In a typical American blockbuster movie, men usually take the role as the protagonist. It has been this way for years in the movie industry.

“The crew was mostly men,” Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in Star Wars, said. “That’s how it was and that’s pretty much how it still is. It’s a man’s world and show business is a man’s meal, with women generously sprinkled through it like overqualified spice.”

Now things are different as women are stepping up, taking over and playing the main character in popular movies and franchises. In “Star Wars,” as Princess Leia said, “Men have the main roles.”

Recently, women have been making more appearances in the “Star Wars” franchise. The addition of a new protagonist named Rey (Daisy Ridley) followed the footsteps of popular character Princess Leia, who is one of few female characters in “Star Wars.”

“[Rey is] so strong,” actress Ridley, a strong female Jedi, said. “She’s cool and smart and she can look after herself.”

Star Wars is not the only movie franchise that has women coming into bigger roles. Superhero movies from companies such as DC are empowering women to step up and save the day as well. Wonder Woman first made her appearance in 1941 as a cartoon. Ever since then, she has been inspiring women to be independent and strong like her. In an attempt to revitalize the heroine, a well received live-action Wonder Woman movie was released in 2017. The director, Patty Jenkins, was the first woman to direct a superhero movie with a main character that is a female. 

“There aren’t enough good roles for strong women,” the actress who played Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, said. “I wish we had more female writers. Most of the female characters you see in films today are the ‘poor heartbroken girl.’”

Gadot and many other actresses hope to influence females in society to take the leadership role. Female empowerment in movies has impacted young girls as well. It teaches them that they can be anything they want if they put their mind to it.

“I am very much in favor of women’s rights, being a woman myself,” Gadot said. “And I support intelligent, successful, independent working women.” 

When women step up in the movie industry, more women feel inspired to take on the world.