Blockbuster movies that pass the Bechdel test

A film about three women moving to New York on the hunt for a millionaire husband doesn't sound promising on the Bechdel front. However, this classic movie starring glamor trio Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable gets the green light. Fast cars, fashion, and lunch are all hot conversation topics between the gal pals.

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'Goodfellas' (1990) -

Something of a surprise on the list, this gangster movie passes the test by a nose. While the dialogue is male-dominated, several female characters do get to chat about subjects other than their husbands.

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'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) -

Ferris Bueller and his school-skipping antics are the focal point of this fun '80s flick, but his sister Jeannie does enjoy a few chats with their mother. Test passed!

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'Jurassic Park' (1993) -

As might be expected in a movie about terrifying dinosaurs stomping around on the loose, most of the chat in 'Jurassic Park' revolves around the situation at hand. Female characters Ellie and Lex have limited interaction, but they are certainly not discussing men!

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'Clueless' (1995) -

Alicia Silverstone's character Cher may be intent on matchmaking her friends, but she does discuss plenty of other things, too. How best to bump up her school grades, for example. There's a female-strong cast, too.

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'Kill Bill: Volume 1' (2003) -

Uma Thurman's killer character has plenty to say for herself in this modern classic revenge film. While her character is obsessed with wreaking revenge on ex-lover Bill, she's got women in her firing line, too, and a few choice words are swapped.

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'Kill Bill: Volume 2' (2004) -

The Bride is back and still bent on revenge in the second 'Kill Bill' movie. Confrontations with rival female assassins help this pass with flying colors.

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'Pulp Fiction' (1994) -

'Pulp Fiction' is particularly notable for its dialogue, although much of the talking is between men or between men and women. However, it does contain enough talking between women to scrape a pass. Seems like Tarantino had raised his game by the time he made 'Kill Bill.'

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'Titanic' (1997) -

Although Rose (Kate Winslet) is best remembered for her romantic interactions with Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), she does have a few non-man-focused conversations with her mother in the James Cameron classic.

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'Little Women' (1949) -

Louisa May Alcott's classic coming-of-age novel 'Little Women' has been adapted for cinema several times over the years. With so much dialogue between the female characters, it's a guaranteed pass for this 1949 version starring Margaret O'Brien and Elizabeth Taylor.

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'Little Women' (2019) -

Each successive adaptation of the movie has passed the test with ease, and Greta Gerwig's acclaimed 2019 version is a beautiful tribute to the power of sisterly love.

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'Desperately Seeking Susan' (1985) -

Madonna has been flying the flag for strong, independent women since way back when. It's no surprise that her first major screen role passes the Bechdel test with flying colors.

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'Desperately Seeking Susan' (1985) -

Starring alongside Rosanna Arquette in a feisty, female-directed movie, Madonna played a character with plenty of sassy chat.

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'Wreck-it Ralph' (2012) -

Yes, there's plenty of space for animated kids' comedies on the Bechdel pass list. 'Wreck-it Ralph' has several female characters discussing racing, among other non-male-related subjects.

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'Jumanji' (1995) -

Both the 1995 original and 2017 remake of this fun adventure film get the green light, although 2019's 'Jumanji: The Next Level' failed to make the grade when it came to conversation between female characters.

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'Moana' (2016) -

Powerful islander Moana enjoys many deep and meaningful conversations with her mother in this thoughtful kids' movie that appeals to adults, too.

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'All About Eve' (1950) -

A huge hit on its release and an enduring classic, 'All About Eve' is all about the women. Unusually for the time, men barely get a look-in.

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'All About Eve' (1950) -

Bette Davis is in fine form as an older actress who takes a young would-be starlet (Anne Baxter) under her wing, only to find her good intentions thrown back in her face.

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'Zootopia' (2016) -

Young bunny Judy strives for a career in the police force of Zootopia City. She's a feisty female character, and has a lot to say for herself in conversations with the film's female (and male) characters.

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'Scream' (1996) -

A film that focuses on terrified young women doesn't seem a likely Bechdel test-pass, but the cleverly-made slasher movie 'Scream' does pass the test.

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'Scream' (1996) -

In fact, each one of the movies in the four-strong 'Scream' franchise get the green light.

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'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) -

FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) takes no prisoners in this chilling movie, which is considered a high water mark for strong female characters in film.

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'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) -

Despite Starling's sassy dialogue, it only passes the test by the narrowest of margins, perhaps mainly because much of her conversation is aimed at the male killer Hannibal Lecter.

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'E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982) - The movie focuses on the connection between young Elliott and his out-of-this-world friend, but little sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) has enough Halloween chat with her mother to keep this one on the list.

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'Beauty and the Beast' (2017) -

The tale of 'Beauty and the Beast' raises some feminist red flags (i.e. beautiful young girl falls in love with monstrous male captor), but Belle does have several conversations with named female characters in the Disney movie. Previous adaptations of the classic tale also pass the test.

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'Wild' (2014) -

A powerful tale of courage in the face of extreme adversity, Reese Witherspoon's 2014 adventures in the wilderness featured some strong dialogue between female characters. An easy pass!

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'Black Swan' (2010) -

Natalie Portman's character Nina competes alongside other female dancers to earn the leading role in this dark psychological thriller.

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'Black Swan' (2010) -

Alongside all things ballet-related, female dancers in the film discuss politics, and other non-male-related subjects. Bechdel-approved!

Sources: (BBC) (Bechdel Test) (The Manual)

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Blockbuster movies that pass the Bechdel test

The films must show female characters discussing something other than men

15/09/21 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Women

Since it was created by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel in 1985, the "Bechdel test" has become a popular way to assess a film's female-friendly credentials. The rules are simple: the movie must contain two or more named female characters, and these characters must talk to each other about something other than men. Sounds simple, right? But a great many films fail to reach even this seemingly-easy benchmark.

There's good news for film fans, though: it's not just famously feminist movies that do make the grade. Many a blockbuster movie gets the Bechdel green light. Click through this gallery to see which of your favorite hit movies pass the Bechdel test.