New York: Plans by a theatre to host women-only screenings of the action movie Wonder Woman unleashed an outpouring of complaints on social media of discrimination and sexism on Friday.

The superhero movie opens in theatres across the US next week, and the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz in Austin, Texas scheduled two female-only nights for a few days later.

Wonder Woman is a breath of fresh air. Credit:Clay Enos

"Apologies, gentlemen, but we're embracing our girl power and saying 'No Guys Allowed'," the cinema wrote on its website.

The movie, starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, is based on a comic book character introduced in 1941, fighting villains, rescuing victims and unearthing evil plots.