Top 20: Bad Ass Movie Ladies (Part 2)

Wonder Woman week continues with the second part in our Top 20 list of the best action movie heroines. Today we dive into the young women, around their teens or early twenties, who kicked ass with the best of them. Like the first part of our list, we won't be counting down so much as picking categories.

The Reluctant Revolutionary: Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games Series

Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss isn't comfortable in the spotlight, but her sincerity, will to survive, and empathy, all win the people of Panem's favor first in the Hunger Games and eventually in the revolution. While personally prickly and soft-spoken Katniss most inspiring moments are unintentional. Whether it's defiantly firing an arrow at the judges, offering to take her sister's place, or refusing to substitute one dictator for another, Katniss inspires those around her by doing what she knows is right.

The Awkward Spy: Hanna from Hanna

Based on her slight frame, you'd be forgiven for thinking Saoirse Ronan's Hanna was your average adolescent girl. Just don't start a fight with her. Trained from birth to be a master assassin by her adoptive father, Hanna is initially set on a vengeful course, before it is interrupted by....life. However, when her former targets seek to eliminate her, Hanna quickly reminds them that she's a force to be reckoned with.

The Defender of A Nation: Mulan from Mulan

Despite being the Chinese army's only woman, Mulan proves herself to be its best warrior by basically thwarting a Hun invasion single-handedly. Despite early struggles to meet the physical requirements, Mulan's mind and resourcefulness turn out to be her greatest weapons. First she takes down the majority of the Hun army with a single rocket, and then rallies the troops to save the Emperor from an assassination. Make a man out of her? Naw, make the men like Mulan.

The Living Weapon: River Tamm from Serenity

In terms of slow burns to bad-assery it's hard to beat River Tam who began in Firefly as a hot mess spewing gibberish to a blade wielding ballerina capable of killing an entire zombie horde. Though she initial helps the crew in a robbery with her telepathic abilities, River finally comes into her own by leading the crew of Serenity to their most important job to date and holding an army of Reavers at bay to save her friends. The shot which reveals her holding blades covered in blood? Amazing.

The Wizard: Hermione Granger from The Harry Potter Series

Hermione Granger has two strikes going against her at Hogwarts. She's a lady and she's a Muggle. So what does it take to succeed at such as high level? Tireless, never-ending work. While Ron may have it due to genetics and Harry is destined for greatness, Hermione is an amazing wizard because she works her ass off and lays the groundwork for her friends' success at every turn. Need a quick reference or spell when you're in a pickle? Hermione's got it. A hero for all of the female (and male) bookworms out there.