With the release of The Woman King, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Badass Women in Film.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 characters in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. SARAH CONNOR (TERMINATOR FRANCHISE)
When you think of “badass” characters, Sarah Connor comes to mind almost instantly. From being the final girl in The Terminator to a woman teetering on the edge of sanity in Judgment Day, Linda Hamilton brought this character to life with unmatched energy. While outside of the first two films there hasn’t been the same level of success (critically or financially), the fact that the franchise has continued trying to reinvent and reintroduce the character shows how important she is. There’s even an underrated television show focusing on her. She is tougher and more interesting than most other male badasses, and one of the most layered and complex female action heroes of all time. - Joseph
4. LEIA ORGANA (STAR WARS FRANCHISE)
I’m a huge Star Wars fan, so of course I would have the iconic Princess-turned-General Leia Organa listed here! Portrayed by the late, great Carrie Fisher, Leia is the most badass woman in the galaxy far, far away. Not only is she royalty, but she’s one of the greatest leaders of the Rebel Alliance. She’s a feisty woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and take charge, making her a fearless leader that I’ve admired since I was a little girl. There will never be another heroic badass like her in this or any other galaxy. - Paige
3. IMPERATOR FURIOSA (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD)
Imperator Furiosa could have been a simple hardened warrior, but with her disability, her incredible fighting spirit, and her deeply felt emotions, she becomes a hero. To have Charlize Theron be the true lead of Mad Max: Fury Road's stellar ensemble was an inspired choice by director George Miller, and her absolute ferocity is exhilarating to witness. She is, without doubt, one of the most badass female characters of all time. - Jacob
2. BEATRIX KIDDO (KILL BILL FRANCHISE)
In Kill Bill, director Quentin Tarantino and star Uma Thurman created the ultimate female badass in a world full of female badasses by getting to the heart of the old adage "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." The Bride (Thurman) violently tears through former assassins, Yakuza bosses, hit squads, and endless henchmen with martial arts, a samurai sword, and a relatable sense of purpose to exact her revenge. She's the definition of a badass, female or otherwise. - Quentin
1. ELLEN RIPLEY (ALIEN FRANCHISE)
Over the course of three movies (technically four, but TECHNICALLY, TECHNICALLY that isn’t Ripley in Alien: Resurrection), Ellen Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) story arc delivers arguably the most well-rounded, fleshed-out character in movie history. She checks every “badass” box: action star, alien killer, mech suit-wearer, mother, leader, martyr, survivor, and all-around woman you don’t wanna mess with. Even her clone is more badass than most characters who only have one body. - Amarú
HONORABLE MENTIONS
LAURIE STRODE (HALLOWEEN FRANCHISE)
RITA VRATASKI (THE EDGE OF TOMORROW)
HIT GIRL (KICK-ASS FRANCHISE)
CLARICE STARLING (HANNIBAL FRANCHISE)
PALOMA (NO TIME TO DIE)
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Paramount Pictures; Photo 2 - Disney; Photo 3 - Warner Bros; Photo 4 - Miramax Films; Photo 5 - 20th Century Studios