ROTTEN TOMATOES: Total Recall: The 25 Best Action Heroines of All Time

Total Recall: The 25 Best Action Heroines of All Time

Who’s the toughest of them all? We count down to the best rock ‘em, sock ‘em lady of all time.

by RT Staff | June 25, 2008

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In this week's Wanted, Angelina Jolie returns to heat-packing form as an assassin named Fox, but how does she measure up against the likes of fellow fatal femmes like Sigourney Weaver (Aliens), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and Pam Grier (Foxy Brown)? We count down through 25 of the baddest chicks in movie history and name the number one best action heroine of all time.

Our criteria: each lethal lady should make you think twice before challenging her to a fight. (Which is why two of three Charlie's Angels didn't make the cut. Sorry, Drew and Cameron.) Kicking many butts in multiple action films improves a nominee's stock, but so too can a single, iconic performance. We think you'll agree that our #1 Best Action Heroine of All Time (by unanimous decision) can best the rest of the list in our fantasy showdown, but start here and see for yourself! Our list begins with...

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25. Famke Janssen

Before starring as telepathic super heroine Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise (and shredding the world to bits as the destructive Phoenix in X-Men: The Last Stand), Famke Janssen scored the coup of every aspiring femme fatale in Hollywood when she landed the role of Xenia Onatopp in 1995's GoldenEye. Not your regular Bond girl, Onatopp earned a special place in the already-cheeky history of James Bond for her unique signature move: death by thighs. The pleasure, Ms. Janssen, is all ours.

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24. Demi Moore

While she provided a fabulous foil to the 21^st century Charlie's Angels in McG's second flick, we know there's tougher stuff within Demi Moore than a deranged gymnastic villainess with a fetish for gold plated guns. Hark back to 1997's G.I. Jane, when Moore embodied toughness by shaving her head, becoming a NAVY Seal, and withstanding a brutal beat down by Viggo Mortensen while landing a few of her own blows to boot. Femine brawn never looked hotter.

(Video NSFW)

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(1-20 of 126 posts) | Reply

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 25 2008 09:13 PM

Good list but there are some duds, I think the list should also deal with men I mean not to sound sexist but the coolest action stars to me are guys, no offens Jen lol, I mean Bruce Willis, Arnold, Harrison Ford (#1), Christain Bale, Will Smith is good, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, and duh Matt Damon. The only ones I will say here are amazing is Uma Thurman, Carrie Ann Moss, Pam Gries, not Demmi Moore, and I am sure I will think bot MaCovoy and Jolie will be the coolest action stars after this weekend. Still a pretty cool list, I got add some of these to my netflix.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 25 2008 09:15 PM

Also where's Rose McGowan, I mean come on Plannet Terror! With that machine gun leg she was a fully loaded woman! Also for the guys a forgot Russel Crowe I mean Gladiator and 3:10 to Yuma, oh and Kurt Russel.

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sovietbagpipes writes:
on Jun 25 2008 09:38 PM

Like most lists on here it's a mixed bag.

And joker, Arnold and Ford wouldn't be near #1

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blsinner writes:
on Jun 25 2008 09:43 PM

Linda Hamilton is WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY too low on the list!

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sunsaz writes:
on Jun 25 2008 09:58 PM

Pretty good list. A lot of the names on the list were "one-hit wonders" as far as good movies are concerned, but action films aren't exactly poetic from an acting standpoint. No argument on #1 at least.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jun 25 2008 10:03 PM

I was happy to see Ziyi Zhang and Milla!

Some I'd like to see, but maybe aren't strict heroines.

Obviously Missed: Franka Potente in Run Lola Run

maybe Irene Jacob in RED

Keira Knightly as Domino (we see her boobs!)

1. Jodie Foster for Silence of the Lambs
2. Carrie Fisher in Star Wars
3. Gillian Anderson
4. Elizabeth Hurley in Austin Powers
5. Jennifer Jason Leigh in ExisTenZ
6. Lori Petty in Tank Girl
7. Meg Ryan in Courage Under Fire
8. Katherine Hepburn in The African Queen
9. Charlize Therone in that God Awful MTV movie . . .forgot name
10. Jane Fonda in Klute/Barbarella
11. Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby
12. Meryle Streep in Silkwood
13. Sarandon and G. Davis in Thelma and Louise
14. The girl from Whale Rider
15. Parker Posey as Fay Grimm
16. Mary Stuart Masterson in Fried Green Tomatoes
17. Pocahantos girl in The New World
18. Halle Berry X Men

I love Famke J, but I don't think she is even the best Bond girl, let alone someone who should make the list.

I'm sure I forgot a ton.

Oh well.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 25 2008 10:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#1812999)
Oh lol yeah Arnold wouldnt be no #1, but in my opinion I consider Ford the best action hero. I mean Star Wars, Indy, and the Jack Ryan movies.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jun 25 2008 10:33 PM

FRANCES McDormand in FARGO

Natassja Kinski in Cat People
Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight
Theresa Russel in . . . err, i forget. Someone help me.
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins
Whoever played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. . .
Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc
Audrey Hepburn in Wait until Dark

Sissy Spacek as Carrie
Julia Roberts as Erin Brokavich
Renee Zellweger in COld Mountain

Judy Garland as Dorothy in OZ
Sally Field as Nora Rae
Angela Basset as Tina Turner
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (BUt no way the awful awful sequel)

Selma Blair in Hellboy I/II

Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity

*Diane Lane in Streets of Fire

OK. As you can tell, I'm putting off doing something by coming up with names. . .

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Silverevilchao writes:
on Jun 25 2008 10:44 PM

This list is FAIL. Sigourney Weaver should be #1 for Alien ALONE.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jun 25 2008 11:15 PM

Juliet Lewis as Mallory in Natural Born Killers

Neve Campbell in Scream?

female main actor in first Nightmare on Elmstreet.

I agree about McGowan in Planet Terror.

I think this category is TOO BROAD for my simple mind.

BROAD. he heh.

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Jun 25 2008 11:48 PM

Another dissapointing list, R.T. Seriously, Demi Moore? And how

the hell is Weaver not in the top five? Also, is it too much too ask for you

to list the best action heroines on good movies. Seriously, any list that

includes a McG movie makes it an invalid list, just saying RT staff. Also, I

hope these lists are not being determined by how good of an YouTube video

you can find.

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mustard_tree writes:
on Jun 26 2008 12:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#1813186)
I totally agree dude... This list sucks... Hey, where's Carrie Fisher?

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jun 26 2008 12:55 AM

Yah! Carrie Fisher!

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genxorcist writes:
on Jun 26 2008 05:13 AM

In reply to this comment (#1813018)
I second that. She should be in the top 5 ... as should Sigourney Weaver. Ellen Ripley and Sara Conner both redefined the woman action hero. Many of the women on this list wouldn't be on this list if not for those two.

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bsideleau writes:
on Jun 26 2008 06:11 AM

Sigourney Weaver should be #1 hands down, no argument. And 90% of the ladies in this list shouldn't even be there....lots of 80's one-note punchlines and even a couple modern flavor of the months.

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'Stache-Attack writes:
on Jun 26 2008 07:29 AM

How 'bout Kiera Knightly. Three 'Pirates' movies, plus an interesting role in 'Domino'. Not great movies, but pretty strong action/heroine roles. At least better than some of others listed. (I mean come on waitsjr, seriously, Erin Brakovich??? To each their own I guess.)

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opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Jun 26 2008 07:39 AM

I enjoyed the list but agree Ripley and Sarah Connor are far too low. I would vote for Uma to be in top 2, if not 1, I have never seen any woman kick more *** then in the Kill Bill flicks. I appreciate the kung-fu ladies I have never heard of but there are plenty of better know heroines that are not on the list (see above comments). I also was not aware The Fifth Element is now a cult classic...I just thought is was cheap to put on syndication as it is on TV all the time.

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Soundwave2008 writes:
on Jun 26 2008 08:18 AM

This list is total BS! How can anyone beat out Sigourney Weaver for Alien and Aliens? No offense to any other female characters but Ellen Ripley kicked total *** in both movies. She should be number one hands down.

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Derbeste writes:
on Jun 26 2008 08:48 AM

I don't normally criticize RT lists. I know most of them have formulas and every list is HIGHLY subjective anyway......

But I have to agree with many of my peers on this one:

- Linda Hamilton is BEYOND too low.

- Sigourney Weaver should be top 3 at the very least IMO.

- It seems like knowing Kung Fu will get you a much higher spot....but you don't see martial artists kicking the sh** out of robots and aliens.

Glaring absences:

- Carrie Fisher (as many have said). Just....WOW.

- Jamie Lee Curtis. Mike Myers is cultural folklore now because of her.

- Sarah Michelle Geller. Ok...not a movie heroine, but you can't deny the badassery of Buffy.

- Jodie Foster. Silence of the lambs is now Iconic.

- Halle Barry. Yeah...I'm joking. But I do like Storm. :)

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Derbeste writes:
on Jun 26 2008 08:50 AM

oh....and though she's not real....

I think Elastigirl should get an honorable mention. :)

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