Back in the day, we could enjoy a movie without ragging lunatics on the internet ruining it with their woke labeling BS. These characters weren’t trying to make a statement about gender; they were just plain awesome.

There was a time when strong female characters were celebrated for their grit and the ability to kick serious butt on screen. These characters showed that women could be just as tough, if not tougher, than their male counterparts.

But in recent years, something has shifted. The term “woke” has become a dismissive insult, and suddenly, any portrayal of a woman as strong or capable is met with suspicion or disregard. It’s as if we’ve forgotten that powerful female leads were a natural part of cinema long before anyone even uttered the word “woke.”

Let’s travel down memory lane to a time when you could enjoy great movies with strong female characters. Here are 10 badass female roles before woke ruined everything.

Demi Moore in G.I. Jane

Demi Moore’s portrayal of Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil in G.I. Jane was nothing short of groundbreaking. Here was a woman who not only survived the brutal training of the U.S. Navy SEALs but excelled at it. She shaved her head, took punches, and proved that she was just as capable as any man in the field. There was no agenda, no political undertone—just a story about a woman who refused to be underestimated. It was pure, unfiltered badassery.

Sanaa Lathan in Alien vs. Predator

Sanaa Lathan brought a unique energy to “Alien vs. Predator” as Alexa Woods. As a skilled and intelligent survival guide, she held her own against both the Predators and the Xenomorphs. Lathan’s character was no damsel in distress; she was a leader, a strategist, and ultimately, the last one standing.

Geena Davis in The Long Kiss Goodnight

Geena Davis’s performance in “The Long Kiss Goodnight” as Samantha Caine blends vulnerability with raw power, who later reclaims her identity as a deadly assassin named Charly Baltimore. Davis brought depth to a character who was as skilled at wielding a gun as she was at baking cookies. The film didn’t need to justify why a woman could be such an efficient killer—it simply showed that she was.

Sigourney Weaver in the Alien movies

And of course, we can’t talk about strong female leads without mentioning Sigourney Weaver’s role as Ellen Ripley in the Alien series. Ripley is the blueprint for the female action hero. She’s smart, resourceful, and takes on terrifying aliens without ever losing her humanity. Weaver’s portrayal was never about pushing an agenda; it was about showing a fully realized character who just happened to be a woman.

Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is perhaps one of the most iconic female action heroes of all time. In Terminator 2: Judgment Day, she transformed from a frightened waitress into a hardened warrior who would do anything to protect her son and, by extension, the future of humanity. Sarah Connor wasn’t strong because she was a woman; she was strong because the story demanded a character who could stand up to the literal machines of destruction.

Uma Thurman in Kill Bill

Uma Thurman as Black Mamba in Kill Bill is another fantastic example of a strong female lead who commands the screen with ferocity. Her journey of revenge is one of the most brutal and bloody in movie history. Her strength was in her combat skills and a mother’s love and determination to reclaim her life and her daughter. Tarantino wasn’t making a statement about feminism with Black Mamba—he created her because she was the perfect character for the story he wanted to tell.

Pam Grier in Coffy and Foxy Brown

Going back even further to the 1970s with Pam Grier’s roles in Coffy and Foxy Brown. Grier’s characters were tough, street-smart women who didn’t back down from anyone. These roles were significant not just because they featured strong women, but because they were among the first to feature a black woman as the lead in an action film.

Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil

Milla Jovovich’s Alice in the Resident Evil series brought a new dimension to the female action hero. She was relentless, adaptable, and more than capable of taking on hordes of zombies, mutated monsters, and corrupt corporations. Jovovich’s performance was all about survival and evolution. Again, there was no need to label her strength; it was simply a natural part of her character’s journey.

The shift in perception

So what happened? How did we go from celebrating these characters to questioning whether strong female leads are part of some hidden agenda? The truth is, nothing has changed about the need for strong characters in storytelling. What has changed is the conversation around them.

In today’s world, any depiction of a strong woman is often dismissed as “woke” or politically motivated. But this overlooks the fact that strong female characters have always been a part of our cinematic landscape. The problem isn’t with the characters themselves; it’s with the lens through which some people now view them.

These characters were all about the story. These films didn’t need to justify or explain why they were strong. They were strong because the story needed them to be, and audiences loved them for it.

In the end, strong female leads aren’t a product of any agenda—they’re a product of great storytelling. And that’s something that will never go out of style.