Riggs and Murtaugh. Bill and Ted. Harold and Kumar. Heck, even Beavis and Butthead.
A quick search turns up dozens of lists featuring “best buddy” movies, books, and shows. But “buddy” turns out to be mostly, well…men.
Sadly, there aren’t nearly as many plotlines devoted to female friendship, which is downright shameful and absolutely needs to change. So today, let’s celebrate some of my all-time favorite fictional “womances” (which unlike “bromance” hasn’t yet entered the common parlance.)
I will say that, largely thanks to the #MeToo movement, we’re in the midst of a looong overdue acknowledgement that half the world’s population would probably like to see and read more stories about their life experiences, especially their friendships. In the past few years, female-centered tales have finally gained more prominence, and I am HERE for it. Let’s hope that upward trend continues. So grab some popcorn, couple it with a glass of your favorite chilled beverage, and toast all of these iconic trailblazers.
Take a minute to share your favorite female duos in the comments.
Best Buddy-Cop Adventure: The Heat
Ashburn & Mullins
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen this movie. Sandra Bullock plays Ashburn, an awkward, by-the-book federal agent (and catnapper, as in someone who kidnaps cats, not someone who dozes off midday). Ashburn is initially less than thrilled to be paired with Melissa McCarthy’s foul-mouthed cop Mullins. But once they realize they’re stuck with each other—nay, that they complement each other—an unlikely yet irresistible friendship blossoms. Whoever cast this magnificent film deserved an Oscar, because the way these two play off each other while trying to bring down a Boston drug lord is pure cinematic gold (and of course, writer Katie Dippold knocked it out of the proverbial park). It’s got everything: drama, humor, Bullock drunkenly slow dancing with a bar towel on her head…what’s not to love?
Best Literary Female Friendship: Code Name Verity
Maddie (code name: Kittyhawk) and Julie (aka Queenie, code name: Verity)
Oh, this book. Frankly, I think it’s a shame that there’s such a dearth of strong female friendships in YA; personally, I’d take that over a love triangle any day of the week. This remarkable novel is set in WWII and features two young women: one training to be a pilot, the other a spy. Maddie and Julie come from dramatically different backgrounds, but form a fast friendship during their initial military training. I’ve re-read this multiple times, and I RARELY read a book twice. One of the few YA novels that passes the Bechdel test with flying colors.
Best All-Female Film Ensemble: Bridesmaids
Annie, Helen, Lillian, Megan, Becca, Rita
Okay, so credit where it’s due, a MAN directed two of the best female buddy stories of all time (tip of the hat to you, Paul Feig—and to writers Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig). This is the movie that taught us it’s a really, really bad idea to eat questionable meat before a bridal gown shopping excursion. Watching Wiig and Rose Byrne compete to be Maya Rudolph’s best friend by one-upping each other with engagement party toasts? Priceless. Wiig stumbling into first class repeatedly when she’s loopy on benzos? Or McCarthy (again! Let’s dub her honorary queen of the chick buddy film) “overcommitting” by taking way too many puppy “party favors” home from the bridal shower party? Amazing. Personally, I think this is the funniest movie of all time and I will fight anyone who disagrees.
Best All-Female TV Ensemble: Yellowjackets
Shauna, Misty, Natalie, Taissa, Lottie, Van, et al
So, BIG departure from the best film ensemble; let’s just say these ladies take “ride or die” far more literally than most. Yellowjackets is the story of a high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes in the mountains on the way to nationals. They’re trapped there for months, struggling to survive injuries, starvation, a cold, hard winter, and, yes, standard teenage girl drama. Luckily for them, it turns out that at least some of those problems can be solved with a little—spoilers!—lite cannibalism. The series jumps back and forth between the tragedy and its aftermath, as we see the women dealing with the repercussions of what happened decades later. And the creators threw in a woo-woo supernatural element for extra fun (is Lottie crazy, or magic?) Even though most of these women are united by shared tragedy more than true friendship, I’d want them on my side if I ever had to catch a blackmailer or dispose of a body—or both!
Best Small Screen Duo: Dead to Me
Jen & Judy
Okay, so I wasn’t the biggest fan of the final season of this show; but oh, those first two seasons! How can you beat a friendship that starts in a grief group, especially when you find out that one of the woman accidentally killed the other’s husband? Dead to Me is dark and campy, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and what feels like a very real friendship between actors Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini (I secretly hope they’re actually BFFs IRL). The way that Jen and Judy support each other through everything—including more manslaughter—is truly inspiring.
Best Womance with a Bleak Ending: Thelma and Louise
To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this film. Yes, it introduced us to a young Brad Pitt. And Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis conveyed what felt like a very real female friendship. And they really came through for each other. But am I the only person who would’ve preferred it if they ended up running a beachside bar in Mexico? It felt like instead, they were punished for being strong and defending themselves. Still, it’s a classic.
Best Duo that Really Deserved a Sequel: Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Romy & Michele
Okay, I want a word with whoever decided not to give us a dozen more Romy and Michele movies (and no, I’m not counting that abomination of a prequel). Just imagine how many life stages we could’ve watched them progress through, maybe even at other reunions! This heartwarming, hilarious film showcases how strong bonds formed in adolescence can carry forward well into adulthood. Sometimes the people who remember you at your most awkward are the only ones you can really rely on. And if you ever feel insecure about going to a reunion yourself, just talk your best friend into coming along with a story about inventing post-it notes. Never fails.
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