Not all films feature a badass female lead, but when they do, MOTHER pays attention. No matter the genre, era or plot, there’s no better way to catch her eye than with a mix of rebelliousness and a bad temper. Add in some bank-robbing, sadomasochism and violence, wrap it up in an irresistible package — think: Winona Ryder, Uma Thurman or Faye Dunaway — and you’ve got MOTHER hooked. From a faux-leather wrapped martial artist seeking revenge for her past to an angsty teen determined to kill off the power dynamic at her popularity-obsessed high school, no one loves a bad girl more than MOTHER herself. Here are just a few of our favorites — and how to dress like them.

Controlling, abusive and manipulative, Faye Dunaway’s role as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest depicts the neurotic tendencies of the famous American actress in the early 1920s. In this biographical drama, Crawford’s relationship with her adopted daughter Christina unfolds: There’s an over-the-top birthday party where Joan forces Christina to donate all but one gift, physical abuse by way of metal hangers, hair cutting as punishment and choke outs. Heart-wrenching yet engrossing, Dunaway whole-heartedly absorbed herself in the control-hungry outlook of her character — and, allegedly, treated her coworkers on-set in an equally unpleasant manner. That’s showbiz, baby.

The Academy Award-winning film, Bonnie And Clyde, is (almost unbelievably) based on the true crimes of the American couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Faye Dunaway’s role as Bonnie in the 1967 adaptation is a glamorously devious depiction of bank robbing, cop killing, murder and love. As Bonnie and Clyde ravage their way through four different states, upping the stakes of their felonies as they progress, Bonnie gracefully portrays the sense of power and invincibility that comes with a life of crime. In the end, however, the couple is chased down by police and shot to death. What goes around, comes around.

David Lynch’s unforgettable film Blue Velvet tells the story of Jeffrey Beaumont, a college student who attempts to unravel the meaning behind a severed ear he finds in a North Carolina parking lot. Jeffrey’s investigations lead him to Dorothy Vallens, a sultry, irresistible nightclub singer played by Isabella Rossellini. Seductive and full of mystery, Dorothy lures Jeffrey into her twisted world filled with drug lords, hostages, corrupt cops and sadomasochism. In one scene, Dorothy forces Jeffrey to undress at knife point, and in another, she invites him to experiment with a new, rougher type of sex — a perfectly perverted combination of lust, power and desperation only Rossellini could have brought to life.

A true icon of the late-80s and 90s, Winona Ryder’s acting legacy has proven the test of time. Her breakthrough role as Veronica in the dark satire film Heathers (which, she was told by her agent, would “ruin her career”) put her on Hollywood’s radar: A rebellious teen disenchanted by the popular life, Veronica, alongside her lover J.D. begins murdering fellow students at her high school. As Veronica and J.D. slowly break down the power structure of Westerburg High School, positioning each murder as a suicide, the couple’s violent streak sparks turmoil in their relationship. Evil yet lovable, relatable yet conniving, Ryder expertly portrays the trials and tribulations of teenage angst — all with her iconic, enigmatic charm.

Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill reimagines traditional samurai cinema with a powerful female protagonist: the revenge-seeking bride played by Uma Thurman. Known as “the deadliest woman in the world,” The Bride sets out to kill a string of fighters leading her to Bill, the former leader of the Deadly Vipers who attempted to murder her in a wedding chapel. After awakening from a four-year coma, she kills the men who took advantage of her body while she was unconscious, teaches herself to walk again, then sets out to kill Bill, defeating every challenger in her path. Thurman’s fighting, rage and sheer determination landed her multiple nominations and awards for her performance.

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