✅ The Bechdel Test Rules:

• It must have at least two named women,
• Who talk to each other,
• About something other than a man.

Sounds simple—but you’d be surprised how many popular movies fall short. Let's take a look.

🚫 Popular Movies That Don’t Pass the Bechdel Test

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Iconic female characters, but they never interact with one another.
• The Avengers (2012): Black Widow and Maria Hill share the screen, but mostly talk about men or missions.
• The Social Network: Focuses entirely on male characters. Women are present, but underdeveloped.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: Great female leads, but they don’t engage in personal conversations outside the central plot.
• Star Wars: A New Hope: Leia is powerful, but doesn't share a scene with another named woman.
• The Grand Budapest Hotel: Stylistic masterpiece, but lacking female interaction.
• The Wolf of Wall Street: Overwhelmingly male-driven narrative, women are sidelined.
• La La Land: Mia has female friends, but their conversations center around love and career with Sebastian.
• The Imitation Game: Joan Clarke is a standout, but has no conversations with other women.
• Gravity: Sandra Bullock dominates the film—but is completely alone for most of it.

🎥 Movies That Do Pass the Bechdel Test

• Hidden Figures (2016) – Women of color lead and discuss science, work, and perseverance.
• Little Women (2019) – Rich female dialogue and independence.
• Lady Bird (2017) – Coming-of-age through female friendship and family.
• The Color Purple (1985) – Deep conversations between women on survival and identity.
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) – Multigenerational female leads with layered relationships.

🌍 Beyond Bechdel: Other Representation Tests

• Mako Mori Test: At least one female character has her own arc, not tied to a male lead’s story.
• DuVernay Test: Are people of color fully developed characters with agency?
• Vito Russo Test: LGBTQ+ characters must be significant and not reduced to stereotypes.

These tests help us evaluate media across more dimensions of identity and experience.

💡 Why the Bechdel Test Matters

The Bechdel Test isn’t the only way to measure good storytelling or feminism, but it does highlight how often women are underrepresented or sidelined in popular media. Even films with powerful female leads can lack real, nuanced interaction between women.

It's not about shaming filmmakers—it’s about encouraging broader perspectives and more inclusive storytelling.

Media shapes how we see the world—and ourselves. When women are constantly shown as side characters or romantic interests, it narrows our perception of their role in society. On the other hand, rich, diverse representation has the power to inspire empathy, broaden understanding, and influence aspirations.

👀 What Can Viewers Do?

• Support inclusive films at the box office and on streaming platforms.
• Talk about representation with friends and communities.
• Ask critical questions—Who gets to speak? Who’s missing?

The more demand there is for real, inclusive storytelling, the more the industry will evolve to reflect it.

📣 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a casual movie lover or a filmmaker, the Bechdel Test invites all of us to think critically about representation. It’s a reminder that women are more than love interests or plot devices—they’re people with stories worth telling.