Top 10 Best Female Assassin Movies
#10: “Colombiana” (2011)
A woman named Cattleya was forced to grow up without her parents because a cartel enforcer took their lives. Unable to let the ones responsible walk free, she becomes an assassin that leaves Cattleya flowers on her victims. Although all the genre clichés contained within Colombina’s plot hold the movie back, the performances rise above the material. Zoe Saldana does an excellent job at conveying Cattleya's danger and vulnerability. She's also supported by great supporting actors like Lennie James and Cliff Curtis as well as a handful of solid action scenes. While Colombiana doesn't always hit the target, Saldana’s excellent work ensured this particular assassin tale stuck with us.
#9: “Salt” (2010)
CIA operative Evelyn Salt is forced to go on a run after being accused of being a foreign spy that will assassinate Russia’s president. Although it initially looks like she's been framed, we learn that she may not be as innocent as we were led to believe. The action-packed thriller has awesome fight scenes, gunfights and escapes. Whenever Salt gets her eyes on a target, they’re usually not long for this world. If the dense and complex narrative was a little easier to follow, Salt would easily be an all time classic. But while you may get a little lost in all the turns, the Angelina Jolie-led thriller about a woman accused of being a political assassin still has plenty to love.
#8: “Gunpowder Milkshake” (2021)
If you ever wanted to see a crew of badass female assassins teaming up, then we have the perfect film for you. “Gunpower Milkshake” follows Karen Gillan's Sam, an assassin that got into the career after her mother, played by Lena Headey, disappeared while doing similar work. Although the movie has a slow build-up, the narrative gets really exciting when Sam and her mom reunite after a routine mission goes terribly wrong. Along the way, the duo meets female assassins played by Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino. All appear in action scenes that range from being extremely tense to ridiculously over the top. The movie's quantity of cool characters and willingness to get silly make it an underrated gem.
#7: “Black Widow” (2021)
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When Natasha Romanoff was young, she was pushed into a grim program to gain the skills to infiltrate organizations and eliminate enemies. After the former assassin used her experience and became an Avenger, she heard new Black Widows were being trained and brainwashed. Natasha teams up with old allies like her deadly sister Yelena to shut the program down. The movie features both bombastic action set pieces and quieter scenes full of dramatic tension. It also had the added bonus of telling a story about Natasha while letting Florence Pugh’s Yelena shine. While it could’ve definitely arrived a few years earlier, it’s nonetheless a great story about women trying to find a life outside of the violent profession they had been forced into.
#6: “Atomic Blonde” (2017)
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The names of countless spies hidden in Berlin could be exposed unless Lorraine Broughton finds a document known as “The List” before it falls into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of enemies standing in between her and her mission. But those who try to stop her soon realize she’s not just an agent—she’s also a woman entrusted to assassinate enemies when necessary. Charlize Theron’s Lorraine amazes us every time she takes down foes in extraordinarily creative and expertly choreographed action scenes. The fights constantly left us breathless due to their length and realism. Between Lorraine’s exciting scene and Theron’s strong showing, “Atomic Blonde” definitely deserved to make the list.
#5: “Hanna” (2011)
Hanna’s the story of a young woman who was literally made to be an assassin. She was born from a program meant to produce genetically modified warriors. However, a CIA agent named Erik decided to raise Hanna, teach her survival skills and prepare her for the fight he knew was coming. The resulting story feels like someone combined the best story beats from “Logan” and “Leon the Professional”. (*xref) “Hanna” also stands out with slick action and impressive hand-to-hand combat. Saoirse Ronan does an incredible job at making her enhanced character feel grounded enough to live in our world. Packed with supporting characters you can’t help but get invested in too, “Hanna” is a lethal tale with plenty of heart.
#4: “House of Flying Daggers” (2004)
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After a policeman named Leo is tasked to find the leader of the dangerous House of Flying Daggers group, he crosses paths with an assassin from the group named Mei. The pair manage to fall for each other while trying to remain loyal to their respective allies. Not only does the film depict an epic love story, but it also has awe-inspiring fight choreography. Mei becomes a destructive force of nature whenever she’s pulled into a new conflict. And whenever you think you know where the story is going, you get a fantastic reveal that turns everything upside down. This critically acclaimed and absolutely gorgeous epic deserves every bit of praise for a fantastic story and Zhang Ziyi’s commanding performance as the formidable Mei.
#3: “La Femme Nikita” (1990)
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An inmate named Nikita can get out of a life sentence if she becomes an assassin for a secret agency. She takes the deal and is trained to execute enemies with precision, subtlety and cunning. While working for her new bosses, Nikita tries to keep the most violent parts of her life hidden from her love interest Marco. This femme fatale’s journey from outcast to assassin is captivating to watch from start to finish. Her story was popular enough to spawn several international remakes and a couple of TV series. Although a few of the later stories that were inspired by this 1990 film reached great heights, the original “Nikita” is extremely worth revisiting.
#2: “Lady Snowblood” (1973)
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In “Lady Snowblood”, a woman named Sayo dies before getting revenge against criminals who mistreated her. But she left behind a daughter named Yuki who grows up to be an assassin that’s more than willing to enact brutal justice against the villains who harmed her mother. The solemn quest for justice makes for an engaging tale that features unpredictable twists and excellent action. “Lady Snowblood” went on to become an iconic film within the action genre that got a sequel and helped inspire at least one other movie on this list. If you don’t know how Yuki’s journey of revenge ends, it’s never too late to watch this notable piece of action cinema.
#1: “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) & “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004)
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Since we couldn't choose between the two halves of this duology, we decided they could share the number one spot. The movies follow a female assassin named Beatrix Kiddo who aims to slay her former ally Bill because he orchestrated a horrible act of violence on her wedding day. While the films are inspired by “Lady Snowblood”, Tarantino's pop culture laden script, absurdly stacked cast and epic action scenes ensure the “Kill Bill” story is much more than just a retread. The movies are also elevated by Uma Thurman's committed and unforgettable performance as Beatrix herself. Seeing as both films are discussed, parodied and praised today, it’s safe to say many people went to see if Beatrix did what the title promised.
