The nights are getting longer and the temperatures are dropping, which makes it the perfect time of year to cozy up with a good movie.
Luckily, my teenage daughter enjoys movie night as much as I do.
She and I both like movies that feature dynamic female leading characters and storylines. We’ve watched the six fantastic movies below, which we give two thumbs up for your next mother-daughter movie night.
Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2
These mysteries present a unique twist on the legacy of Sherlock Holmes by featuring his younger sister, Enola, played by Millie Bobby Brown.
In the 2020 original, teenage Enola is an independent, spirited young lady in 19th century England. When her mother disappears, Enola goes undercover as a boy, fights off bad guys, and solves a related mystery faster than her famous older brother.
The 2022 sequel finds Enola opening her own detective agency and tackling her first case to find a missing girl. With help from her brother and friends, Enola confronts a dangerous conspiracy and unravels the mystery. Girl power indeed.
Crazy Rich Asians
This 2018 romantic comedy stars Constance Wu as Rachel, an economics professor in New York who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick, to attend his best friend’s wedding.
She is surprised to learn that Nick belongs to one of the richest and most prominent families in the country. She is also surprised when his family disapproves of her. As she faces rejection and adversity, she perseveres with support from her college friend (the hilarious Awkwafina), digs deep to believe in herself and her love for Nick, and gets her happy ending.
Hidden Figures
Based on a true story, 2016’s Hidden Figures tells the tale of a trio of Black female scientists working at NASA in the 1960s.
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe are inspiring as the scientists facing gender bias and racial injustice. With intelligence and grit, the women help the United States win the space race, propelling astronaut John Glenn into space. This feel-good drama encourages young women to reach for the stars—or calculate how to get there.
Miss Congeniality and Miss Congeniality 2
These comedies starring Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart, a top-notch FBI agent turned bumbling beauty pageant contestant, are perfect when you need a laugh.
In the first film, released in 2000, Gracie goes undercover as a Miss United States contestant in order to foil a plot to blow up the pageant.
In the 2005 sequel, she struggles with her newfound popularity while proving herself to her FBI partner (Regina King) and saving her pageant bestie from a kidnapping. Both films include plenty of physical comedy and an emphasis on female friendships.
I hope these movies will set the scene for several entertaining—and inspiring—mother-daughter movie nights in your home!
A version of this article was originally published by Your Teen for Parents, the premier resource for parents of teenagers.
