Best Female-Centric Action Movies to Watch If You Liked Ballerina: From the World of John Wick

The feeling of seeing a woman walking into a fight she didn’t start, but sure as hell finishes on a whole other level. Ballerina: From the World of John Wick is one of those movies, and is currently in theatres. If you’ve already watched it and want more badass action with tough female leads, here are some great suggestions. 

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Atomic Blonde is a neon-soaked Cold War thriller starring Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 spy sent to Berlin to uncover double agents. Much like Ballerina, it’s packed with loads of action scenes, especially the brutal, no-cuts staircase fight scene where Lorraine takes down a swarm of KGB agents single-handedly. 

La Femme Nikita (1990)

La Femme Nikita is Luc Besson at his slickest. We agree that the story isn’t totally fresh. A girl with a rough past gets trained as a government assassin and struggles to balance love and killing, but wow, does it work. It’s moody, intense, a little romantic, and totally gripping. There are many scenes where you’ll feel for Nikita, even when she’s got a gun in her hand. 

Salt (2010)

Salt might have a thin plot and a not-so-great ending, but there’s no denying it’s a solid female-led action film. Angelina Jolie plays the role of a CIA agent who becomes a subject of a nationwide manhunt after being accused of treason and espionage, and from that moment, it’s non-stop chases and explosions.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

Action films are good when they’re neon-lit. Gunpowder Milkshake is a candy-colored action film starring Gillan as a gun-for-hire who goes on the run after saving a young girl. The story is simple, but like Ballerina, this movie has a lot of style, and is perfect if you’re in the mood for some fun, stylish, women kicking butt. 

Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2003–2004)

Action, chase, drama, and story are all key ingredients of a great action film, and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill has them in spades. Often called the greatest female-led action film, it’s now a cult classic and is even studied in film schools. The story follows an assassin on a brutal revenge spree after waking up from a four-year-long coma. The action scenes are way over-the-top, and most of the time downright impossible, but somehow, Tarantino makes it all work.

Ballerina (2023)

This 2023 action-thriller from Korean director Lee Chung-hyeon introduces us to Ok-joo, a former assassin who goes after a powerful drug and blackmail ring after her best friend takes her own life. The story isn’t anything new, but the action more than makes up for it, whether it’s one-on-one fights or her taking down a dozen guys at once. The film really stands out for its gorgeous cinematography and bold use of color. 

Anna (2019)

Anna is Luc Besson’s twisty take on the femme-fatale assassin story. Sasha Luss plays Anna, a model who is secretly a KGB-trained killer sent to the USA to befriend high-value politicians and gain intel. Sasha Luss delivers an impressive performance, even if the emotional depth doesn’t always land. The plot tries a little too hard with its twists, and for fans of La Femme Nikita, the story might feel a bit too familiar. Still, Anna is a great watch.