’90s and ’00s Movies You Didn’t Know Were Feminist

Legally Blonde

Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) initially seems like a materialistic, vapid sorority girl, and the film’s premise is that she uncovers her inner geek. But a careful watching of the film reveals that Elle was always more empowered and feminist than we give her credit for. Elle’s lack of support is apparent: her advisor mocks her, her parents find her only worthy for her appearance (“law school is for people who are boring and ugly”), and her sorority sisters are so vapid and self-absorbed that when Elle calls, hurting from the insults of her new classmates, they immediately change the subject to themselves.

First, there’s that Warner (Matthew Davis), her boyfriend, diminishes her as a hot piece of ass when she wants more to their relationship. He wants someone “serious,” saying she’s not a Vanderbilt, while ignoring her own academic achievements that are later revealed. Classist much?

Elle falls for the idea that she needs to join the Ivy League to be desirable, but she has the academic chops to get in, albeit with a tad of diversity motivation on the hiring committee. Hey, we already know that your major doesn’t really matter.

The other female characters are entirely concerned with themselves or the attentions of men. Vivian (Selma Blair), Warner’s new…