Our favourite 'non-chick flick' film picks of all time

Veere di Wedding's cast have been at pains to insist it isn't a "chick flick," so in deference to that, here's five of our favourite"female-fronted buddy movies"

Susan Sarandon in the film Thelma and Louise
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Veere di Wedding is a welcome addition to the canon of films featuring a strong, female, lead cast. That film's cast have been at pains to insist it isn't a "chick flick," so in deference to that here are our picks.

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Read more: Review: 'Veere di Wedding' tackles traditions in a fun and adult fashion

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Clueless

Amy Heckerling's 1995 high school comedy, loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, sees Alicia Silverstone star as the gorgeous, popular, but vacuous Cher who, despite her superficial nature, has a heart of gold buried deep beneath the designer labels and expensive makeup. Along with her best pal Dionne (Stacey Dash) and protégée Tai (Britanny Murphy) she sets about trying to bring happiness to her school community through a series of matchmaking schemes, albeit with mixed results.

First Wives Club

Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton star in Hugh Wilson’s comedy about three college friends who are reunited after many years apart at the funeral of the erstwhile fourth member of their college clique, who has committed suicide. The three learn that they are all in remarkably similar positions, having been abandoned by their ex-husbands for younger models, and, inspired by their former friend’s words from beyond the grave, they set out to reap their revenge against their cheating exes.

Ghost World

Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson take the central female roles in this adaptation of Daniel Clowes' cult favourite comic book of the same name. Enid and Rebecca are a pair of geeky, pseudo-intellectual outsiders in a typical, nameless American town. Following their high school graduation, the pair endure a summer of prank phone calls, unexpected romance, heightened debates about art as a social tool, and vintage record collecting that will test their friendship to the very limit. Compared to better-known comic book adaptations, the film barely even registered. But when was the last time Captain America received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay?

Heathers

Veronica, Heather, Heather and Heather are the most popular girls in Westberg High, but their catty high school clique is about to be torn asunder when Veronica (Winona Ryder)’s attention turns to the new guy in school, gun-toting rebel and psycho-in-training JD (Christian Slater). Seduced by JD’s outsider status, and realizing the superficiality of her former friends’ popularity, Veronica sets off on a mission to turn the tables at school, with explosive results. Director Michael Lehmann picked up an Independent Spirit Award for this, his debut feature.

Thelma and Louise

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis star in Ridley Scott’s brilliant road movie about two friends who head off for a weekend fishing trip, and inadvertently find themselves leaving a trail of murder, rape, armed robbery and destruction behind them. The film has become something of a benchmark for feminist cinema, as well as a rallying cry for frustrated, underappreciated, middle aged women the world over. On top of that, and the sterling performances from the two female leads, Scott also introduced the world to Brad Pitt in his first major movie role as drifter JD, and, of course, THAT ending.