PHOTO: COURTESY IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT
Typically, for action movies, finding action-comedy movies that are not run of the mill can be difficult. These female-led action-comedy movies feature cool visual effects, hilarious scripts, and some badass female moments. If you are looking for female-driven movies that will satisfy your need for action but with more of a lighthearted feel, these action-comedy movies are guaranteed to have you laughing at the edge of your seat.
“Killers”
“Killers” makes our list of action comedy movies as a film starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher. The 2010 film “Killers” follows Jen and her husband Spencer. When they first met in Nice, France, Spencer revealed he was an international assassin to Jen while she was asleep. When the relationship continued and they began to settle into married life, Spencer left the hitman world behind him.
Now, the couple lives a seemingly normal suburban life—but after Spencer’s 30th birthday, they become the targets of assassins, who include their friends and neighbors. Jen stays by her husband’s side as they run for their lives while simultaneously trying to figure out why the hit was even placed on Spencer. Secrets and lies seem to run in Jen’s family when the identity of who placed the hit is revealed.
“The Heat”
Released in 2013, “The Heat” stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Bullock portrays New York City FBI agent Sarah Ashburn who is an expert at her job but in turn has an egotistical personality. Other agents loathe working with her and she seems to suck out the “fun” part of the job.
Shannon Mullins, portrayed by McCarthy, is a Boston police officer who is a sadistic hot head and loudmouth. She loves having a good time and believes she has the power to treat people in any way in order to get the job done.
The two are paired up to take down a Boston drug lord but their clashing personalities might be difficult to complete the job. “The Heat” makes our list of action comedy movies as an incredibly funny film with a 65 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was described as “predictable, but Melissa McCarthy is reliably funny and Sandra Bullock proves a capable foil.”
“Hot Pursuit”
Starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, the 2015 film “Hot Pursuit” is a hilarious film that mixes in the classic race against the clock. Witherspoon stars as Rose Cooper, a by the book cop who is assigned to escort Daniella, played by Vergara, to Dallas to testify against a notorious cartel leader.
Due to a mistake while on the job, Cooper is seen as a laughingstock among her coworkers and she hopes to prove herself with her new assignment. “Hot Pursuit” quickly turns into a deadly chase where the two women must evade both assassins and corrupt cops.
“Spy”
Released in 2015, “Spy” stars Melissa McCarthy as a C.I.A. agent on her first mission in the field. The film follows 40 year old Susan Cooper who joined the Central Intelligence Agency to become an amazing spy but has instead spent years as a deskbound female C.I.A. analyst.
After a mission goes awry and the agents are compromised, she volunteers to go undercover and retrieve a nuclear device. She is the unsung hero for many dangerous missions who her field partner took most of the credit for, but this mission serves as her opportunity to prove that she has just what it takes to be as good an agent as the men.
The film received high acclaim from critics and earned a whopping 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. McCarthy won a People’s Choice Award for her role in “Spy” in the category for favorite comedic movie actress.
“Ghostbusters”
Released in 2016, “Ghostbusters” is the third feature film in the “Ghostbusters” franchise and also serves as a reboot of the series. The reboot is made up of a primarily female cast starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. Chris Hemsworth also stars as the assistant to the ladies who begin a ghost catching business in New York City. Members of the original cast, including Bill Murray, made cameo appearances in the film.
The “Ghostbusters” team consists of paranormal researcher Abby Yates, physicist Erin Gilbert, engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan who works in the subway and is a New Yorker at heart. When a ghost invasion descends on Manhattan, the women must band together to save the city.
Despite negative public backlash to the female led cast, the film received positive reviews and has a 74 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many expressed that it did not live up to the popularity of the original, but as a stand alone film, did a marvelous job at bringing the classic story back.
“Game Night”
If you’re a fan of the seemingly perfect adult friend group like the one seen in “Friends” or “The Big Bang Theory,” then you’ll enjoy the film “Game Night.” Released in 2018, “Game Night” stars Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman as couple Max and Annie. Max and Annie are the perfect couple and the perfect hosts, inviting their friends over for weekly game nights.
When Max’s brother, Brooks, arrives in town he disrupts Max and Annie’s routine, including their upcoming game night. Brooks sets up a murder mystery party at his place where he fights off masked assailants and is kidnapped from his home. Max, Annie, and their friends are amazed by the start of the game and soon begin to try and solve the mystery of where Brooks was taken and by whom.As they compete to solve the mystery, they all begin to realize that Brooks may have actually been kidnapped and he isn’t who he really says he is.
The friends find themselves in over their heads but having the time of their lives. “With a talented cast turned loose on a loaded premise—and a sharp script loaded with dark comedy and unexpected twists—”Game Night” might be more fun than the real thing,” according to Rotten Tomatoes critics, which gave the movie a 84 percent rating.
“The Spy Who Dumped Me”
Starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon, “The Spy Who Dumped Me” was released in 2018 and tells the story of Los Angeles best friends, Audrey and Morgan. After Audrey is dumped by her boyfriend Drew, she finds out that he had been hiding the fact that he is a C.I.A. agent. When he shows up at her apartment, Drew says that if anything were to happen to him, she should meet up with his contact in Vienna.
After Drew is killed, Morgan convinces Audrey that they should travel to Vienna together, the trip takes a turn. Audrey and Morgan find themselves running through Europe with international assassins on their tail. “The Spy Who Dumped Me”makes our list of action comedy movies as a film that received a People’s Choice Award in the category for favorite comedy movie in 2018.
“The Hustle”
“The Hustle” is a female centered remake of the 1988 film “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” Starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson as con artists, the plot follows the two women as they compete to swindle a naive tech millionaire. The two women initially meet on a train on their way to the French Riviera where they both plan to scam wealthy men.
The two are complete opposites, Josephine is described as a “high class” Brit while Penny is a “low rent” Aussie. Josephine agrees to take Penny under her wing and teach her to con men in a more sophisticated and meticulous manner. “The Hustle” easily makes our list of action comedy movies thanks to the hilarious chemistry between Hathaway and Wilson.
“Men in Black: International”
A spin-off to the “Men in Black” franchise, “Men in Black: International” stars Tessa Thompson opposite Chris Hemsworth. It follows Agent M, a new recruit who is sent to the London branch of the Men in Black (MIB) organization. When the organization is compromised, the agents must travel around the globe to continue to protect the earth from the extraterrestrial threat it’s always faced as well as figure out the identity of the MIB mole.
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These are some of the funniest action comedy movies with female leads right now. These hilarious female led action films offer refreshing laugh out loud dialogue and cool action scenes that make for some great entertainment.