14 surprising movies that pass the Bechdel Test (2023)

FAQs

What movies surprisingly don t 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

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.

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.

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.

Bechdel Test:

The hunger games does 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).

Elvis (2022)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

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

The Gray Man (2022)

This movie passed 2 of 3 tests.

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.

This movie passed 3 of 3 tests.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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