Movies About Girls With Supernatural Powers

Art, music, books, movies, and TV often delve into the world of the supernatural – things that go beyond what’s naturally possible. For years, people have been captivated by creatures like vampires, witches, werewolves, and ghosts. Beyond creatures, stories also explore incredible powers humans wish they had, such as telekinesis, the ability to foresee the future, read minds, levitate, become invisible, control others, and even cast spells for lasting youth and beauty.

Lots of fantasy, action, and horror films showcase groups of characters with superpowers, and these groups often feature mostly boys and men. However, some movies highlight uniquely talented female characters who have captivated audiences for generations with their incredible abilities.

‘Firestarter’ (1984)

Universal Pictures

The movie Firestarter, based on the Stephen King novel, was directed by Mark L. Lester and features Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Heather Locklear, and Martin Sheen. The story follows Andy and Vicky, a couple who gain the abilities to read minds and control others after participating in a medical study.

Vicky and Andy’s wedding is overshadowed when their daughter, Charlie, starts showing incredible powers – she can control fire and see the future. This attracts the attention of a government group who take her, hoping to understand and potentially weaponize her abilities.

‘Thelma’ (2017)

Memento Films International

Thelma is a suspenseful Norwegian film directed by Joachim Trier. Written by Trier and Eskil Vogt, it features Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen, and Ellen Dorrit Petersen. The story follows Thelma, a deeply religious young woman who moves from the countryside to study biology in Oslo, where she begins to develop romantic feelings for another woman named Anja.

When Thelma leaves her religious upbringing, she begins having unusual seizures, and her feelings for Anja trigger dormant psychic powers. She first discovered these abilities as a child, when, driven by jealousy, she teleported her baby brother into a frozen lake. Now, as an adult, Thelma’s powers have grown: she can not only make people vanish or burst into flames, but also heal and even revive them.

‘Jennifer’ (1978)

I recently watched a film called Jennifer, directed by Brice Mack, and I was really moved by it. Lisa Pelikan is fantastic as Jennifer, a scholarship student at a fancy boarding school, and she’s supported by a great cast including Nina Foch as Mrs. Calley and Bert Convy as Jeff Reed. The story is heartbreaking – it follows this girl who’s struggling to fit in, facing bullying from the other students, and feeling completely overlooked by the headmistress. It’s a tough watch, but a really compelling one.

Jennifer is determined to get revenge on those who have wronged her. Though she doesn’t come from wealth or privilege, she has a unique power: she can communicate with snakes. She uses this ability to unleash a swarm of snakes on her bullies, and takes it a step further by summoning a massive serpent to cause an accident for the student who hurt her the worst. To ensure no one remembers what happened, she then causes everyone who witnessed the event to lose their short-term memories.

‘The Innocents’ (2021)

IFC Midnight

When young Ida and her family move into a new apartment building, she quickly makes friends with the other children. But these aren’t ordinary kids – they all have developing psychic powers, like moving things with their minds and even controlling others. One boy, Ben, is becoming dangerously aggressive, and as Ida discovers her own abilities, she finds herself struggling to stop him.

The Norwegian film The Innocents is a disturbing horror-thriller about children with supernatural powers, and it’s definitely one of the more intense examples of the genre. While the movie contains some shocking scenes, Ida stands out as a positive force. Even though she isn’t as powerful as the other children, she consistently uses her abilities to help and protect those around her. Despite the film’s dark tone, it centers on Ida’s perspective, which makes it a fitting inclusion on this list.

‘The Golden Compass’ (2007)

New Line Cinema

The Golden Compass is a fantasy adventure film directed by Chris Weitz, based on Philip Pullman’s novel Northern Lights. It stars Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua, alongside Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. The story takes place in a unique world that blends the past and future, and follows Lyra, a young orphan, as she tries to rescue her friend and other children from a dangerous group.

Lyra is an incredibly determined, clever, and courageous child. She has a unique and surprising gift: she can persuade anyone to believe anything she tells them, even if it’s completely untrue. What’s even more remarkable is that, without any lessons, she’s one of the very few people who can accurately read an alethiometer – a special compass that always points to the truth. There are only six of these alethiometers in existence.

‘The Babysitter’ (2017)

Netflix

Directed by McG and featuring Samara Weaving, Judah Lewis, Robbie Amell, and Bella Thorne, The Babysitter is a darkly comedic horror-slasher. The story centers on Cole, a 12-year-old boy who seems to have a great connection with his attractive babysitter, Bee. However, he soon discovers that Bee and her friends are part of a sinister cult with a terrifying interest in him.

To maintain her youth, beauty, strength, and popularity indefinitely, Bee has entered into a pact with the Devil. This requires her to periodically shed innocent blood onto a spellbook while chanting an incantation, and she’s been drawing her high school friends into a dangerous cult. The film is a clever twist on the classic babysitter story, reimagining the typical helpless victim as a powerful and sinister figure.

‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ (2013)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Before the hit TV show Shadowhunters gained recognition, a film based on Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments books was made, called The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Harald Zwart directed the movie, which starred Lily Collins as Clary, Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace, and Lena Headey as Jocelyn.

I’ve always been fascinated by stories where ordinary people discover they’re anything but, and Clary’s story is a great example. She honestly believed she was just a normal teen until she started seeing things – supernatural creatures that no one else could. Turns out, she’s a Shadowhunter, basically half-angel demon hunters! What’s even cooler is she can create these amazing magical runes, like gifts from the angels, and actually draw them onto her skin, which then give her incredible abilities. It’s a really unique take on the chosen one trope.

‘The King Tide’ (2023)

When a baby named Isla washes ashore in a small Newfoundland fishing village, the mayor adopts her and quickly realizes she has the incredible ability to heal people. The villagers become reliant on Isla’s gift, isolating themselves from the outside world and essentially building their lives around her. They offer gifts hoping to maintain their health and keep their businesses thriving. However, after a devastating event causes her powers to fade, the town descends into fear and disorder.

The King Tide is a beautifully complex and insightful film that stands out from other movies about kids with superpowers. The story beautifully explores how the villagers cope with a young girl losing her abilities, while still keeping her feelings and unique perspective at the heart of the narrative. Having always been different, Isla’s unusual way of seeing the world is a key focus.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1992)

20th Century Fox

The movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn’t perform as well as the popular TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. The film, directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, featured Kristy Swanson in the lead role, along with Luke Perry, Rutger Hauer, and Donald Sutherland.

Buffy appears to have it all – she’s a cheerleader dating the basketball team captain. However, her life changes dramatically when she meets an older man who reveals her destiny as part of a lineage of vampire slayers, and begins training her. She soon learns she has incredible strength and the ability to hunt and destroy vampires, as well as other dangerous supernatural beings.

‘Frozen’ (2013)

Disney

Frozen is a Disney animated musical fantasy film directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. Kristen Bell voices Anna, the princess of Arendelle, while Idina Menzel plays her sister, Elsa, the queen. Jonathan Groff voices Kristoff, an iceman, and Josh Gad brings the snowman Olaf to life.

Elsa has incredible abilities – she can create and control ice and snow. As a child, she and her sister used these powers for playful games. But now that she’s grown up, her magic has become too dangerous, so she hides away in a huge ice castle she builds herself. This accidentally causes an endless winter to fall on the kingdom of Arendelle, and also brings her beloved childhood snowman to life.

2026-03-22 19:50