**THIS IS CURRENTLY A PRE-ORDER ITEM** With actress Pam Grier's breakthrough in Coffy and Foxy Brown, women entered action, science fiction, war, westerns and martial arts films - genres that had previously been considered the domain of male protagonists. This ground-breaking cinema, however, was - and still is - viewed with ambivalence. This volume contains an in-depth critical analysis and study of the female hero in popular film from 1970 to 2006. The entrance of the female hero into films written by, produced by and made for men is viewed through the lens of feminism and post-feminism arguments. Analyzed works include films with actors Michelle Yeoh and Meiko Kaji, the Alien films, the Lara Croft franchise, Charlie's Angels, and television productions such as Xena: Warrior Princess and Alias.