Five Action Movies Women Love Even If They Don't Admit It

Women secretly love a lot of action movies, but it goes against the female grain to admit it - much like many men will not admit that they enjoy the occasional romantic comedy or family film. There are some specific action films that are especially secretly beloved by women. Here are five in no particular order:

Pirates of the Caribbean - any of them

From the time the first promotional shot of Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, all men heard for months afterwards was how well Johnny Depp wore black eyeliner followed by how nice Orlando Bloom looked even without his Legolas locks. Women love both of these men, and both women and men can find enjoyment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The movies feature alternating action sequences, some insanely funny dialogue and acting by Johnny Depp, and a love story that runs through all three films. Women adore action movies with love story subplots.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, released in 2005, is an action movie that women secretly and vocally love depending on their propensity for admitting a good shot 'em up story line when they see it. With both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie present on the screen, an attractive person of each gender is represented in a true power role. Women can respect that Angelina Jolie is an assassin married to an assassin. There is plenty of action throughout the movie, and perhaps the most destructive and lengthiest scene ever shot depicting the total decimation of a suburban home appears in this film.

Iron Man

Released in 2008, Iron Man is an action movie women secretly love because a lot of women seem to enjoy Robert Downey Jr., and his acting style. In Iron Man they get to see a veritable ladies man transformed into a self-made superhero who ends up having to beat down his former friend. Gwyneth Paltrow starring as his lovely assistant also is a woman approved choice as Gwyneth still resonates well with most women despite GOOP.

Indiana Jones - Crystal Skull

Another 2008 favorite, the latest Indiana Jones movie couples two things women are often portrayed as liking in one film - older men and younger men. Between Harrison Ford as Indiana Johns and Shia LaBeouf as his son, they have two male heroes. Include an aged but still lovely Karen Allen as a strong female character and female favorite Cate Blanchett as the bad guy, and you have a film that resonates strongly with women. There is plenty of old fashioned Indiana Jones fun in this movie for the guys as well, so men will not fill too alienated!

The Bourne Movies

Women like Matt Damon and the Bourne movies, released in 2002, 2004, and 2007, were a great vehicle for his career. They combined cutting edge action and technological thriller with some of the most incredible fight scenes ever crafted. Jason Bourne was a death machine when he needed to be, but he didn't want to be a killer anymore - a plot-line that immediately makes females feel sorry for the character and feel invested in his release from this trap. The smaller part played by Julia Stiles, a female favorite, helps up the woman-friendly quotient of this action packed trilogy that is superior for both sexes.

When you couple a strong leading man with a good plot line, women will enjoy watching a good action movie just as much as a man, if not more so in some cases.