15 Movies To Watch With Your Girlfriends That Don’t Push Feminist Propaganda

After this summer’s Barbenheimer drama polarized audiences on the notion of patriarchy or the act of raging against it, we know one thing for sure: There’s a significant population out there dying to watch some movies that don’t have a political slant.

The antidote to Hollywood’s woke illness? Classic, lighthearted rom-coms and chick flicks that are playful, empowering in a more flirtatious sense of the term, and don’t just preach at you to ditch your femininity for feminism. Need a breath of fresh air to restore your faith in humanity and take the edge off? Here are 15 films you can enjoy during your next girls’ night.

1. White Chicks

In this 2004 comedy film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, two African-American FBI agent brothers get a new assignment after fumbling a drug bust to escort two rich socialites to the Hamptons. The ladies are to be used as bait for a scheme to catch a kidnapper, but once the socialites learn about the FBI’s plan and refuse to take part, the brothers have to go undercover as blonde, white women. 

White Chicks is undoubtedly one of those movies that either couldn’t be made today, or would be met with deep scrutiny by film reviewers because of just how politically incorrect the plot and script are. Thankfully, that’s what also makes it such an entertaining, funny film to pop open a bottle of wine and watch with your friends.

2. She’s the Man

Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum star in this 2006 romantic comedy film that will take you back to your days as a teenager in school. Directed by Andy Fickman, She’s The Man follows Bynes’ character Viola who goes to attend twin brother Sebastian’s boarding school in his place but then falls in love with Sebastian’s roommate Duke, played by Tatum.

This movie is a brilliant modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and includes all the humorous hijinks that come with (non-transgender) cross-dressing and love triangles. Plus, who can argue with a healthy dose of young Channing Tatum?

3. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

This 2005 comedy drama is a coming-of-age classic that tugs at your heartstrings no matter if you’re currently in your teens or just reminiscing on those emotional days. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants stars Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn as four best friends who have to endure their first summer apart from one another.

Upon finding a pair of jeans that flatters each of their figures, the girls agree to pass this pair of jeans from friend to friend in their effort to stay connected – whether that’s Greece, South Carolina, Mexico, or close to home. You’ve got romance, drama, beautiful sequences of the Mediterranean, and much more in this feel-good film, perfect for a girls’ night in.

4. Clueless

A soft, but sassy satire of late ‘90s Beverly Hills culture, this modern interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma is one of the quintessential girls’ night movies. In Clueless, Alicia Silverstone plays fashionable and funny Cher who, along with her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), attempts to put her masterful makeover skills to the test on new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy). Stuck up and superficial by nature, Cher realizes along the way how she too needs to undergo a makeover.

The outfits are to die for, the banter is witty, the teen drama is relatable, and let’s not forget that you get young Paul Rudd as the bookworm love interest, Josh! Like the next one in this list, it’s endlessly quotable and totally worth giving a watch if you haven’t already.

5. Mean Girls

Lindsay Lohan plays new girl in school Cady Heron, who finds herself neck-deep in the pretty-girl clique The Plastics. In Mean Girls, the clique members, played by Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert, make an attempt to ruin Cady’s social life after she falls for one of the Plastic’s exes. 

You can’t go wrong with the crude and perfectly quotable humor in this movie that, at the time, seemed quite feminist in nature but now probably wouldn’t fly under today’s politically correct lens. This movie is one of the most iconic high school dramas, and for good reason. It’s tastefully raunchy, features a good amount of romance, and is essentially a time capsule for early 2000s fashion.

6. The House Bunny

Can you tell I’ve got a soft spot for bimbo-esque protagonists? There’s something so wrong but so right about carefree, vain blondes dressed in Barbie pink that undergo humbling character transformations. In The House Bunny, Anna Farris plays Shelly, a Playboy Bunny newly kicked out of the Mansion who takes it upon herself to glam up a group of reserved sorority girls.

This satirical rom-com doesn’t let any stereotype go untouched and is cliché in all the best ways. Let’s be honest, Farris’s portrayal of Shelly tops Margot Robbie’s rendition of Barbie…oh wait, too soon?

7. Sixteen Candles

Of all the John Hughes films that could make this list, Sixteen Candles is definitely worth a watch with the girls because of Mollie Ringwald’s starring performance as Samantha Baker. On her sixteenth birthday, Baker’s parents overlook any celebration throughout the chaos of her older sister’s wedding. 

The comedic teen angst is well-acted, the ‘80s vibes will make you nostalgic for a time you perhaps weren’t living through, and despite what the feminists may say – it’s not actually perverted, it’s quite realistic to how people would have acted.

8. Confessions of a Shopaholic

In this film directed by P.J. Hogan, Isla Fisher stars as Rebecca Bloomwood, a recent college grad who made it to the Big Apple with a new job as a financial journalist. But that wasn’t her goal, because, as the meme goes, “women be shopping!” In Confessions of a Shopaholic, debt-riddled Bloomwood snags that job to support her habit, but even her love life is affected.

This rom-com is a little whimsical and perfectly lighthearted for when you’re really just in the mood to enjoy some clichés and cute clothes. It’s not sophisticated, but it’s not supposed to be – it’s just some good, feminine fun!

9. The Devil Wears Prada

Speaking of fashion, if you haven’t yet watched The Devil Wears Prada, you’re sorely missing out. This 2006 film starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep follows hardworking but naive college graduate Andy Sachs (Hathaway), who wants to make it in the fashion world, and finds herself working like a dog under legitimate girlboss Miranda Priestly (Streep).

It’s witty and satirical, filled to the brim with fashion industry drama, and is blissfully cliché in all the enjoyable ways that feminists today likely loathe. If you’re a fan of the awkward girl going through a major glow-up storyline, you’ll love this movie.

10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This 2002 rom-com follows 30-year-old Toula Portokalos, a Greek-American woman who wants more for her life than working in her family’s restaurant and settling down with a nice Greek boy. After convincing her family to let her go back to do more schooling, Toula ends up falling head over heels for a non-Greek English teacher. 

Despite it following much of your typical rom-com formula, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is innovative due to the uniquely Greek culture portrayed in it. Sure, some may say it’s stereotypical, but this was an indie film written by a Greek woman, Nia Vardalos, who also stars as Toula. This movie is feel-good in every sense of the word. So, if you’re not already planning a mezze and merlot night with your gal pals, you better hop on it.

11. Roman Holiday

Audrey Hepburn stars as Princess Ann, a woman so sheltered and jaded by her royal life that she escapes from her guards in Rome and falls in love with Joe Bradley, an American journalist, played by Gregory Peck. Roman Holiday is one of the top rom-com classics, and it has stood the test of time, not only because of Hepburn’s captivating acting but because of the immense chemistry between her and Peck as they adventure through the windswept, blissful stages of new love.

This softhearted film truly has it all, from a stunning, Mediterranean setting to bonafide old-fashioned romance. If you loved watching a movie like La La Land, you’ll be so smitten by this retro Hollywood staple.

12. The Princess Bride

It’s equal parts adventure, fantasy, romance, and comedy. 1987’s The Princess Bride is an iconic film following farm girl Buttercup (Robin Wright), her arranged marriage to Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon), her vigilante one-true-love Westley (Cary Elwes), and all of the antics that ensue when the princess doesn’t want to marry the prince. This Rob Reiner film is hilariously memorable, from Inigo Montoya to Andre the Giant to the poison scene and more.

Even if you try not to fall madly in love with Westley, Elwes’s performance will likely charm your socks off. The Princess Bride is mostly wholesome, good family fun, but that doesn’t stop it from being deeply satirical and amusing for mature audiences as well. Find yourself jaded with Disney of late? You won’t be disappointed if you give this film a watch instead.

13. Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is your (fictional) evidence of the fact that even an OnlyFans girl can undergo a redemption arc. A Cinderella story at heart, this film takes you through socialite Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and Hollywood Boulevard hooker Vivian Ward’s (Julia Roberts) developing relationship as he takes her on as an escort but then discovers she’s worth so much more than just her body. 

Mostly scorned by the feminist eye for its “problematic” perspectives on sugar daddy culture and prostitution, this film features charming chemistry between the two leads but doesn’t fail to be a grittier take on your typical fairy tale romance. Once again, you probably couldn’t make this movie today, but it definitely holds up despite being from the early ‘90s.

14. The Princess Diaries (and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)

Both the 2001 and 2004 Garry Marshall movies starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews deserve a spot on this list of lighthearted, feel-good romantic comedy films that you need to watch (or rewatch) on a girls’ night. In The Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis’s (Hathaway) transformation from awkward, geeky girl to Genovian princess will warm your heart, her friendship with Lilly (Heather Matarazzo) is honestly goals, and Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Andrews) is a role model for all women looking to tap into a little bit of regal energy.

The second movie doesn’t suffer from sequel syndrome like a lot of other Hollywood sequels, which is honestly pretty refreshing considering how many sequels frankly just flop. Though the target audience definitely leans on the younger side – since they’re tween/teen rom-coms – the script, acting, and production have so much more substance than your typical teeny-bopping romance.

15. Some Like It Hot

Billy Wilder’s 1959 film Some Like It Hot is crude but clever in all the right ways. Two male musicians, played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and need to join Sugar Kane Kowalczyk’s (Marilyn Monroe) band disguised as women to escape from the mob.  

Monroe is certainly a knockout in this film, but the high-energy comedic acting from Curtis and Lemmon as cross-dressers makes this movie exemplary of the quality at which Old Hollywood used to operate. The music is stellar, the costuming is beautiful, and you’ll undoubtedly have a good laugh with your gals since the jokes always land.

Closing Thoughts

What Hollywood is missing today is a good dose of shallowness and, honestly, delusion. We often watch movies to escape from the real world, not to wallow in any weariness that our increasingly divided culture may make us feel. Perhaps you’ve already watched several of these films on this list, but even if you have, they’re worth a re-watch just to remind yourself that there is still some delightfully humorous, carefree content you can enjoy.

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