The Most Empowering (and Embarrassing) Female Movie Rockstars

The Runaways tells the story about the first all-female rock group which started with Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox. As instructed by their producer, Kim Fowley they were to “sing with their cocks” – and that they did. That they did.

The rock biopic (out in theaters Friday, March 19) stars a mulleted Kristen Stewart as Joan, a rouge-cheeked and feathered Dakota Fanning as Cherie, and Michael Shannon as the crass and motivating Fowley – and it’s just another brick that makes the wall of powerful (and sometimes feeble -and sometimes borderline lesbionic) movies that showed that a woman can just be as good as a man when it comes to be a rockstar.

1.) Spice World (1997): Oh dear God. I think I actually saw this in the theater. As painful as it was to watch and as much as I hate to admit it, the Spice Girls were an integral part of “girl power” when it came to pop music.

2.) Josie and the Pussycats (2001): Didn’t watch it, but I did keep up with their buddies in the Archie comics. Other than that, this was probably the peak of Tara Reid’s career.

3.) Crucial Taunt from Wayne’s World (1992): Cassandra (Tia Carrere) was the hot front woman for this band. Every time she sang “Ballroom Blitz,” I quiver.

4.) The Dreamettes from Dreamgirls (2006): This group of divas weren’t necessarily rockers, but they had a hefty amount soul, drama and star power. Plus the movie has a bellowing ballad of lost love and good diva throwdown – and who doesn’t love that?

5.) The Mystery from Satisfaction (1988): It’s like The Runaways but set in the late ’80s and cutesy (what kind of band name is “The Mystery”?) Plus side? Julia Roberts has big hair and plays a guitar!

Follow the jump for the entire list and a slide show of pics!

6.) The Barbusters from Light of Day (1987): Patti Rasnick is one half of the brother/sister band in this movie – and she’s played by Joan Jett! Her brother? A less noticeable Michael J. Fox. Clearly, we know who rocked out more in this movie. And to this day, I still remember that fist-in-the-air title track.

7.) Amelia from A.D.D. in The Rocker (2008): Played by Emma Stone, Amelia stands out as the beauty alongside her male bandmates (which includes an underwear clad Rainn Wilson as Fish) – and there’s something about a lip glossy, sassy, no-nonsense bass player is drool worthy.

8.) Watts from Some Kind of Wonderful (1987): I really thought she was a lesbian in the movie – but that’s beside the point. Mary Stuart Masterson jammed out on the drums like no ones business in this romance. It’s no wonder why Keith chose her in the end (if he didn’t she can probably would’ve kick his ass).

9.) Jem and the Holograms (1985): Okay – I know it hasn’t been made into a movie (yet), but how could you not mention fictional girl bands without mentioning the holographic pop sensation that is way cooler than Lady Gaga?