Three best friends whose husbands leave them for younger women seek revenge. A rare Hollywood offering that shines the spotlight on middle-aged women — a “risk” that paid off when the movie became a sleeper hit that revitalized the careers of all three stars.

Funny ladies: Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marcia Gay Harden, Elizabeth Berkley

Quotable line: “It’s the ’90s, plastic surgery is like good grooming.”

The Women is so committed to a female ensemble that the entire cast of over 130 speaking roles are women. Even the pets on screen were female. The film, based on the play of the same name, explores the lives of several rich, elite, and bored housewives. 

Funny ladies: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Phyllis Povah, Joan Fontaine, Virginia Weidler, Lucile Watson, Marjorie Main, Virginia Grey

Quotable line: “There’s a name for you ladies, but it isn’t used in high society…outside of a kennel.”

Whoopi Goldberg’s iconic performance as Deloris Wilson, a lounge singer who transforms a convent choir into modern gospel pas, propelled Sister Act into a whole franchise, spawning a sequel, a musical adaptation, and now a third film is in development at Disney+.

Funny ladies: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Mary Wickes, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena, Rose Parenti, Ellen Albertini

Quotable line: “I mean, the guy just tried to kill me, so I don’t think that cements our relationship!”

This mockumentary-style satire about a small-town beauty pageant in Minnesota has reached cult classic status, especially among people with great taste. The film also marks the debut of Amy Adams, who had a relatively small but unforgettable role as the ditzy cheerleader, Leslie.

Funny ladies: Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley, Mindy Sterling, Brittany Murphy, Amy Adams, Nora Dunn

Quotable line: “To live in a country where you can take an ugly old mountain and put faces on it, faces of great Americans who did so much to make our country super great. Well, that makes me, Rebecca Leeman, proud to be an American.”

This fictionalized version of the founding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a surprise hit for director Penny Marshall, and provided opportunities to shine for a surprisingly funny Madonna and a pre-talk show Rosie O’Donnell.

Funny ladies: Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, Anne Ramsay, Megan Cavanagh, Janet Jones, Téa Leoni

Quotable line: “There’s no crying in baseball!”

The ultimate revenge-fantasy-slash-series-of-misunderstandings movie, this classic comedy was a star vehicle for an already successful Dolly Parton. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s chemistry still shines 40 years later in Grace and Frankie.

Funny ladies: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Elizabeth Wilson, Marian Mercer

Quotable line: “You steal the wrong body from the hospital, and all you can say is ‘I must have made a mistake?'” “It could happen to anyone!”

Pitch Perfect has it all. Silliness, sisterhood, and of course, singing! An all-girl college a cappella group that’s stuck in their ways is shaken up by the arrival of Beca (Anna Kendrick), who remixes their setlist and their hearts. Like many films on this list, Pitch Perfect turned a relatively unknown actor, in this case Rebel Wilson, into a household name.

Funny ladies: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Alexis Knapp, Elizabeth Banks

Quotable line: “Aca-scuse me?”

People didn’t know what to expect from Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, but I never had my doubts. Whip It‘s all-star cast and premise — a high school pageant queen joins a roller derby team against her mother’s wishes — could only mean pure gold.

Funny ladies: Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Alia Shawkat, Zoë Bell, Eve

Quotable line: “I don’t wanna be the girl that has to stand here and hear about what didn’t happen between you and some idiot.”

Ok, this is not ~exactly~ an all-women ensemble, but the onscreen chemistry between Cindy (Anna Faris) and Brenda (scene stealer extraordinaire Regina Hall) turned these would-be trashy parodies into pop culture treasures. True heads know 3 is the best one. 

Funny ladies: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, plus an iconic cameo scene from Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson

Quotable line: “Another little white girl done fell down a well. Fifty black people got they ass beat by police today, but the whole world gotta stop for one little whitey down the hole.”

Speaking of Regina Hall, let’s talk about Girls Trip, which combines several of my favorite genres: vacation movies, ensemble comedies, and movies with Regina Hall. Where is the And Just Like That… for this friend group, HBO?!

Funny ladies: Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Kate Walsh, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah

Quotable line: “Girl, you can’t get no infection in your booty hole. It’s a booty hole!”

Three college nerds decide to make up for lost time with the ultimate sloppy spring break trip…15 years later. This underrated romp ended up being released direct-to-video, tragically, but it deserves a second life on streaming!

Funny ladies: Amy Poehler, Parker Posey,  Rachel Dratch, Amber Tamblyn, Sophie Monk, Missi Pyle, Jane Lynch

Quotable line: “If you shake it, he will come.”

The only movie on this list to spawn not one, not two, but SIX sequels. Kirsten Dunst is really what takes this classic high school sports competition movie to its legendary status, not to mention its pithy script by Jessica Bendinger. 

Funny ladies: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Gabrielle Union, Clare Kramer, Nicole Bilderback, Tsianina Joelson, Rini Bell

Quotable line: “This is not a democracy, it’s a cheerocracy.”

The first movie from a major studio to feature an entirely Asian cast since The Joy Luck Club, Crazy Rich Asians may be a romantic comedy, but the film gives plenty of chances for its incredible ensemble of powerhouse women to shine. 

Funny ladies: Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Sonoya Mizuno, Koh Chieng Mun, Fiona Xie

Quotable line: “It’s not my job to make you feel like a man. I can’t make you something you’re not.”

Ok, this may not be as funny ha-ha as some of the other films on this list, but this feel-good movie still has a special place in our hearts, in large part thanks to its charming and brassy Southern humor. 

Funny ladies: Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts

Quotable line: “We went skinny dipping, and we did things that frightened the fish.”

The girls that girl, girl, and nobody girls harder than Cher Horowitz. You get what I’m saying, right? It’s easy to call this movie an Alicia Silverstone showcase, but let’s not forget how many oft-quoted lines came from Brittany Murphy’s Tai. 

Funny ladies: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Elisa Donovan, Aida Linares, Twink Caplan, Julie Brown

Quotable line: “In conclusion, may I remind you, it does not say ‘RSVP’ on the Statue of Liberty!”

This Sundance darling may look lighthearted, and similar in plot to Bridesmaids, but this is a much darker and edgier film than the latter. It’s also the third starring role for Kirsten Dunst on this list. Long live the queen of ensemble comedy!

Funny ladies: Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson

Quotable line: “God blessed me with perfect tits. It’s only right people should know that.”

Any of the adaptations of Little Women could have made this list, but the most recent version from Greta Gerwig really brings out the humor and personality of each March sister as they chase their various ambitions in 1860s Massachusetts. 

Funny ladies: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep

Quotable line: “I may not always be right…but I’m never wrong.”

If you were confused about the meaning of camp during 2019’s Met Gala, look no further than this girl power romp that’s also a surprisingly effective parody of the record industry. Also, Parker Posey should be cast as a villain in every movie. 

Funny ladies: Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Missi Pyle, Parker Posey

Quotable line: “Puppies turn into dogs, who get old and die!”

The Help has been reevaluated over the years for its use of the “white savior” narrative and other stereotypical tropes. However, critics agreed on the film’s stellar performances. Fun fact: When Bryce Dallas Howard wins her Oscar someday, all six leads from this film will be Oscar winners.

Funny ladies: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Jessica Chastain

Quotable line: “Got to ask yourself this question: Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools say about me today?”

Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was such a sensation in Suicide Squad, she got to assemble her own crew of all-female baddies in Birds of Prey, which in my opinion, is vastly underrated by comic book fans. Cathy Yan’s colorful and visceral direction is immensely satisfying, and the wardrobe alone is worth watching for. MCU, where’s your super-heroine team-up movie?

Funny ladies: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong

Quotable line: “If you want boys to respect you, show them you’re serious. Shoot something, blow it up!”

You didn’t think I was going to leave off Mean Girls, did you? Since its release in 2004, Tina Fey’s high school comedy has reached timeless classic status, and is still possibly the most quoted movie by millennials, ever. 

Funny ladies: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried, Lizzy Caplan

Quotable line: Literally the entire script, front to back

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