Study movies in school, and one interesting aspect of story development is this: the lead female character. Why? Because there’s an edge, an upward battle from within as well as in the environment. Viewers–and while on the subject of female characters, even readers of literature–love that sort of stuff, the content that shows a main character surviving all odds even at the expense of being a woman who’s not used to ‘surviving.’ Historically and biologically, women get that a lot–they’re the underdog.
Case in point, the “Alien” film series. Raise your hand if you know the one character featured in these films…. (Looks to see the hands). Looks like all of you. You’re a smart bunch, obviously. Yes, the character is Lieutenant Ellen Ripley played by the famous actress Sigourney Weaver. Featured in all of the “Alien” movies (except for the mash-up series with the “Predators, of course), you have a character that literally survives all odds and is left to be the only one and possibly a few others alive–not to mention Ripley literally lays a vicious smack down on these demonic bugs!
Another example is the “Terminator” film series. All but two, which is “Terminator: Salvation” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” features an incredibly formidable character called Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton. Typically your everyday girly girl in the first legendary film back in 1984, she stands as the last survivor in the story against a deadly killing machine. We then see her again looking buff and macho in the second film, entitled “Terminator 2: Judgement Day.” There was even a television series based on her adventures, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”
Biologically, women have an innate sense of survival; they sort of have to. Or else humanity would not continue; they carry the offspring. We also see that historically as well. Countless female figures mark a change in history that is monumental and tremendous, such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and even in the music industry with Tina Turner. That’s what many would call the “Heroine Appeal.”