14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (2023)

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Weird Science (1985)

Weird Science (1985)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (1)

Deb (Suzanne Snyder) and Hilly (Judie Aronson) talk about Lisa's (Kelly LeBrock) perfection at the party—so despite the movie's somewhat questionable, somewhat sexist plot, this one passes!

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Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (2)

Sure, Matthew Broderick's character is the titular star of this movie, but Ferris isn't central to all of Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) and Mrs. Bueller's (Cindy Pinkett) chats. Sloan (Mia Sara), on the other hand, might need a gal pal.

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American Pie 2 (2001)

American Pie 2 (2001)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (3)

Credit: Everett Collection

Cute outfits or not, it isn't great for the feminist cause if Amber (Lisa Arturo) and Natalie (Joelle Carter) only briefly talk about clothes.

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The Stepford Wives (2004)

The Stepford Wives (2004)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (4)

Credit: Everett Collection

This remake (starring Nicole Kidman and Bette Midler) andthe 1975 original both pass with flying colors — a surprise for a bunch of robo-housewives.

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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (5)

Credit: Everett Collection

(Video) Surprising Films That Pass The Bechdel Test

Though work-related office chatter among female employees isn't breaking any glass ceilings, at least anchorwoman Veronica Corningstone's (Christina Applegate) quick conversation with Donna (Laura Kightlinger) about a cat fashion show isn't male-centric.

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Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans (2000)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (6)

Credit: Everett Collection

We may have been too distracted by a young Ryan Gosling and a dreamy Denzel Washington to realize it at first, but the two coaches' tiny daughters (played by Krysten Leigh Jones and Hayden Panettiere) have some funny chats about dolls and football.

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Goodfellas (1990)

Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco in 'Goodfellas'

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (7)

Credit: Everett Collection

In a film about violence and mafiosos, Karen (Lorraine Bracco) and Rosie (Illeana Douglas) manage to squeeze in a Bechdel Test pass with a conversation about Florida.

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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (8)

Credit: Everett Collection

Say what you will about implicit sexism in this Kate Hudson rom-com, but these lady colleagues dish about jobs — and even sports! (Not to mention that Andie's dream is to be a political reporter, and that takes some gumption.)

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How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (9)

Credit: Everett Collection

Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable discuss their shared interests: money and lunch.

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(Video) Top 10 Movies that Surprisingly Pass the Bechdel Test

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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (10)

Credit: Everett Collection

Nebula (Karen Gillan) telling Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) she hated her the least of all their siblings isn't quite sisterly bonding, but it works.

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No Country for Old Men (2007)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (11)

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One scene allows this movie to pass: Carla Jean (Kelly Macdonald) and her mother (Beth Grant) talk about medicine in the car. Riveting!

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Scary Movie (2000)

Scary Movie (2000)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (12)

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The scariest thing aboutthismovie is its Bechdel-passing grade.

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Jurassic Park (1993)

Jurassic Park (1993)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (13)

Credit: Everett Collection

(Video) The MCU and the Bechtel Test

Here are two of the interactions that let this movie pass:

Lex (Ariana Richards): "It's in there!"

Ellie (Laura Dern): "Control room!"

and

Lex: "We can call for help!"

Ellie: "We have to reboot the system first."

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The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid (1984)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (14)

Credit: Everett Collection

As noted on BechdelTest.com, Daniel's mom (Randee Heller) and girlfriend (Elisabeth Shue) talk about "how to pop the clutch to start a car." Not the fullest of interactions, but actually a cool thing for women to talk about. (For what it's worth — the Karate Kid franchise's spin-off streaming series, Cobra Kai, routinely passes the Bechdel Test.)

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And now for kick-ass, female-directed movies that don't pass: The Hurt Locker (2008)

And now for kick-ass, female-directed movies that don't pass: The Hurt Locker (2008)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (15)

Credit: Everett Collection

The Hurt Lockerwon Kathryn Bigelow the very first Best Director Oscar ever awarded to a woman — HUGE DEAL! — and yet, it doesn't pass the Bechdel Test.

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Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Lords of Dogtown (2005)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (16)

Credit: Everett Collection

Catherine Hardwicke directed this rivetingchronicle of the Zephyr Skate Team (and a personal favorite of mine), and yet every female character's express purpose is to support her man. Bechdel Fail.

(Video) Female Characters Still Need to Be Better - Why The Bechdel Test Didn't Really Help

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Europa Europa (1990)

Europa Europa (1990)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (17)

Credit: Everett Collection

A must-see among certain film scholars,Agnieszka Holland's brilliant film about a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany who joins the Hitler youth to conceal his identity,doesn't pass for a sort of funny reason: Bertha (Marta Sandrowicz) teases her mother, but her mother doesn't answer. If only she'd responded...

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Shrek (2001)

Shrek (2001)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (18)

Credit: Everett Collection

One of the most beloved animated films of all time, the tale of our favorite layered ogre (co-directed by Vicky Jenson) doesn't pass the test. But don't worry: The sequels do!

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Wayne's World (1992)

Wayne's World (1992)

14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (19)

Credit: Everett Collection

While it's excellent that one of our favorite cult comedies was directed byPenelope Spheeris, its failing grade says one thing: Cassandra (Tia Carrere) needs a girls' night!

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(Video) This Movie Will Pass The Bechdel Test

Up Next

FAQs

What movies surprisingly don t pass the Bechdel Test? ›

Here are just a few movies that don't pass the Bechdel Test:
  • “Breakfast At Tiffany's” (1961)
  • The entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (2001–2003)
  • “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” (2011)
  • “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012)
  • “The Avengers” (2012)
  • “Gravity” (2013)
  • “Pacific Rim” (2013)
  • “Arrival” (2016)
Dec 2, 2022

Does Harry Potter 1 pass the Bechdel Test? ›

While the Harry Potter series passes the Bechdel test, it doesn't pass it as easily as other books with strong females. Hermione's two best friends, Harry and Ron, are boys, and the majority of the book follows the trio through their adventures.

Does Shrek pass the Bechdel Test? ›

Shrek (2001)

One of the most beloved animated films of all time, the tale of our favorite layered ogre (co-directed by Vicky Jenson) doesn't pass the test.

How many movies fail the Bechdel Test? ›

On bechdeltest.com, a site for crowdsourcing Bechdel Test results, about 40% of films don't pass.

Does the Bible pass the Bechdel Test? ›

What do all these Biblical narratives have in common? None of them pass the Bechdel test. First coined in 1985 by Alison Bechdel, the basic criteria to pass this test involves a conversation between two women — ideally, both of whom are named — about someone who is not a man.

Does frozen pass the Bechdel Test? ›

Given that Frozen is not your typical Disney love story by any means, it makes a ton of sense that it passes the Bechdel Test.

Does the Batman fail the Bechdel test? ›

With a total of three named female characters, one zip-tied in the District Attorney's trunk and the other a mayoral candidate with a story arc flatter than Kansas, “The Batman” passes the Bechdel Test on only a technicality.

Does Moana pass the Bechdel test? ›

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

Which Pixar movies pass the Bechdel test? ›

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Incredibles, Brave, Toy Story 3, and A Bug's Life are the only Pixar films that pass the test. Meanwhile all of Pixar's films feature a wealth of male characters who have interactions centered on a variety of topics.

Does Spongebob pass the Bechdel test? ›

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

Does the Grinch pass the Bechdel test? ›

How the Grinch Stole Christmas only passes the Bechdel Test because of one scene between Betty Lou Who and Martha May Whovier discussing Christmas decorations, but as a classic and the best Christmas movie on Netflix, this list wouldn't be complete without it.

Do all the Twilight movies pass the Bechdel test? ›

When one considers movies like '50 Shades Of Grey' and 'Twilight', the first thing one thinks of is hardly female empowerment. But they pass the Bechdel Test! Both of these movies fulfil all three requirements, which brings us to wondering whether the conditions of the Bechdel Test need some serious revision.

Does Hunger Games pass the Bechdel test? ›

Bechdel Test:

The hunger games does pass The Bechdel Test.

Did Titanic pass the Bechdel test? ›

The film industry has always struggled with the kind of gender equality the Bechdel test measures. I went to bechdeltest.com to see how Hollywood measured up. 1. Of the ten highest-grossing films of all time, only three pass the test (Titanic, Skyfall, Transformers: Dark of the Moon).

Does Elvis pass the Bechdel test? ›

Elvis (2022)

This movie passed 1 of 3 tests. It was entered by Raphael on 2022-07-04 23:04:12.

Does dog pass the Bechdel test? ›

Although it doesn't pass The Bechdel Test, the Power of the Dog should be considered a feminist film as it explores the restrictions of gender in those huge isolated spaces where politics is not immediately apparent.

Did the godfather pass the Bechdel test? ›

The Godfather

Regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, it still manages to fail the test despite having some strong female cast members. There is a single scene (the last one) where two women discuss two men.

Does Avatar fail the Bechdel test? ›

Avatar, The Social Network and all of the Lord of the Rings movies did not pass Bechdel's test. Instead, feminine characters are defined by their relationship to their male counterparts; they are wives, girlfriends, lovers, mothers and assistants.

Does Top Gun pass the Bechdel test? ›

Top Gun Maverick was pure frothy entertainment and it was great! Also, it passed the Bechdel test 'though only in the most minimally scraping over the line way. On the positive side, the women in the movie weren't just servants in the men's stories.

Does Harry Potter Goblet of Fire pass the Bechdel test? ›

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” fails. Even “Toy Story” fails. And it's hard to think of a movie that doesn't pass the Reverse Bechdel test -- where two male characters don't talk to each other about something other than a woman (according to the IMDB universe, some do exist). The Bechdel test has its critics.

Does Legally Blonde pass the Bechdel test? ›

"Legally Blonde passes the Bechdel Test. As most of the cast are women and there are more than two, there is dozens of instances where they talk to each other. While the plot begins with Elle deciding to follow her ex-boyfriend to law school to win him back, few conversations in the movie center around a man.

Does Harley Quinn pass the Bechdel test? ›

Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey passes the Bechdel Test in the right ways - Polygon.

Does Ferris Bueller pass the Bechdel test? ›

In all technicalities, Ferris Bueller's Day Off does pass the Bechdel Test. There are multiple named women within the film. Ferris' sister Jeannie and his girlfriend Sloane both manage to fill this quota, as well as a couple secondary characters that do not play an incredibly important role in the film.

Does 50 shades pass the Bechdel test? ›

Anastasia Steele, the protagonist of the movie, may be sexy (kind of) but that isn't her entire purpose or personality. We can argue about whether Fifty Shades of Grey is or is not "good for women," but at least it manages to pass the most basic test of gender equality we have for film — the Bechdel Test.

Does Lilo and Stitch pass Bechdel test? ›

The film passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors, and that's even if you count Stitch as a “man.” Lilo has conversations, or attempts to have conversations, with her girl friends about dolls and her new “dog,” but her relationship with her older sister Nani steals the show.

What kids movies fail the Bechdel test? ›

Surprisingly, the first two "Toy Story" movies can't hold up to the Bechdel Test, and neither can "The Little Mermaid," "Bambi," or "Monsters, Inc."

Does Aladdin pass the Bechdel test? ›

Aladdin -1992

'Aladdin' clearly fails the Bechdel Test. Jasmine is the only female character of note in the entire movie and she never talks with any other female characters.

How many Disney movies fail the Bechdel test? ›

While it can be a great tool, it is not the end all be all, and relies solely on the interactions and relationships between women in film. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, but out of the 40 films referenced, only 19 failed the Bechdel test, making for a solid 52.5% pass rate in Disney films.

Do the Disney Princess movies pass the Bechdel test? ›

Despite being so heavily marketed to young girls, a stunning majority of Disney movies fail to pass the Bechdel test — or even come close. Unnamed women appear in the song “One Jump Ahead,” bearing the stunning names of “UGLY FAT LADY” and “HAREM” in the official script.

Did Thor pass the Bechdel test? ›

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

Did Mamma Mia pass the Bechdel test? ›

From 1995 to 2015, the only top grossing films to pass the Bechdel Test were the "Twilight" flicks, "Mamma Mia!," "Casper," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," and "Fifty Shades of Grey," all of which were written only by women.

Does breaking dawn part 2 pass the Bechdel test? ›

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests (although dubious).

Does Lady and the Tramp pass the Bechdel test? ›

Does the film pass the Bechdel Test? Nope. Two female characters talk, but they talk about Tramp or the baby. Number of named non-white characters: There are 2 Italians, but that's still considered white.

Which Harry Potter movies pass the Bechdel test? ›

There are 8 results for your search:
  • 2011 (1 movie) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
  • 2010 (1 movie) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
  • 2009 (1 movie) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
  • 2007 (1 movie) ...
  • 2005 (1 movie) ...
  • 2004 (1 movie) ...
  • 2002 (1 movie) ...
  • 2001 (1 movie)

Does Wizard of Oz pass the Bechdel? ›

Both the book and the movie pass the Bechdel test, and when going through and looking for conversations with Dorothy and other female characters, there are multiple instances including conversations with the Witch of the North, Glinda, Aunt Em, and the Wicked Witch of West.

Does Sonic 2 pass the Bechdel test? ›

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests. It was entered by Riley on 2022-04-02 23:42:54.

Does the Gray Man pass the Bechdel test? ›

The Gray Man (2022)

This movie passed 2 of 3 tests.

Does Black Panther pass the Bechdel test? ›

Marvel movies and the superhero genre are traditionally male-oriented, but Black Panther, one of the biggest franchises of all, passes what's called “the Bechdel Test” — meaning it features strong female characters who talk to each other, not always about men.

Does Spongebob pass the Bechdel Test? ›

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

What kids movies fail the Bechdel Test? ›

Surprisingly, the first two "Toy Story" movies can't hold up to the Bechdel Test, and neither can "The Little Mermaid," "Bambi," or "Monsters, Inc."

Did Dr Strange pass the Bechdel Test? ›

The character development for all parties involved felt almost non-existent, and the romantic subplot between Dr. Strange and his ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer felt weird and forced. For a movie with so many strong female characters, it did not even pass the Bechdel test.

Does 50 shades pass the Bechdel Test? ›

Anastasia Steele, the protagonist of the movie, may be sexy (kind of) but that isn't her entire purpose or personality. We can argue about whether Fifty Shades of Grey is or is not "good for women," but at least it manages to pass the most basic test of gender equality we have for film — the Bechdel Test.

Do any of the Twilight movies pass the Bechdel test? ›

When one considers movies like '50 Shades Of Grey' and 'Twilight', the first thing one thinks of is hardly female empowerment. But they pass the Bechdel Test! Both of these movies fulfil all three requirements, which brings us to wondering whether the conditions of the Bechdel Test need some serious revision.

Did Captain Marvel pass the Bechdel test? ›

Featuring important relationships between Carol Danvers and mentor Dr. Wendy Lawson, Danvers and her best friend Maria, and Maria and her daughter Monica Rambeau (who grows up to earn her own superheroine cred), “Captain Marvel” fittingly passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.

Does Thor pass Bechdel test? ›

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests. It was entered by Doctor John Smith on 2022-07-08 10:42:58.

Does Deadpool pass the Bechdel? ›

Deadpool passes because it features a pansexual character with significant facial burns as a protagonist (Wade Wilson).

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