Wonder Women

Welcome back to another edition of the Video Store Podcast. In honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve selected four films featuring what I like to call “Wonder Women.” These are women who are brave, kind, strong, and all-around wonderful. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list—simply four films that resonate with me personally as a woman, and you should watch, whether you’re a woman or not.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

First up is the 1991 Oscar-nominated film, Fried Green Tomatoes. The film stars Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, Kathy Bates, and Jessica Tandy, among others. Fried Green Tomatoes is based on the book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, who also wrote the first draft of the screenplay. This film flashes between the 1920s and the 1980s, looking at Wonder Women through all stages of life. No matter where you find yourself, Fried Green Tomatoes is a great film to enjoy with the wonderful women in your life.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

Next up is Steel Magnolias from 1989. Focusing on southern women’s culture in the 1980s, Steel Magnolias highlights the friendship among six women who must persevere through difficult circumstances. Starring Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, and Tom Skerritt, Steel Magnolias expertly blends comedy and drama, making a great movie full of Wonder Women.

9 to 5 (1980)

The second Dolly Parton film in today’s line-up is 9 to 5. The film, in addition to Dolly Parton, features Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dabney Coleman. Highlighting 1980s office politics that are unfortunately still all too relevant today, 9 to 5 tackles serious women’s issues with humor, making their points even more effective and poignant. This is a great laugh after the tear-jerking drama after Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes.

Alien (1979)

The last film in our Wonder Women selections is 1979’s Alien directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, and Bolaji Badejo as the Xenomorph, Alien, is a phenomenal sci-fi horror film. Alien’s leading wonder woman, Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, is an amazing sci-fi heroine. She’s smart, brave, and resourceful, totes a flamethrower, and has a kitty-cat sidekick. What more do you want in a film about a Wonder Woman?

We hope you enjoy these films and come back and see us next week on the Video Store Podcast.