According to The New York Times, a study from the University of Southern California found that the number of female directors dropped from 13.4% in 2024 to 8.1% in 2025. Globally recognized as Women’s History Month, March celebrates women in all fields. To help celebrate the month, The Daily Texan compiled a list of female-directed movies.
“Little Miss Sunshine”
Co-directed by Valerie Faris, “Little Miss Sunshine” follows a dysfunctional family as they take their youngest child, Olive, to compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant in California. With a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Little Miss Sunshine” successfully incorporates dark elements with humor. The film secured four nominations at the 2007 Academy Awards and walked away with two wins.
“The Edge of Seventeen”
Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, “The Edge of Seventeen” centers around Nadine Franklin, a 17-year-old high school junior. Following her father’s death, Nadine’s relationships become strained, constantly feeling like she’s in her brother’s shadow. With tracks from Cage the Elephant, Billy Joel, Pixies, Phantogram and The 1975, the film’s soundtrack is perfectly crafted. “The Edge of Seventeen” secured a nomination for a Critics Choice Award in 2016, and for her portrayal of Nadine, Hailee Steinfeld received a nomination for two Critics Choice Awards that year and a Golden Globe in 2017.
“Thirteen”
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, “Thirteen” drew inspiration from actress Nikki Reed’s real-life experiences. “Thirteen” portrays experiences of teen girls in a darker light, appearing more relatable to audiences. The film follows the main protagonist, Tracy, portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood, who is in awe of her classmate, Evie, portrayed by co-writer Nikki Reed. Falling deeper into obsession with Evie’s “perfect” life, the two become inseparable, but their friendship goes beyond unhealthy and becomes codependent. In 2004, “Thirteen” received nominations for an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and two Critics Choice Awards.
“Lady Bird”
“Lady Bird,” written and directed by Greta Gerwig, marked her solo directorial debut.“Lady Bird” takes place in Sacramento, Calif., in the early 2000s. The film follows a complex mother-daughter relationship, and their contrasting personalities often lead to disagreements and heated arguments. “Lady Bird” earned five Academy Award nominations and eight Critics Choice Awards nominations in 2018.
“Bottoms”
An empowering film, “Bottoms,” effortlessly blends comedy with feminism when the two teenage protagonists start a self-defense club. In a 2023 SXSW panel, director Emma Seligman said her main objective when creating “Bottoms” included depicting an accurate portrayal of queer teenagers. The soundtrack of the film features an original score co-composed by Charli XCX and Leo Birenberg. “Bottoms” earned nominations for 24 awards, including a Critics Choice Award in 2024.
