Let’s Debunk Charlize Theron’s Woke Victim Mentality
Oscar winner claims Hollywood doesn't support female action heroes
Victimhood rules in Hollywood.
A-list actors complain about fame, fortune, paychecks and more. It’s even more prevalent with actresses, who also rail against industry sexism, unfair salaries and (shudder) the Male Gaze.
Sometimes, starlets have a legitimate point. Other times, they make stuff up out of whole cloth.
Take Oscar-winner Charlize Theron. She’s starring in the straight-to-Netflix sequel “The Old Guard 2.”
The film, co-starring Uma Thurman and Chiwetel Ejiofor, follows Theron’s immortal character staring down a new global threat. The first film gave Netflix a Pandemic-era hit, sparking a sequel.
Reviewers have not been kind, alas.
No matter. Theron is doing the press rounds, complaining to The New York Times that Hollywood gives female action heroes little love.
“Action films with female leads don’t get greenlit as much as the ones with male leads. I think the thing that always frustrates me is the fact that guys will get a free ride…
“When women do this and the movie maybe doesn’t hit fully, they don’t necessarily get a chance again. With this, we were very aware that eyes were on us. It’s not a risk that studios want to take, but they’ll take it many times on the same guy who might have a string of action movies that did not do so well.”
The claim is so ludicrous even The Hollywood Reporter debunked it. Partially.
The Oscar winner has starred in several action films throughout her career, including Æon Flux, Atomic Blonde, The Italian Job, The Old Guard, Mad Max: Fury Road and multiple Fast & Furious franchise installments. She most recently reprised her role as Andy in The Old Guard 2.
Let’s debunk it some more.
Consider the following female-led action movies, all made over the past 15 years.
- Lucy
- Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2
- Jurassic World Rebirth
- Atomic Blonde
- Ballerina
- Columbiana
- Wonder Woman 1 & 2
- Anna
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- Kate
- The Woman King
- Madame Web
- Ava
- The 355
- Red Sparrow
- Rogue
- Damsel
- Old Guard 1 & 2
- Canary Black
- The Assignment
- Tomb Raider
- Birds of Prey
That’s just a partial list. It’s notable that the majority of those titles either underperformed or outright flopped. Yet Hollywood continues to make them.
“Ballerina,” which hit theaters just a few weeks ago, couldn’t match the commercial prowess of the greater “John Wick” franchise.
Theron may be a victim in some capacity, but she’s foolish to pin her woes on Hollywood’s unwillingness to make and support female-led action movies.
Editor’s Note: The name of the 2022 action movie “The 355” was incorrectly spelled in a previous edition of this story.
Conservatives spend so much time saying “we don’t care about Hollywood,” yet those same conservatives spend every waking moment talking about Hollywood movies, tv shows, plays, video games, award shows, etc. Which is it? Do you care or not care? Because it sure does seem like you care a lot.
Maybe she should worry more about her personal life:
https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/07/the-sexual-revolution-and-its-consequences-have-been-a-disaster-for-charlize-theron/
I watched the Old Guard 2 last night… YAWN. Not even close to the first one. Charlize needs to move on. It looks like a 3rd one is coming..too
You’re presenting an article from The Federalist. She’s not going to read that. Only hardcore MAGA people read that.
The entire article is just the author of the article scolding Theron for not being married and for bragging about having a one-night stand, while not mentioning how many famous men don’t get any criticism for bragging about having one-night stands. Her personal life is fine. She’s very rich and has made it clear she’s happy with her choices and enjoys her lifestyle. Not everyone wants to be a tradwife without a bank account.
I couldn’t care less about the actress’ love life or her marital status. She’s whining about an industry not supporting female action heroes, and the facts scream that she’s completely wrong.
Yes I know it’s an article from The Federalist but for a very successful woman in Hollywood whining about the lack of strong female character roles – uh, it seems all she does is complain: her childhood, her father, blah blah blah, as if her opinion on any of this matters to the rest of us mere mortals.
Hollywood is making those movies but audiences are not flocking to them. Consider the list of top grossing pictures:
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW
The question on which Ms. Theron should be reflecting is why audiences aren’t that interested in action pictures with female leads.
Plenty of male-lead action movies have flopped recently- Gemini Man. Kraven. Shazam 1 and 2. Morbius. The accountant 2. Strange how this site doesn’t mention those.
It’s like the WNBA. Men watch basketball. Men watch action movies. Men want to see men. It’s escapism. That’s the allure. As Bill Burr said, it’s not on men to support women. Instead, women watch the kardashians and real housewives. If they spent their money on action movies with female leads, this wouldn’t be an issue.
Charilze a victim? If that’s victimhood, please sign me up! I would be willing to suffer traveling the world and seeing so many exotic places. I would suffer with being feted everywhere I go. I could take a lifestyle where I don’t have to ever work, where I could play pretend, dress in costumes, and call for a break any time I want for any reason I want or no reason at all. She is an actress for God’s sake. It’s not like she actually has to work or struggle. I look forward to a world where movie tickets are affordable, actors get paid minimum wage, and Hollywood has to hold bake sales to fund their projects.
She never said she’s a victim. The author of this article called her that in an effort to rage-bait you.
You’re the only one who seems to be in a rage over this you keep commenting on everyone’s comment and just wont shut up CT doesn’t like you your not her defender
What is she talking about? All Hollywood makes anymore are girl boss movies where a Mary Sue emasculates male characters for 2 hours. The ENTIRE FRANCHISE of Star Wars has been completely taken over by Rey, Gin, Osha, Ashoka, Holdo, Reva, et. al. And let’s not forget that Lucasfilm is run by a raging-man-hater (Kathleen Kennedy) who’s entire reason for living seems to be to exact revenge on George and Steven for all the times they sent her on donut runs while the real creatives built franchises.
Theron (head shake)………Where’s the OFF button on this moron?
Spielberg and Lucas have both said KK was essential for their movies. Lucas picked her to run Lucasfilm and oversee Star Wars.
Kam. Come on. You can’t seriously believe they meant it. When celebrating Indiana Jones on stage they DELIBERATELY left her out of the acknowledgment. She stood there with egg on her face in front of an entire auditorium filled with people. And it was intentional. She’s a middle aged, no talent, zero accomplishment intern.
What I’m tired of is a 110lb female beating the heck out of a trio 200+ lb trained male combatants. One good kick and they are out like a light.
Big, young, muscular guys and they can’t take a punch? So believable.
Movies are escapism. Not documentaries about real-life fights. It’s fiction, my dude. In real life Bruce Willis can’t beat up 6’5 mercenaries.
All these paid subscription streaming services are looking for content to show their subscribers. I think a lot of movie makers and movie stars are thankful for their existence.
Waa Waa Waa
Don’t forget the Resident Evil franchise. I loved those movies.
Everyone is tired of the girl-boss movie. Ugly, unflattering costumes don’t help either. She can continue to cry in her luxury home among her piles of money.
Plenty of male-lead action movies have flopped recently- Gemini Man. Kraven. Shazam 1 and 2. Morbius. The accountant 2. Strange how this site doesn’t mention those flops. And the word “girlboss” now gets applied to every female character who isn’t a tradwife.
Girlboss characters are smug, flawless and woke. And they deserve to be criticized. Ballerina with Ana de Armas – not a Girlboss.