Katniss Everdeen isn’t the first awesome teen heroine to dominate the big screen. The past few decades of movies have brought us a wide range of empowered young ladies — from Charlie Newton of Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt to Gabourey Sidibe’s title role in Precious — who face adversity with a steely strength. With the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire right around the corner, it looks like teen heroines are here to stay.
Watch: Kick-Ass Moments from TIME’s Favorite Teen Heroines
A look at cinematic moments that set the stage for the Hunger Games heroine to shine