20 Of The Most Unexpected Movies That Were Able To Pass The Bechdel Test

Summary

The Bechdel Test started as “a little lesbian joke in an alternative feminist newspaper.” Named for the creator of the Dykes to Watch Out For strip, Alison Bechdel, it became part of the critical conversation to discuss gender representation in media (it can also apply to TV and video games.) It simply requires (a) two named female characters (b) to have a conversation (c) about something other than a man. These 20 unexpected 'winners' include Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy ("Christina Applegate has a conversation with another female newsroom employee that she's too good to cover a cat fashion show") and Die Hard (BruceWillis' on-camera ex-wife has one line with her secretary.") Obviously, the test is not always indicative of a film's overall feminist qualities, but it still highlights the need for more substantial female representation in film. In 2023, according to the (2024) Global Gender Gap report published by the World Economic Forum, "out of the 100 highest-grossing films for 2023, only 30 featured women and girls in lead and co-lead roles

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20 Of The Most Unexpected Movies That Were Able To Pass The Bechdel Test (Surprising Feminist Films)

If a movie has at least two female characters in it that talk to each other about a topic other than a man, it passes the “feminism test.” This test, also known as The Bechdel Rule, sounds simple enough, but you’d be surprised how many movies don’t even come close to passing.

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