Gender representation in Hollywood superhero movies has seen a massive transformation in recent years. With the release of global box office hits such as Wonder Woman, Incredibles 2 and Captain Marvel which is set to release later next year, female leads have been increasing drastically and their popularity as well. When a female-led superhero movie is released, it is a big deal in the film industry. Since its release in 2017, Wonder Woman has grossed over $800 million worldwide and over $400 million domestically. The success of Wonder Woman shows progress was made in regards to women in superhero movies. These types of movies portray women as increasingly capable of defeating their counterparts, reflecting in today’s society the idea that women can do the same work as men and be just as productive. Women usually take lesser roles than their male counterparts in many notable superhero movies. However, as society evolves, so does Hollywood, and the change is revolutionary. The way women look, talk, and act in their respective films transforms the way society perceives them, notably in the movie Wonder Woman.
The typical characteristics of a science fiction/action movie include the setting of an alternative world or universe, non-human characters such as aliens and zombies, science/technology and a journey. The film Wonder Woman follows some of the classic elements of the genre, but at the same time, it takes a different route from the normal. For example, Wonder Woman takes place in 1918 towards the end of World War I with the Germans, where the fighting was the most intense. The purpose of having it set in a real-time place is because of the need to relate it to today’s world and the beloved comics at the same time. Wonder Woman’s setting makes one of the most realistic science fiction films simply because it uses a backline of a historical event which was a seemingly innate part of the plot. However, at the same time, the movie shares several features of a quintessential science fiction movie such as the use of her powers. For instance, at the end of the film where Wonder Woman loses her love interest Steve Trevor in a plane explosion but then uses that loss to rise and defeat her nemesis, Aries. This makes for a fascinating storyline and additionally shares an inspiring message to its audience that revolves around a strong female lead to carry the plot of the film.
When one thinks of an action superhero, they have a preconceived notion that it is a male character with impeccable muscles. However, through the revolution that is taking place in Hollywood, more female superheroes are leads which are not conventional for this movie genre. The figure Wonder Woman branches away from the norm in many different fashions; from the way she dresses and acts during the film, many underlying themes are noticeable. Wonder Woman’s costume is equipped with bulletproof shields and many layers of protection; serving as a hint that she is willing and able to protect herself if danger comes. This keeps the audience captivated and curious as to how she uses her powers to help determine the outcome of World War I. A parallel with the real world is seen in the sense that women have the platform (similar to Wonder Woman) but it is what they choose to do with that opportunity is how they can make an impact. By presenting the costume in a way that embellishes strength, others feel empowered. Children even view these figures as future role models because of specific characteristics possessed which makes superheroes like Wonder Woman pivotal to the progression of gender representation in superhero movies that are happening recently.
For instance, in one of the most important scenes of the movie, the protagonist Diana Prince enters “no man's land” with a wide array of bullets and trench warfare in her way because she is unable to see civilians suffering from starvation on the other side of the battlefield. The analogy here is striking- a lone female fighting a group of men. However, before she enters, her male counterpart, Steve Trevor tells Diana that there is nothing else she can do, but Diana goes against his advice and does it regardless. She risks her life in order to combat the horror she has seen throughout the wartime era. The movie portrays this scene in such a meaningful way such that the camera angles combined with the triumphant music makes this scene alone one of the most recognizable among other superhero movies. It is the deeper meaning tied in with cinematic genius that contributes to the success of female lead superhero movies similar to Wonder Woman unlike previous endeavors such as Catwoman, Electra and earlier renditions of Wonder Woman back in the year 1974. Fantasy/science fiction, the genre within Wonder Woman, is meant to despair from the idea that women didn’t serve in combat during WWI. Very few decided to join the combat forces and instead served in other sectors to contribute to the war effort, while the character Wonder Woman is an anomaly as she did most of the combat work while other men accompanied her.
The female lead action superhero movies embody what women are in the real world. Wonder Woman, for example, is strong, confident but yet vulnerable at the same time. She shows qualities that even young boys can consider equally as strong as some other notable heroes such as Batman. The movie perfectly balances the nature of women in the no man’s land scene which emulates her assertiveness, but in romantic scenes with Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman is relatable to the ordinary woman in society. It is empowering yet meaningful to finally see a female-led superhero movie that shows a character who knows their ability and worth but meanwhile is more than capable of saving herself and others in the meantime. On the other side of things, the film still contains the stereotypical elements of a female superhero; the tight-fitting costume and astounding looks are just a few. While Wonder Woman, is perceived and shown to be a powerful superhero, she still is regarded by some as a woman.
Another scene in Wonder Woman which embraces the idea of a strong female lead is incorporated in the film’s climax. Ares, the antagonist of the film, has been working alongside Germans in order to deprive citizens of their basic necessities in order to win the war. She refuses to let her fellow citizens die in the face of an enemy despite her personal loss (the death of Steve Trevor). Diana’s full capabilities of her power are examined in the scene with her ability to break through stone using her only her fists. It is in that moment when Diana realizes that she is a one of a kind demigod who is one of the few people that could defeat Ares. Through her strength and belief in humanity, Diana is able to defeat Ares and stop the war altogether. This scene along with another build-up from the plot showcases Diana’s exhilarating powers in action which are indeed a reward for the audience.
In the Marvel and DC world, gender representation in their movies is majority one-sided. Marvel and DC have not had a female-led superhero movie for a very long time. With Wonder Woman, DC layed the groundwork for future female leads in front of the big screen which makes it all that important. With the prevalence of misogynistic attitudes in the world today, the timing of the film back in 2017 was perfect but at the same time vital for Hollywood. The film serves as an essential anecdote to the idea that sometimes men need women and vice versa. In the case of Wonder Woman, Diana needed Steve, and thus Steve needed Diana in order to help end the war.
In summation, it is important for audiences to connect the movie to real-world themes and ideas to fully understand the true meaning of the film. In Wonder Woman, it was meant to be a source of female empowerment and serve as a building block for future female lead superhero movies as seen through her costume and unwillingness to let her male counterpart Steve Trevor take over. This is highlighted in two very crucial scenes, “No man’s land” and the climax that included the standoff with Ares. They both provide support for the central theme of the film which is a strong female superhero helping to save the world, unlike previous movies in which the character was male. With all the turmoil that has been happening in Hollywood recently with the #Metoo movement and the push for more female leads and directors, the film Wonder Woman was the groundbreaking film that was needed to push for change. Thus, in future media renditions, the number of female superhero lead movies must be more prevalent because the impact it can have on the box office figures is second to none.