A movie can feature a powerful female lead, tell an important story about women, or even have a predominantly female cast and still fail one surprisingly simple test. First popularized by cartoonist Alison Bechdel in 1985, the Bechdel test has become a widely recognized way of examining how women are represented in films.
To pass, a movie must meet three conditions: it must feature at least two named female characters, those characters must speak to each other, and their conversation must be about something other than a man. It may sound rather straightforward, but some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters and most critically acclaimed films struggle to meet these requirements.
Curious to see which modern movies don't pass the test? Click on to discover.