Mashable
Watch these movies after you see ‘Ocean’s 8’
BY ALISON FOREMAN
6/11/18
After months of building anticipation, Ocean’s 8 finally hit theaters Friday. Yes, it featured the stunning, talented, female-led cast you’ve heard so much about. Glad you noticed.
But Ocean’s 8 is more than the token “female remake” it has been boiled down to. Like many audience members this past weekend, I showed up for the all-star actresses, but stayed for the crime, glamor, comedy, celeb cameos, and general badassery.
So to get you through those days where you can’t make it to the theater for a rewatch, here are fourteen films that show off groups of ladies getting together to kick ass — literally or metaphorically.
Crime
Chicago (2002)
Headed up by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger, this jailhouse musical took home six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It’s tough to make Richard Gere look like a third wheel, but somehow the murderesses of Cook County Jail pull it off.
Where to watch: HBO
Thelma & Louise (1991)
This road trip classic follows two women as they attempt to outrun their darks pasts by any means necessary. While neither Susan Sarandon nor Geena Davis won Best Actress for their performances, the leads’ double nomination cemented Thelma & Louise as a feminist classic.
Where to watch: Starz
Heathers (1988)
Plaid skirts, football players, and drain cleaner? Color me stoked. A dark high school comedy laced with visceral teen murders, this cult classic is the adolescent destruction fantasy you didn’t know you needed. Starring Winona Ryder and the titular “Heathers.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Meryl Streep shines amongst a cast of notoriously fabulous character actors in this romantic comedy with a pop twist. The costumes, musical numbers, and female stars glisten in an ABBA-made universe. Stay tuned for the sequel hitting theaters July 20th.
Where to watch: Netflix
Beauty Shop (2005)
Nothing feels better than a comedy that celebrates inner and outer beauty equally. Queen Latifah and the rest of her salon crew (featuring Alicia Silverstone and Andie MacDowell among others) gave us one of the most styling girl-power movies to date in this Barbershop spin-off.
Where to watch: Vudu
First Wives Club (1996)
Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton team up in this instant classic, reuniting as long lost friends and taking down the men who have wronged them – all while donning stunning coordinated power suits. It’s both visually enchanting and genuinely touching.
Where to watch: Starz
Girls Trip (2017)
This nonstop, no apologies, rollercoaster of a film takes viewers through an outlandish New Orleans weekend with Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Queen Latifah. Named one of Time magazine’s top 10 films of the year, Girls Trip is a top tier comedy perfect for friends, but best avoided around distant relatives.
Where to watch: HBOGo (not HBO Now)
Bad Moms (2016)
Suffocated by a world of helicopter parents, Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, and Kristen Bell redefine motherhood in this ensemble comedy. Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Annie Mumolo play opposite them.
Where to watch: Showtime
Bridesmaids (2011)
If Bridesmaids is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Think of a beautiful wedding. Now add comedic powerhouses Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Sprinkle in some in-flight hallucinations, free tattoos, and vomiting and you’ve got yourself 2011’s comedy of the summer.
Where to watch: Rental/purchase on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep take center stage in this fashion focused drama. Blink and you’ll miss cameos appearances by fashion insiders like Heidi Klum, Bridget Hall, and Valentino Garavani.
Where to watch: HBO
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
A cappella competitors dominate all three films of this franchise, but Pitch Perfect 2 turned some of the most unlikely celebrities into our favorite underdogs. In a mashup battled against Anna Kendrick and the rest of her squad, the Green Bay Packers (yes, from sports) break out some “Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child. It’s as magical as it sounds.
Where to watch: Rental or purchase on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
The Craft (1996)
Four teen witches take on school bullies, summon an all powerful demon, and wear enough black leather to make Ozzy Osbourne feel conventional. This surprise summer hit is a perfect blend of Mean Girls and Suspiria.
Where to watch: Starz
Ghostbusters (2016)
Love it or hate it, this controversial remake delivers action. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones bring their SNL chops to the forefront as paranormal activity once again overwhelms New York City.
Where to watch: Starz
Annihilation (2018)
Think Ghostbusters, but with a more pronounced sense of dread. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Tuva Novotny gear up to investigate a mysterious mutation that seems to destroy everything in its path.
Where to watch:
Rental/purchase on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
