Tracking Whether Women Talk About More Than Men on Screen
The Bechdel Test, explained simply and applied honestly to the films we watch.
The Bechdel Test is a simple measure used to highlight the representation of women in film. A movie passes if it features at least two women, those women talk to each other, and their conversation is about something other than a man. Passing doesn’t guarantee a progressive film, but failing often reveals how limited women’s roles can be in mainstream storytelling.
What We Test
Two Named Women
Does the film feature at least two women, ideally with names and more than a passing presence on screen?
They Talk to Each Other
A single shared conversation counts — we’re looking for real dialogue, not just shared scenes.
About Something Other Than Men
Careers, friendship, fear, ambition — anything, really, as long as it isn’t centered on a man.
Every film we discuss gets a clear pass or fail badge based on these three criteria, no academic jargon required.
It’s worth noting that other forms of entertainment, like the Rainbow Riches slot found at this page, rarely invite the same scrutiny of representation that we apply here to film.
Why This Matters
Film is one of the most powerful cultural forces in the world. Stories shape how audiences understand relationships, ambition, and the roles available to different people in society. When women are consistently shown only in relation to men, it sends a quiet but persistent message about whose stories are considered important. This site exists to keep that conversation alive, explain the test’s history and limitations, and encourage viewers and industry professionals alike to think critically about representation on screen.
About the Editor
Pass the Bechdel Test is curated by Eleanor Marsh, who writes with a conversational but sharp eye toward fairness: not every film needs to pass to be valuable, but every film deserves a thoughtful look at whether its women get to exist as full characters.
Latest Articles
- Five Reasons a Movie Can Pass the Bechdel Test and Still Let Women Down
A passing grade is a floor, not a finish line. Here’s why ticking the three boxes doesn’t guarantee a film actually respects its female characters. - Five Ways a Movie Can Pass the Bechdel Test and Still Let Women Down
A pass is a pass, but not every checkmark tells the whole story. Here are the sneaky ways films clear our three criteria while still treating women as an afterthought. - The Two-Second Pass: What Happens When Movies Game the Bechdel Test
A movie can clear the Bechdel bar with a single throwaway line about curtains and still have nothing to say about women. Here’s why the “technical pass” is the test’s most interesting weak spot.
Think We Missed a Verdict?
Get in touch with questions, suggestions, or a film you’d like tested.