Film

D.E.B.S.

D.E.B.S. is a fizzy 2005 action-comedy about a secret teenage girl squad whose leader falls for the glamorous supervillain they're supposed to catch. It's all winking fun and queer subtext: sharp one-liners, impossible stunts, and a romance that pulses beneath the spy-movie mechanics. Perfect if you want your action served with style and self-aware camp.

TMDb rating3.3

If you liked this

Spy Kids2001

Same DNA of playful action and adventure scaled for charm rather than realism, with a gifted young cast, dizzying visuals, and genuine stakes wrapped in candy-coloured fun.

But Robert Rodriguez's particular style—maximalist, video-game-like effects—hasn't aged smoothly, and the tone can feel thin to adult viewers looking for something grounded.

Spy Kids poster

Josie and the Pussycats2001

Cheerfully absurd comedy that knows exactly what it is: a cartoon brought to life with visible affection, neon colours, and a team of friends navigating chaos with style and one-liners flying.

But The plot is deliberately slight and the pop-culture satire is broad; if you need dramatic weight or restraint, this will feel exhausting.

Josie and the Pussycats poster

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle2003

The spiritual cousin in tone and energy—glamorous, action-packed, funny, and in love with its own excess. Treats its heroines as smart and capable while having tremendous fun with the spectacle.

But McG's directing style is frantic and shallow. If you're watching for character development or emotional stakes, you will leave disappointed.

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from D.E.B.S.

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Bound1996

Both centre a romantic relationship between women as the emotional core; both use the spy/crime-film scaffolding as a framework for something more personal and surprising.

The Wachowskis' debut: a lesbian noir thriller with sharp dialogue, genuine tension, visual intelligence, and a central relationship that's the entire point. Taut, clever, and deeply attentive to its leads.

But It's considerably darker, grittier, and more violent than D.E.B.S. The tone is thriller-serious, not camp, and it demands your full attention.

Bound poster
More like this (7)

Bend It Like Beckham2002

Female friendship and a quiet romance at the heart of a sports film, with warmth, humour, and genuine emotional stakes. The spark between the leads feels earned and lived-in.

But The tone is warmer and more grounded than D.E.B.S.—it won't hit the same note of mischievous camp, and it's slower to build.

Bend It Like Beckham poster

The Baby-Sitters Club2020

A recent Netflix series that captures the same spirit of female camaraderie, found family, and a group of capable girls running their own operation with style and humour.

But It's pitched toward a younger audience, so the stakes feel lighter and the comedy is gentler than what D.E.B.S. offers.

The Baby-Sitters Club poster

Sucker Punch2011

A team of women in an impossible situation, gorgeous production design, kinetic action sequences, and a central relationship that matters more than the plot machinery around it.

But Zack Snyder's film divides viewers sharply; its attempt at deeper meaning feels muddled, and some find the sexualisation of its characters deeply uncomfortable.

Sucker Punch poster

Kingsman: The Secret Service2015

Slick, funny spy-action film that winks at genre conventions while delivering genuine thrills. Ridiculous and whip-smart in equal measure, with impeccable style and energy.

But It's considerably more violent and irreverent; the comedy is much cruder, and it centres male characters rather than girls.

Kingsman: The Secret Service poster

Atomic Blonde2017

A stylish action thriller centred on a capable woman, with dazzling fight choreography, 80s synth-pop energy, and a layered performance that goes beyond the action-hero template.

But It's grittier and more emotionally austere than D.E.B.S., with real stakes and violence. The tone is sleek rather than playful.

Atomic Blonde poster

The Losers2010

A team movie with sharp banter, zippy pacing, knowing humour about action tropes, and genuine affection for its ensemble. It moves fast and enjoys itself thoroughly.

But The core cast is male and the film's energy skews toward typical action-comedy beats. It lacks the specific charm of a girls-team dynamic.

The Losers poster

Gunplay1951

Same register of knowing, stylish adventure led by women; same commitment to humour and romance woven into action; same love of character over plot mechanics.

An Argentine action-comedy about female criminals with razor-sharp dialogue, style to spare, and genuine heart. Playful without being frivolous; romantic without losing its edge.

But It's in Spanish, subtitled. The pacing is deliberate and it assumes you know action-film language; it won't spell anything out.

Gunplay poster

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