The 355—the latest release from Universal Pictures—sees a group of female operatives from different intelligence agencies team up to stop a terrorist organization from acquiring a deadly weapon. The movie is packed with impressive action sequences, which serve as a reminder of why Hollywood needs to invest more in female-led blockbusters.
Fans who have already watched it will definitely be looking for something similar to further satisfy their appetites. Luckily, there are a few notable offerings. Movies that best resemble The 355 are those revolving around female ensemble casts that team up for high-profile and often risky missions or those centering on female operatives that obliterate baddies.
Ocean's 8 (2018)
The sister of Danny Ocean from Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy is paroled after serving a few years behind bars. She then leads a group of women in conducting a heist at the Met Gala being held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
What keeps the viewer glued from the start is that the stakes are quite high. A $150 million Cartier necklace is what the women are after and it's made clear that there'll be plenty of consequences if they fail. There's also the ingredient that makes such movies work so well: each of the women has her own unique skills. This makes teamwork much more fluid. The star-studded cast is also guaranteed to keep the viewer excited all throughout the running time.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, an MI6 agent is sent to collect a list containing names of exceptional spies. The movie is based on a graphic novel titled The Coldest City.
Charlize Theron's best action movies are quite memorable because of her spirited performances. It's impossible for audiences not to exclaim in awe as her character Lorraine Broughton punches, kicks, and shoots her way through hard-boiled antagonists. Even more impressive is her ability to play the systems as it's later revealed she is not a double but triple agent who even managed to fool the CIA.
Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
An assassin needs to protect an 8-year-old girl from a dangerous crime boss. In order to get the help she needs, she teams up with her mother's old assassin friends.
Nothing slows down in the neon-infused movie. Not even a drug that temporarily paralyzes her arms is enough to stop the lead character from using gun-fu techniques as she makes a meal of those who do not wish her well. While the plot and dialogue aren't particularly impressive, the action is good enough to cover up most of the blemishes.
Salt (2010)
A CIA agent finds herself in a difficult position when she is accused of assassinating the Russian president. To avoid being taken in, she goes on the run.
The beauty of Salt lies in its twists and turns as the narrative remains hellbent on reminding viewers that things are never as they seem in the world of espionage. The stunts are quite impressive too and they are spread everywhere from highways to residential apartments. Angelina Jolie gives a performance of a lifetime too and fans will appreciate the fact that she was cast ahead of Tom Cruise, who had initially been singled out for the role.
Set It Off (1996)
Four black women become fed up with a life of poverty. They then resort to robbing banks and soon find themselves on several "Most Wanted" lists.
With a strong cast that includes Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, and Jada Pinkett, Set It Off remains in safe hands. Instead of simply having a narrative about criminals who want to get rich, the heist flick triggers emotional moments by highlighting the personal struggles that each of the women is going through. Set It Off might be forgotten in many lists of the best heist movies ever made but it sure does deserve inclusion.
Red Sparrow (2018)
A talented ballerina enrolls in a Russian spy agency. She is then tasked with luring a CIA officer so that she can discover a mole in the agency.
Fans of solid plots might frown at how events in the spy thriller unfold. Nonetheless, there is enough style to make substance feel unnecessary. Jennifer Lawrence's character does indeed look like a proper Russian operative and by painting her as a femme fatale, she gets to be even more badass.
Charlie's Angeles (2000)
Three ladies working for a mysterious millionaire boss known as Charlie are tasked with finding another kidnapped multimillionaire. They encounter numerous challenges but still manage to show just how much endurance they have.
There have been multiple attempts at telling the story of Charlie's all-female team but most have failed, including the 2011 ABC series, which was one of the shows that was canceled almost immediately. This movie appears to be the only project that got it right and that's mostly because of a strong cast that includes Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore. The $264.1 million box office gross is further proof of its awesomeness.
The Villainess (2017)
A woman that has been trained as an assassin from a young age decides its time to break free. She then goes on a mission of vengeance and violence.
The Villainess is truly a groundbreaking movie with some of the best actions sequences of all time. Audiences quickly noticed that a couple of the best action scenes in John Wick 3 were inspired by the Korean movie. The lead character impresses by doing so much damage without ever needing any help.
Widows (2018)
When their husbands die during a police shootout, a group of widows decides that they'll see the plan to the end. They thus come together to execute the heist that their partners were planning.
Widows not only takes viewers through the complexities of pulling off a heist but also covers serious themes such as police brutality, sexism, and racism. There are a number of memorable car chase scenes too as well as gunfights. It's no surprise that it's the most critically acclaimed out of all the offerings on the list.
La Femme Nikita (1990)
A former felon is trained as a spy and assassin for the government. However, things become complicated when she falls in love, making it difficult for her to decide where her loyalties lie.
La Femme Nikita is so brilliant that it was adapted into two TV shows, first in the '90s, then in the 2010s. What the French film does best is show how difficult it can be to juggle personal and professional matters. Outside the emotional moments, there is plenty of gunplay to look forward to too.
