The 25 Best Movies Directed by Women, Ranked

by Julia Hays, for Metacritic – July 27, 2017

With this week's release of Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, we’re looking back at the best female-helmed films of the 21st century.

From eye-opening documentaries to political thrillers and romance, a generation of women, including Bigelow, Sofia Coppola, Ava Duvernay and more, have brought viewers rarely-told stories from a unique point of view.

These are the greatest films coming from this talented crop of filmmakers, ranked by Metascore.

24 of 26 photo by Summit Home Entertainment

95 The Hurt Locker

This low-budget Iraq War thriller, starring Jeremy Renner, tells the story of a bomb disposal team. The Hurt Locker marked the start of the most successful period in the veteran director's career, and racked up six Academy Awards, including best picture. Bigelow also became the first woman to win the best director Oscar.

“This one enters the pantheon of great American war films.” —Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle