What to watch for Women’s History Month: Stories of women and their impacts
As women across the world are celebrated and recognized for who they are and their contributions to the world, many movies, documentaries and series have been created to honor women in history worthy of being known and inspired by.
In the U.S., March was proclaimed as Women’s History Month in 1987 by Congress, in order to “celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields,” womenshistorymonth.gov states.
Here are 15 movies, shows and documentaries to watch this Women’s History Month:
“Women of Impact: Changing the World” (2019)
44 minutes
Genre: History, documentary
Synopsis: “Women of Impact: Changing the World” is a National Geographic documentary that features women across the globe and even in space who are making the world a better place.
Rating: TV-PG
Where to stream: Disney+
“Te Ata” (2016)
1 hour, 45 minutes
Genre: History, drama
Synopsis: “Te Ata” is based on the true story of Mary Thompson Fisher, a Chickasaw woman born in the late 19th century. The movie tells the story of her becoming a renowned traditional Native American storyteller during a time when it was illegal to perform traditional Indigenous dance and song numbers. She traveled the world, and President Franklin Roosevelt and the King and Queen of England were among those she performed for.
Rating: PG
Cast: Q’orianka Kilcher, Gil Birmingham, Mackenzie Astin
Where to stream: Netflix
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
2 hours, 7 minutes
Genre: History, drama
Synopsis: “Hidden Figures” tells the true story of the three African-American women at NASA whose work helped launch John Glenn into space.
Rating: PG
Cast: Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe
Where to stream: Disney+
“Equal Means Equal” (2016)
1 hour, 33 minutes
Genre: Documentary, history
Synopsis: “Equal Means Equal” follows a national media campaign aimed at raising awareness of women’s status in America, and a call for gender equality.
Rating: Not rated.
Cast: Patricia Arquette, Phyllis Schlafly, Sarah Silverman
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
“Mary Magdalene” (2018)
2 hours, 10 minutes
Genre: History, drama
Synopsis: “Mary Magdalene” follows the Biblical history of Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus Christ and part of his group of disciples who stayed with him throughout his persecution and his eventual crucifixion.
Rating: R
Cast: Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Where to stream: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
“Picture a Scientist” (2020)
1 hour, 43 minutes
Genre: Documentary, science
Synopsis: “Picture a Scientist” follows female scientists discussing sexism in their field, how they have set a path for themselves and other women, and hope to make STEM a strong female field.
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Raychelle Burks, Nancy Hopkins, Mahzarin Banaji
Where to stream: Netflix
“What Happened, Miss Simone?” (2015)
1 hour, 41 minutes
Genre: Music, documentary, drama
Synopsis: “What Happened, Miss Simone?” follows renowned jazz musician, recording artist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone’s life and remarkable career, as well as issues of domestic violence, racism, and other trials.
Rating: Not rated
Cast: Nina Simone, Lisa Simone
Where to stream: Netflix
“The Glorias” (2020)
2 hours, 19 minutes
Genre: Drama, history
Synopsis: “The Glorias” tells the true story of Gloria Steinem, a journalist and activist for the feminist movement in the 1960s to ‘70s and beyond.
Rating: R
Cast: Julianne Moore, Bette Midler, Janelle Monáe
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
“Nancy Wake: Gestapo’s Most Wanted” (2014)
1 hour, 2 minutes
Genre: Drama, documentary, history
Synopsis: “Nancy Wake: Gestapo’s Most Wanted” tells the true story of Nancy Wake, a well-known journalist from New Zealand, and her bold adventures with the French Resistance and more during World War II.
Rating: 16+
Cast: Rachael Blampied, Owen Black, William Kircher
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
“This Changes Everything” (2018)
1 hour, 37 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: “This Changes Everything” looks into the lives of women in the Hollywood film industry to address gender disparity and inequality.
Rating: TV-MA
Cast: Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Geena Davis, Chloë Grace Moretz
Where to stream: Netflix
“Radioactive” (2019)
1 hour, 43 minutes
Genre: Drama, romance
Synopsis: “Radioactive” tells the story of Marie Curie, a world-renowned physicist and two-time Nobel Prize winner whose groundbreaking work with radioactive materials included the discovery of the elements radium and polonium.
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sam Riley
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
“9to5: The Story of a Movement” (2019)
1 hour, 26 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: “9to5: The Story of a Movement” follows the true story of female workers in the 1970s standing up for better working conditions, including equal pay and an end to sexual harassment.
Rating: TV-MA
Cast: Jane Fonda, Karen Nussbaum
Where to stream: Netflix
“I Am Greta” (2020)
1 hour, 37 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: “I Am Greta” is a documentary about young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her global work to raise awareness and stop climate change, starting at the young age of 15.
Rating: TV-14
Cast: Greta Thunberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Svante Thunberg
Where to stream: Hulu
“RBG” (2018)
1 hour, 38 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: “RBG” follows the life and notable career of former Supreme Court Justice and American cultural icon Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Rating: PG
Cast: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Harryette Helsel, Nina Totenberg
Where to stream: Netflix
“Mrs. America” (2020)
1 season, 9 episodes
Genre: History, drama
Synopsis: “Mrs. America” is set in the 1970’s and tells the story of women striving to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Rating: TVMA
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Uzo Aduba, Rose Byrne
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 12:07 PM.
