. The film was also nominated for several Academy Awards.

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Sofia Coppola's 2003 film about two lonely people in Tokyo who find comfort in one another was extremely well received critically and also did well at the box office.

▲Kathryn Bigelow directed this 2008 film about the Iraq War. It was the first film to be directed by a woman that went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

▲This 2000 cult movie was directed by Mary Harron. Accused of being misogynistic, Harron has stated that she did show female perspectives in the film.

▲Mira Nair's 2001 film was a critical and financial success. The film's story revolves around the organization of a huge and expensive wedding.

▲Agnès Varda directed this film in 1962. Some of the themes throughout the film were groundbreaking for the time, including its strong feminist undertones.

▲The directorial debut of Greta Gerwig, this 2017 film was very well received critically and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

▲Debra Granik directed this 2010 film starring Jennifer Lawrence. It was adapted from a book of the same name and was met with widespread critical acclaim.

▲Kimberly Peirce's 1999 film tells the horrific true story of Brandon Teena, a trans man who was murdered. It gained Hilary Swank an Academy Award for Best Actress.

▲This 2017 film by Scottish director Lynne Ramsay is extremely dark and disturbing. Joaquin Phoenix's acting and Ramsay's directing were both heavily praised.

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Susan Seidelman directed this film in 1985. It stars Madonna and Rosanna Arquette and has gained something of a cult reputation over the years.

Click here to find out more about Madonna's alter-egos!

▲British director Andrea Arnold directed this film in 2016. It was her first film set outside the UK. As with 'Fish Tank,' she cast the lead actress after merely seeing her on the street.

▲Amy Heckerling's 1995 film has become a cult classic in the years since it came out. It was extremely popular with its young audience and made Alicia Silverstone into a star.

▲In 2003, Patty Jenkins directed 'Monster,' which is based on the true story of the prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Charlize Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film.

▲Sarah Polley directed this Canadian documentary in 2012. It centers around the extraordinary story surrounding Polley's own family circumstances.

▲Ava DuVernay directed this film in 2014. It centers around the story of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting marches and the speeches of Dr Martin Luther King.

▲Made in 2008, Kelly Reichardt's film features Michelle Williams in the lead role. A small independent film, it gained positive reviews from critics.

▲Argentinian director Lucrecia Martel directed the period drama 'Zama' in 2017. It is based upon the book of the same name and was released to widespread critical acclaim.

▲Italian director Liliana Cavani made this film in 1974. It decisively divided critics, with some hailing it as a classic, and others calling it "Naziploitation."

▲Penny Marshall's 1992 baseball film features Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. It was a big financial success. It was entered into the US National Film Registry.

▲English director Sally Potter made 'Orlando' in 1992. Starring Tilda Swinton and Billy Zane, it is a period drama based around the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

▲The late Belgian director Chantal Akerman made this film in 1975. Focusing around one woman's daily routine, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of last century.

▲Niki Caro directed this family film in 2002. The film was very well received, and praise was heaped on the performance of its young star, Keisha Castle-Hughes.

▲Maren Ade directed this comedy-drama film in 2016. It was extremely well received by critics and won many European Film Awards.

▲The most financially successful Arabic film of all time was directed by Nadine Labaki and released in 2018. It revolves around a young boy who sues his parents.

▲French director Céline Sciamma was the director of the 2014 film 'Girlhood.' The film is a gritty depiction of young lives in the troubled Parisian suburbs.

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This French film from 1999 was directed by Claire Denis, and centers around soldiers in the French Foreign Legion. It was highly acclaimed by critics.

▲Italian director Alice Rohrwacher directed this film in 2018. The film competed for the Palme D'Or in the Cannes Film Festival the same year.

▲This 1991 film was directed by Julie Dash and focuses on three generations of women. It was the first film in the US by an African American woman to be distributed theatrically.

▲Italian director Lina Wertmüller directed this 1975 film. Set around the time of the Second World War, the film centers around the theme of survival.

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The lack of female representation behind the camera in Hollywood is palpable. It's a male-dominated profession with very little female influence. But in recent years, things have started to change: women are increasingly breaking through.

In this gallery, we've highlighted some critically acclaimed films directed by women that are worth seeing if you haven't already. Simply click on to discover them.

30 of the best films directed by women

Entertaining and powerful films with important messages

07/03/25 por StarsInsider

MOVIES Films

In this gallery, we've highlighted some critically acclaimed films directed by women that are worth seeing if you haven't already. Simply click on to discover them.