24 Best Movies About Female Friendship, Ranked
March 9, 2022 | Film Chop
The conventional movie with a female lead centers around her pursuit to find a man and features a budding love story. They also tend to portray women as one-dimensional or stereotypical archetypes. Chick flicks, as they’re often labeled, are movies that appeal mainly to women. Most people think of rom-coms and love stories when they think of chick flicks. However, there is another type of chick flick on the rise that adds refreshing depth to female characters and their relationships with one another: movies about female friendships.
Female friendship films celebrate the powerful relationships women can have with one another. They explore the bonds of friendship that can be created and tested in life but ultimately endure through a powerful attachment to each other. Here are the 24 best movies about the importance of female friendships and the heartwarming lessons we can learn from them.
24 Best Female Friendship Movies
24. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
If you’re in the mood for an absurd comedy that doesn’t pull any of its punches, then Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is the movie for you. The film is about two lifelong friends, Barb and Star, who embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time – ever. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a bizarre screwball comedy that is unashamed of its silliness.
Where To Watch Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
23. Girls Trip
In the vein of Bridesmaids or The Hangover, Girls Trip is a wild comedy that focuses on the friendships between four women. Starring Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film is about four lifelong friends who travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival. Girls Trip is an explicit and hilarious ride that is worth taking.
Where To Watch Girls Trip
22. Hustlers
Hustlers is an unorthodox movie about female friendship. The film is visually dazzling and manages to tell a high-end crime story. Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. Jennifer Lopez gives a career-defining performance as Ramona Vega and Constance Wu is also excellent as Destiny.
Where To Watch Hustlers
21. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
This film takes a lighthearted approach to its tale about friendship and young adulthood. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is about four best girlfriends who hatch a plan to stay connected with one another as their lives start off in different directions: to pass around a pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of their bodies perfectly. The dramedy will inspire you by its portrayal of long-lasting friendship.
Where To Watch Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
20. The Virgin Suicides
Sofia Coppola is mostly known for her role in The Godfather Part III but after that movie, she directed a film that is now considered a cult classic. The Virgin Suicides is about a group of male friends who become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents in suburban Detroit in the mid-1970s. The film’s emotional struggle is surprisingly complex, with absence, sorrow, and memory as its backdrop.
Where To Watch The Virgin Suicides
19. Plan B
Plan B is another entry in a surprisingly emerging subgenre: the abortion road trip. The film is a comedy that tells the story of a straight-laced high school student and her slacker best friend who, after a regrettable first sexual encounter, have 24 hours to hunt down a Plan B pill in America’s heartland. Plan B is a hilarious journey with actresses that give authentic performances as best friends.
Where To Watch Plan B
18. Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids proved that a comedy with a female-led cast can be just as successful as a male-led one. SNL stars Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph star in the film along with Melissa McCarthy and Rebel Wilson. Bridesmaids centers around a competition between a maid of honor and a bridesmaid over who is the bride’s best friend, which spirals out of control and threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef. The comedy became an instant classic that launched the careers of many current comedic actresses.
Where To Watch Bridesmaids
17. Girl, Interrupted
Girl, Interrupted tells the real story of Susanna Kaysen and her 18-month stay in a mental hospital in the late 1960s. The film taps into the female friendship genre as Susanna makes friends with Lisa (Angelina Jolie) and others in the hospital. Winona Ryder won Best Actress in 2000 for the film. The actresses in the mental hospital deliver realistic performances and will make you feel as if you are in the mental hospital with them.
Where To Watch Girl, Interrupted
16. Hidden Figures
It’s an unfortunate reality that many notable women have been overlooked in history. Only recently we have begun to examine history a little closer to see what accomplishments by women have been erased or minimized. Hidden Figures is a film that tells the story of three brilliant African-American women who played an integral role in NASA during the early days of the space program. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe deliver powerful performances in the stirring true story. Hidden Figures is a representation of the outstanding achievements of not only women but also African-American women throughout history.
Where To Watch Hidden Figures
15. Booksmart
Booksmart is a coming-of-age comedy similar to Superbad. The film is reflective of the current young generations and the rising culture of acceptance of any and all types of people. The movie is about two academic superstar best friends who realize they should have played more in high school and decide to cram four years of fun into one night. Booksmart is fast-paced, humorous, and a whole lot of fun.
Where To Watch Booksmart
14. Frances Ha
Frances Ha provides a quirky look at the late 20’s angst and also depicts the relationships of two female best friends who despite both being heterosexual consider themselves to be like an old, married, lesbian couple who don’t have sex with each other. The movie is about a New York woman who apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer) and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles. Greta Gerwig writes and stars in the film as the bizarre main character.
Where To Watch Frances Ha
Prime Video w/ IFC Unlimited or AMC +
Read More: 10 Movies To Help Build Self Esteem
13. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Impressing your peers at a high school reunion is something that most people can relate to and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is about exactly that. The film is about two dim-witted, inseparable friends who hit the road for their ten-year high school reunion and concoct an elaborate lie about their lives in order to impress their classmates. The movie demonstrates how a friendship bond can last a lifetime.
Where To Watch Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
12. Ghost World
Starring Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch, and a young Scarlett Johansson, Ghost World puts an emphasis on how friends come together and drift apart. The film is about two unusually devious friends who seek direction in life and respond to a man’s newspaper ad for a date, only to find it will greatly complicate their lives. Ghost World reveals how complicated friendships can be and does it with humor and intelligence.
Where To Watch Ghost World
11. Thoroughbreds
Thoroughbreds manages to combine comedy with thrilling twists that are dark. At the core of the film are the relationships between two teenage girls who rekindle their friendships after years. The film is about two upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut who rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart and hatch a plan to solve both of their problems-no matter what the cost. Thoroughbreds may seem fun but actually turns out to be a chilling thriller.
Where To Watch Thoroughbreds
10. Pitch Perfect
This musical’s strength is not in the story but in the performed music and the group chemistry within the all-female singing team. Pitch Perfect is about a freshman who joins The Bellas, the school’s all-girl singing group, and injects some much needed energy into their repertoire, which helps them take on their male rivals in a campus competition. The film is full of witty banter and great energy that makes it a joy to watch.
Where To Watch Pitch Perfect For $3.99
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9. The Help
The Help was based on the book of the same name written by Gute Geister. The film demonstrates the hardships African American women had to endure in the 1960s and the friendships made that sometimes crossed racial lines. The movie is about an aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s who decides to write a book detailing the African American maids’ point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis. The Help is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights the racial discrimination and prejudices that makes up America’s history.
Where To Watch The Help
8. Heavenly Creatures
Female friendship is at the core of Heavenly Creatures. Starring a young Kate Winslet, the film is a mystery thriller about two teenage girls who share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge. Heavenly Creatures is dark, stylish, and one of Peter Jackson’s best films.
Where To Watch Heavenly Creatures
Currently not available for streaming.
7. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Marilyn Monroe’s performance in Gentlemen Prefer Blonde is one of her most recognized performances. The film was not only comedic and had catchy tunes but it also centered on the friendship between two showgirls, Lorelei and Dorothy. The film is about showgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw who travel to Paris and are pursued by a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei’s fiancé as well as a rich, enamored old man and many other doting admirers.
Where To Watch Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Prime Video
Google Play Movies & TV
Vudu
YouTube
Apple TV
6. Set It Off
Set It Off has engaging and compelling characters that also manage to give a voice to the working black female in America. The movie is about four inner-city women whose desperation drives them to rob a bank in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting each other. Set It Off has an amazing cast and a socially conscious message that you don’t see everyday.
Where To Watch Set It Off
5. The Color Purple
The Color Purple is an adaptation of the book of the same name written by Alice Walker. Steven Spielberg directed the film which was his first huge departure from the blockbuster films he was used to. The movie is about a black Southern woman who struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades. The Color Purple is not a joyful story but it does communicate the power of female friendships in the face of oppression.
Where To Watch The Color Purple
4. Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias is a film that is centered around the friendship of six middle-aged women. The film is light-hearted, full of comedy, and balances the melodrama well. The movie is about a young beautician, newly arrived in a small Louisiana town, who finds work at the local salon, where a small group of women share a close bond of friendship, and welcome her into the fold. The characters of Steel Magnolias will find their way into your heart and deliver memorable one-liners.
Where To Watch Steel Magnolias
3. Lady Bird
Lady Bird may mostly be about a teenage girl’s relationship with her mother but there is also a strong female friendship that entertains throughout the film. The movie follows a teenager who navigates a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother over the course of an eventful and poignant senior year of high school. Coming of age movies may seem like a genre that has no more cards to show but Lady Bird proves that there are still plenty of unique movies that can be made in the genre.
Where To Watch Lady Bird
2. Beaches
Beaches is a film about enduring friendship. It’s about the highs, the lows, and the stresses that a good friendship can withstand and grow stronger from. The movie is about a privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer that share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years. At the core of the film, Beaches is celebrating the joy an unlikely friendship brings.
Where To Watch Beaches
1. Girlhood
Girlhood is a coming-of-age story that is told from a completely fresh perspective. The film is french and gives a voice to the black women living in the projects in Paris. The movie is about a girl with a few real prospects who joins a gang, reinventing herself and gaining a sense of self-confidence in the process. However, she soon finds that this new life does not necessarily make her any happier. Girlhood manages to capture how it feels to even briefly belong somewhere.
Where To Watch Girlhood
Movies That Put an Emphasis On Platonic Relationships
Society tends to focus on romantic relationships but friendships have an equal importance in our lives. These 24 movies may have some romance in them but they also often portray female friendships as being just as rich and valuable as any other relationship. We hope these 24 movies about female friendship bring you happiness, laughter, and maybe a few tears.
Related Reading: best romance movies of all time
Frequently Asked Questions About Movies Featuring Female Friendship
What are the best movies about female friendship?
The best movies about female friendship include Thelma & Louise, Steel Magnolias, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Mean Girls, Bridesmaids, Booksmart, Girls Trip, Legally Blonde, Fried Green Tomatoes, Beaches, Waiting to Exhale, The First Wives Club, Pitch Perfect, Sex and the City, and Little Women. These films celebrate the power, complexity, and enduring nature of female friendships.
Why are movies about female friendships important?
Movies about female friendships are important because they represent authentic relationships between women outside of romantic storylines. They showcase the support, loyalty, and deep emotional bonds that women share, providing positive representation that was historically underrepresented in cinema. These films highlight how female friendships shape identity, provide strength during challenges, and offer companionship throughout life’s journey.
What movies celebrate female friendships across different genres?
Female friendship stories appear across many genres: comedies like Bridesmaids, Booksmart, and Girls Trip; dramas like Steel Magnolias and The Color Purple; action films like Thelma & Louise; and romance films like Sister Act and Sex and the City. Even horror films like The Witch and sci-fi like Annihilation feature complex female relationships at their core.
Are there any modern movies about female friendships?
Yes! Recent films celebrating female friendships include Booksmart (2019), The Farewell (2019), Little Women (2019), Birds of Prey (2020), The High Note (2020), Promising Young Woman (2020), The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020), and Zola (2021). These modern films continue the tradition of showcasing authentic female bonds with contemporary perspectives.
What are some funny movies about female best friends?
Funny movies about female best friends include Bridesmaids, Girls Trip, Booksmart, The Other Woman, Bad Moms, Wine Country, Blockers, The House Bunny, Legally Blonde, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Bachelorette, Girls Night Out, and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. These comedies celebrate the humor and chaos of female friendship.
Recent Female Friendship Films (2021–2024)
The genre has continued to produce strong entries in recent years. Here are some that warrant inclusion on any contemporary list:
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) — An Unconventional Entry
While The Banshees of Inisherin centers on a male friendship’s dissolution, it’s worth noting here because it’s the rare film that treats friendship with the same emotional gravity typically reserved for romantic relationships. For audiences interested in films that examine what friendship costs and what its absence means, Inisherin is essential viewing regardless of the genders involved.
Women Talking (2022)
Based on Miriam Toews’ novel and inspired by real events in a Bolivian Mennonite colony, Women Talking gathers a group of women who must decide how to respond to the discovery that the men of their community have been committing violence against them. The film is entirely about women talking to each other — negotiating, disagreeing, consoling, challenging — and it’s an extraordinary piece of filmmaking. Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Frances McDormand lead an exceptional ensemble. It won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Bottoms (2023)
Emma Seligman’s raucous comedy about two unpopular high school girls who start a fight club to meet cheerleaders is gleefully chaotic and genuinely funny. Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri have tremendous chemistry, and the film captures the unhinged energy of female friendship comedies in a way few films achieve. Think Superbad by way of Bring It On, with considerably more violence.
Theater Camp (2023)
This mockumentary about a children’s performing arts summer camp features an ensemble of female friendships — between campers, counselors, and between women navigating grief together. It’s warm, genuinely funny, and captures the specific bonds formed in creative environments.
The Psychology of Female Friendship on Film
Female friendship films work differently from male friendship films in one consistent way: they tend to focus on the internal emotional dynamics of the relationship rather than external adventure. Where male buddy films often use a road trip, heist, or shared mission as the container for friendship, films about female friendship are more likely to make the friendship itself the subject — its tensions, its nurturing, its jealousies, its unique forms of intimacy.
This is partly what makes films like Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and Thelma and Louise so enduring: they’re unafraid to look directly at what friendship between women actually feels like. The best entries in this genre don’t sentimentalize — they show women being complicated with each other, being competitive, being capable of betrayal and forgiveness, being funnier and harder and more interesting than the rom-com template allows.
Related reading: Best Chick Flicks to Watch on Movie Night | 10 Best Movies About Fatherhood
Frequently Asked Questions: Movies About Female Friendship
What is the best movie about female friendship?
The most beloved movies about female friendship include: Beaches (1988, the ultimate tearjerker friendship film), Steel Magnolias (1989, an ensemble of Southern women navigating life and loss together), Thelma and Louise (1991, a road trip that becomes a feminist statement), Bridesmaids (2011, the comedy that proved female-centered ensemble films could dominate the box office), and Little Women (various adaptations, particularly Greta Gerwig’s 2019 version). Among recent films, Women Talking (2022) is critically the most acclaimed.
What are the funniest movies about female friendship?
The funniest female friendship movies include: Bridesmaids (2011) for its raucous ensemble comedy, Girls Trip (2017) for its explicit and hilarious New Orleans adventure, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) for absurdist comedy, Bottoms (2023) for unhinged teen comedy energy, and The Heat (2013) starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock as mismatched cop partners. Mean Girls (2004) is technically a film about the toxicity of female social dynamics but has enough genuine comedic friendship moments to qualify.
What are the most emotional movies about female friendship?
The most emotionally affecting female friendship films: Beaches (1988, still the gold standard for friendship tearjerkers), Steel Magnolias (1989, famous for its devastating final act), The Color Purple (1985, the friendship between Celie and Shug is one of cinema’s most meaningful), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991, spanning decades and testing love), Now and Then (1995, childhood friendship and the passage of time), and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997, surprisingly touching despite its comedic setup).
Are there any good female friendship movies on Netflix?
Netflix has several strong options: Hustle (friendship isn’t the focus but ensemble female energy is present), the Sweet Magnolias series (a contemporary TV take on Steel Magnolias’ ensemble dynamic), Wine Country (2019, Amy Poehler’s comedy about a group of women on a Napa Valley trip), and Set It Up (2018). Netflix’s international library also includes excellent female friendship films: the Spanish series Elite and the Korean series My Mister. Library availability changes frequently — check JustWatch.com for current options.
What is the Bechdel Test and which movies pass it?
The Bechdel Test requires a film to: (1) have at least two named women, (2) who talk to each other, (3) about something other than a man. It’s a low bar, but a surprisingly large percentage of mainstream films fail it. All 24 films on this list pass the Bechdel Test by definition, since female friendship requires women to have substantive conversations with each other. The test is a useful indicator of whether a film takes its female characters seriously as complete human beings, not just supporting characters in a man’s story.
See Also: If you love films about powerful relationships between women, check out our list of best movies about motherhood and best teen movies. For more ranked lists, we have the best comedies of the 2010s and best movies about fatherhood.