Top 10 Movie Battle of the Sexes

Which side are you on? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Movie Battles of the Sexes.

For this list, we’re looking at movies that feature men and women competing against each other, whether it’s politically, mentally, romantically, socially or even physically.

In this neo-noir and erotic thriller, Michael Douglas’ Nick Curran is a detective with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, while Sharon Stone’s Catherine Tramell is a crime-writing murder suspect with all the right moves. His weapons are physical; hers are carnal. He threatens litigation; she uses manipulation. “Basic Instinct” expresses the power struggle of gender rivalry so well that it’s hard to tell who to root for, particularly since the audience is brain-teased right along with the characters. It’s especially creative to keep the viewer this confused as to whether they should be scared or seduced.

When fate sees an ad executive and a magazine writer both landing dates with each other on the pretense of secret, spiteful work-related bets with their associates, it’s a race to see who wins this battle of the sexes. This rom-com is proof that gender wars don’t always have to be malicious or mean-spirited, because it delivers amusement that sees both sides as the butt-end of the jokes. Despite the screwball comedy, the characters not only challenge each other’s misguided convictions, but the dialogue takes no prisoners in its deconstruction of gender stereotypes and sex-pectations.

Even William Shakespeare knew that the battle of the sexes was an entertainment goldmine when he wrote the play that inspired this film centuries ago. Contemporary revisions of “The Taming of the Shrew” often modify the story of a man hired to humble a feisty woman into becoming dating material into a more balanced lesson on why relationships are about sacrifices and compromises. At the same time, this particular film also reminds us that true love can neither be forced nor suppressed. And it does this by exposing each character’s deep down vulnerabilities.

In “Boomerang,” Marcus is a prideful player with no shame in his game, but he gets a taste of his own medicine when the tables are turned on him by his new female boss. Focusing mostly on the sex part of the sexes battle, this movie is the no-holds barred, R-rated comedy that shows us what happens when men get treated like the sex objects they pursue. It also features a who’s-who cast of ‘90s comedy acts that help the protagonist deconstruct what men and woman want from one another – which is what it takes to help him decide on his own interests.

Speaking of what women want, this movie title dares to ask and answer that question by blessing a male chauvinist like Nick Marshall with the supernatural power to hear their thoughts. For a guy like him however, the gift is also a curse. Chock full of social commentary, this is an insightful observation and celebration of the differences between genders. It’s all made especially clear when Mel Gibson’s character finally understands women well enough to see them as more than mere conquests. It also gives him an opportunity to fall for Darcy, the ultimate object of his affection.

“Entrapment” outdoes itself not only for its cool cat and mouse pretence of “insurance investigator versus art thief” context, but also with the excellent will-they-or-won’t-they chemistry that fights itself between Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Not only do their motives, pursuits and age difference test their allegiances, the two operate under incredible circumstances that include multiple heists, international travel, and Y2K. Sometimes a lack of trust is what divides the sexes into battle, and this pair crosses that laser-hot line.

This battle of the sexes is about as literal as it gets, seeing as it’s about a married couple going out of their way to murder each other action-movie style with all the guns and bombs they can get their well-trained hands on. Incidentally, their marriage is failing enough for them to seek therapy, made all the more complicated by how much they use all this violence for foreplay. This kind of black comedy lets couples and would-bes laugh at what keeps them together through the rollercoaster ride of what keeps them apart.

When news anchor Ron Burgundy’s TV Station decides to be progressive by hiring a talented anchorwoman named Veronica Corningstone, it seems that deplorable, sexist Ron is caught between being offended and aroused. But when she proceeds to threaten his very employment there, the real TV airwaves war begins. This film mocks ‘70s sex culture and lampoons dated political views on women in the workplace. Farce as it is, “Anchorman” also succeeds at boldly taking on the rising feminist culture of its setting in a comedy that’s as silly as it’s satirical.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner don’t need to play assassins or competitive coworkers to be violent arch-nemeses here… all their characters need is a marriage license. It’s the story of Oliver and Barbara, a newlywed couple that starts off so seemingly happy with children, riches and all – that a long-term relationship can only follow a downward direction before it lands in divorce court. The victor of this battle of the sexes wins the house, bragging rights, and battle scars from their multiple death matches. This movie dares to be dreadfully dark and is all the more successful for it.

Before we wield our top pick in battle, here are some honorable mentions.
- “Pitch Perfect” (2012)
- “The Break-Up” (2006)
- “9 to 5” (1980)
- “Think Like a Man” (2012)

This realistic drama is about a divorce and child custody battle performed by top tier actors in their career prime, and is the quintessential battle of the sexes film. Taking no specific sides and making no explicit claims on its “winner,” it’s a five-time Academy Award-winning examination of fatherhood and parental responsibility. Family values and priorities are the themes covered as we walk through Ted’s growth from negligent to near-excellent dad. When the wife that left him returns for her child after achieving her own success, we’re well beyond a battle of the sexes and embroiled in a tug of war.

Do you agree with our list? Which movie battles of the sexes did we miss? For more gender-bending Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.