10 Films That Let Women Be Flawed, Complex and Real

Marriage Story

Marriage Story shows how a divorce can change people in ways they never expected. Nicole is not shown as right or wrong. She is a woman who slowly realizes she has been putting her own needs aside for years. While dealing with the breakup, she also has to co-parent her child and figure out who she is on her own.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

This movie focuses on a woman who spent most of her life doing what was expected of her. Nancy feels she missed out on pleasure, confidence, and self-knowledge. Hiring Leo is not about shock value; it is about curiosity and regret. She feels nervous, awkward, and unsure, but she keeps asking questions anyway.

Promising Young Woman

Cassie is driven by anger and grief that never went away. She spends her life holding onto what happened to her friend and the lack of justice that followed. Her actions are disturbing, but they come from deep pain. The movie does not ask you to agree with her choices.

The Menu

In The Menu, Margot is surrounded by rich people who are more focused on appearances than reality. She survives the night by thinking clearly and not pretending to be someone she is not. Her past and double identity help her see things others miss. Margot is practical, alert, and not impressed by power or money.

Babylon

Nellie wants fame, freedom, and excitement all at once. When success comes quickly, she struggles to control it. Drugs, gambling, and bad decisions begin to take over her life. The film does not treat her as foolish; it shows how sudden success can destroy people without support. She is praised when she is entertaining and judged when she loses control.

Obvious Child

Donna feels stuck in many parts of her life. After a one-night stand, she becomes pregnant and decides to have an abortion. She is sure about her choice but unsure about everything else. Her job feels unstable, her relationships feel messy, and she feels judged by people around her. The film allows her to feel sad, funny, confused, and relieved all at once.

Tallulah

Lu makes sudden decisions and pushes people away, even when she wants connection. Taking the baby is not shown as a good act, but as a result of loneliness and fear. She wants to protect someone, even though she can barely care for herself. The movie looks at how broken relationships affect trust and closeness.

Eileen

Eileen feels trapped in her daily life and ignored by almost everyone around her. Meeting Rebecca changes how she sees herself and what she believes she deserves. Their connection becomes intense and risky. Eileen starts crossing lines she once believed she never would. Her loneliness makes her easy to influence. The film shows how wanting to be seen and valued can push someone into dangerous choices.

20th Century Women

This movie shows three women at different stages of life, each dealing with change in her own way. Dorothea tries to raise her son while still holding onto her independence. Julie struggles with growing up and understanding relationships. Abbie is learning what adulthood means after leaving her younger, rebellious years behind. None of them have clear answers.

Not Okay

Danni lies about surviving a tragic event and becomes famous because of it. She enjoys the attention until everything falls apart. The film makes it clear that she is selfish and insecure, not heroic. There is even a warning about her being an “unlikable female protagonist.” What matters most is how she faces the damage she caused.