Action-adventure movies are, typically, dominated by male protagonists. When considering the classics of the genre, the majority of them are led by a daring male archaeologist in the same vein as Indiana Jones or Jake Sully. However, this doesn’t stop the genre from providing audiences with some of the most iconic female characters ever put to the screen.

Their roles in the story cover a range of archetypes, whether they’re romantic interests who break free of the mold they were placed in, fellow archaeologists or experts in a necessary subject, or, in certain cases, a thorn in the hero’s side. Regardless of the part they play, these are the ten best female heroines in action-adventure films.

10 Helena Shaw Was a Breath of Fresh Air

Helena Shaw, Indiana Jones’ goddaughter introduced in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, brought a fascinating new twist on the series’ female character archetype. Though she inherited her father’s love of archaeology, she prioritizes different things than he did. In the aftermath of his death, she became a black market dealer, selling artifacts to the highest bidder – which obviously leads to problems when dealing with artifacts as dangerous as the Antikythera. She proves to be a bit of a thorn in Indy’s side throughout their time together, especially since they wanted different things for the artifact.

However, she has a heart of gold beneath it all, which makes her an even more compelling character. She won’t let him risk his life by himself and saves him from remaining in the past for the rest of his life, as she knows he has a life to return to in the present. Her fast-talking demeanor is a stark departure from Indy’s previous female companions, but she’s a welcome change and one of the most interesting characters in the franchise.

9 Neytiri Is a Fierce Fighter

The Avatar franchise is full of fascinating female heroes, but perhaps the most interesting of them all is Neytiri, the Na’vi warrior who first rescues Jake Sully from the throes of death in Avatar. Though she originally does not trust Jake or any of the other humans, she finds faith in the signs she notices that he survived for a reason. She’s willing to stand up for what she believes in, even if that means disagreeing with the rest of her clan or going against the desires of the people she cares immensely about. She inspires both those around her and audiences to be the best versions of themselves.

In addition to all of this, she’s a formidable fighter. She instructed Jake on how to use the bows of the Na’vi and proved on multiple occasions that she was more than capable with the weapon. She took down the group of viperwolves that tried to kill Jake without anyone’s help, which demonstrated her skill with a knife in close quarters as well. She’s a valuable asset in any combat scenario.

8 Lara Croft Is an Icon of the Genre

Though Lara Croft has yet to get a film adaptation worthy of her character, it doesn’t make her any less iconic in the grand scheme of the genre. She’s the epitome of an action-adventure heroine. Her background makes her uniquely qualified to explore the titular tombs, as her father was an archaeologist and instilled his love of the past in her. She possesses a unique skill set and is capable of wielding a wide variety of weapons, though her signature weapons are a pair of pistols that, at times, she can rely on a bit too much.

On top of her physical abilities, she’s brilliant (a trait she must possess, given how many puzzles she has to solve in order to access the relics she seeks). She’s tougher than anyone would expect her to be given her upper-class background, giving her a great sense of resilience and self-preservation that lends itself well to the dangerous nature of her expeditions. Her physical strength allows her to accomplish feats that would be otherwise impossible and helps her achieve her goal no matter the toll it takes on her.

7 Holga Kilgore Is Both Soft and Strong

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was a shocking success of a film. Previous attempts to bring the beloved tabletop game to the screen have all fallen short, so it was a pleasant surprise when Honor Among Thieves, though it underperformed at the box office, was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike. It captures the comedic spirit of a good D&D session with one’s closest friends while still being entertaining even to those who don’t have as much of a background with the game. It brings a beautiful, fun fantasy world to life in an era when most entries to the genre are a bit dark and gloomy, and therefore stands out as a bastion of hope for what the genre could become.

This was in part due to the strength of the characters, and perhaps none were as well-fleshed out and interesting to watch as Holga Kilgore, the party’s barbarian. She strikes the perfect balance of a hardened warrior and a woman who cares immensely about her friends and family, making it particularly easy for audiences to root for her in her every endeavor. Though she never had children of her own, she became a surrogate mother of sorts to her dear friend Edgin’s daughter Kira, which allows audiences to see her soft side before she leaps into battle and demolishes anyone who dares stand against her.

6 Dr. Abigail Chase’s Background as an Archivist Aids in the Treasure Hunt

National Treasure is a thrill ride from start to finish. It’s one of the most iconic action-adventure movies ever made, in part because it deals with the theft of something instrumental to American history rather than a fictitious artifact. It balances comedy and more frightening adventure aspects expertly. Ben Gates is one of Nicolas Cage’s most iconic roles, and Sean Bean’s Ian Howe is perfectly threatening. Riley brings a beautiful dose of sarcasm to the film without ever taking it too far over the top.

However, Ben and his friend Riley wouldn’t have gotten far without the help of Dr. Abigail Chase, an archivist who joins forces with them to steal the Declaration of Independence. She comprehends more about historical documents than Ben or Riley, providing them with insights that they would have otherwise not been able to come up with. The connections she made through her work as an archivist aid them as they try to navigate the complicated political spheres of Washington, D.C. Abigail is instrumental to the group’s success, and therefore should be considered one of the best characters in the film.

5 Ruby Roundhouse Spoofs Other Action Heroines

Part of the success of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle comes from how much it makes fun of the tropes of the genre. Ruby Roundhouse is one of the greatest examples of this tongue-in-cheek humor. From the moment she lands in the jungle of Jumanji, she comments on how her outfit doesn’t suit her well to survive in such a treacherous environment – a play on how, oftentimes, female characters in action-adventure movies are clad in revealing outfits to appeal to the audience rather than actually enhance their chances of living through whatever they may experience.

All of these jokes aside, however, she plays an important part in the success of the group’s escape from Jumanji. Her combat skills (no matter how silly they might be) allow her to defend her newfound friends from some of the greatest threats to their well-being. She’s a skilled acrobat, which allows her to reach things that would be otherwise unobtainable to the group. In the second film, Jumanji: The Next Level, she also learns how to wield nunchucks, which makes her an even more capable fighter. She’s the archetypal action heroine, and a loving poke at the foundation on which she’s based.

4 Ellie Sattler Was a Pioneer of the Genre

Jurassic Park is, in many ways, one of the great classics of the action-adventure genre, and its influence can still be felt throughout the film industry today. One of its greatest contributions to the film industry as a whole is Dr. Ellie Sattler, Laura Dern’s feisty paleobotanist. Part of this stems from Laura Dern’s work alongside the filmmakers to make sure Sattler never veered into the realm of oversexualized action heroes who contribute nothing to the story beyond standing there and looking pretty. She played a major part in determining how her character is presented, especially in her iconic wardrobe.

She’s never regarded as lesser by those around her because of her femininity, which marked a sharp turn from the treatment of some other female characters in action movies. She is both a sweet, caring figure and someone who’s unwilling to bend when she believes in something, and she’s not afraid to go against the grain in order to do what she believes is right. She gets to be vulnerable, which is rare for a character as close to the center of the action as Sattler. Her mental breakdown at the end of Jurassic Park is one of the film’s standout scenes, and tugs at the heartstrings even all these years after the film’s release.

3 Marion Ravenwood Was the Original Indiana Jones Companion

Much like many other of Indiana Jones’s female companions, Marion’s connection to the titular archaeologist stems from his friendship with her entire family. Dr. Ravenwood mentored Indy, and during their time together, he fell for Marion – though, at some point, he left her family without much warning, a wound that still hurt even by the time of Raiders of the Lost Ark. They reconnected when he sought her out in hopes of acquiring the Staff of Ra to aid in his search for the Ark of the Covenant, and she insisted that she travel alongside him until he could pay her the full price he promised for the artifact.

It’s easy to see the echoes of Marion Ravenwood in other female characters in the action-adventure world. Her resourcefulness proved that women could hold their own alongside their male counterparts, as she has just as much knowledge of what’s going on as Indy. She’s fiery and aware of her own self-worth, as seen when she chastises Jones for the way their relationship ended when they were younger. She knows she didn’t deserve to be treated that way, and she’ll make Indy feel bad about it as well. Though she may not be a ferocious fighter, she’s an incredibly valuable member of the team in her own right, and deserves to be recognized as such.

2 Elizabeth Swann Becomes a True Pirate

At the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Elizabeth Swann would be easy to dismiss as just another prissy noble girl who motivates Will Turner’s journey out into the tumultuous sea to save her. However, the filmmakers make it clear from the very beginning that Elizabeth Swann is not someone to be written off so quickly. She’s got an unbreakable spirit and refuses any attempts to suppress her free will – especially a potential marriage to the odious Commodore Norrington. She’s intelligent and knows just how to convince everyone around her to do her bidding – including Jack Sparrow, who has truly made a name as someone who listens to nobody but himself.

As the series progresses, she becomes more and more like the pirates she chooses to spend all her time around. Her transformation is cemented in At World’s End, her final major appearance, when the crew elects her Pirate King and entrusts her with leading them into battle against the murderous Cutler Beckett and his crew. She delivers a powerful speech, just as any great leader should. Part of her development into this version of herself stems from audience responses to the first film. Young girls responded to the sight of her wielding a sword and standing her ground against those who would wish her harm, and therefore, that aspect of the character became more prevalent in later entries to the series. She’s one of the most iconic characters in Pirates of the Caribbean and is central to the storyline.

1 Evelyn Carnahan Is Instrumental to The Mummy‘s Success

Evelyn Carnahan is the unlikely epitome of an action hero. Though she may not have as much fighting prowess as some of the other women in the genre, she makes up for that by being remarkably intelligent. Her background as a librarian and desire to join the Bembridge Scholars provides her with a wealth of knowledge that none of the other characters (save perhaps for her boss and Ardeth Bey) have. Finding the Book of Amun-Ra is her childhood dream, which gives her a deep personal connection to the events that unfold throughout the movie.

It’s possible that she’s the true protagonist of The Mummy rather than Rick O’Connell, who is typically regarded as the film’s greatest hero. After all, she’s the one who kicks the story into gear by reading from the Book of the Dead and waking Imhotep. Perhaps more importantly, she’s the one who stops Imhotep during the film’s climactic battle. Though O’Connell may be the one to deliver the killing blow, she translates the hieroglyphics that make him mortal once again and allows him to be slain in the first place. She’s brilliant, resourceful, and the perfect example of what a woman in this genre should be.