20 Movies That Were Able To Pass The Feminism Test
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.
Even films with strong female leads, like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, doesn’t pass, but somehow one of the American Pie movies did. Hopefully, this compilation of your favorite films that actually DO pass the test will help you sleep a little better at night.
Anchorman Has A Cat Fashion Show To Thank
Even though Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is based on a 1970s newsroom with a lot of inappropriate jokes, the movie somehow passes the test.
In one scene, Christina Applegate has a conversation with another female newsroom employee about how she’s too good to cover a cat fashion show. Hey, whatever works, I guess.
A Movie About Race And Football Still Has A Bit Of Girl Power
You might not think of Remember The Titans as a feminist movie but think again. Even though it’s all about race and football, both the coaches have daughters that steal the show. The girls have a few adorable conversations about dolls and football.
A young Ryan Gosling, dreamy Denzel Washington, and a passing Bechdel grade? This movie has it all.
Weird Science Barely Scraped By
I definitely didn’t expect an ’80s movie about two nerds creating ‘the perfect woman’ to pass a feminism test, but it does in a pretty ironic way.
In one scene, two characters named Deb and Hilly talk about how they hate how perfect Lisa, their creation, is. Girls bashing girls does technically work.
I’m Surprised Any America Pie Movie Passed
The original failed miserably, but somehow, the inappropriate, raunchy sequel managed to pass with a surprisingly high grade. In American Pie 2, there are a few scenes where the girls discuss clothing with each other.
The comedy also has a scene with two girls making LGBT jokes. It’s not ideal, but we’ll take what we can get.
The Macho Action Movie Features A Strong Leading Lady
Die Hard was known to break a lot of action movie rules with the character Holly Gennaro. In the film, Holly is the ex-wife of John Mcclane who moves across the country to take a leading role in a technology company.
Despite this, there is only one line between Holly and her secretary that gives Die Hard a passing grade. Oh well, she’s still kicking butt.
Little Miss Sunshine Has The Best Bechdel Line
I thought there would be a lot more lines in Little Miss Sunshine that would be Bechdel-approved. Olive has one or two conversations with her mom that pass the test, but one line is absolutely priceless.
When Olive arrives at the pageant, she asks Miss California if she eats ice cream, and Miss California responds “Yes. My favorite is Cherry Chocolate Garcia.” Iconic.
American Beauty Isn’t Exactly Positive, But It Works
This movie is downright creepy. Kevin Spacey trying to seduce his teenage daughter’s best friend is enough to make it weird, but through the creepy, they slide in one scene to pass the test.
At one point, Jane sarcastically tells her mom she’s trying to look bad, and Carolyn responds, “Well, congratulations. You’ve succeeded admirably.” Ouch.
A Movie About Casual Hookups Managed To Pass
Friends With Benefits is all about two people having casual sex and trying to avoid falling in love, so it’s hard to believe it passes the test, but Mila Kunis has multiple Bechdel-approved scenes.
Kunis’s character and her mom have multiple conversations about life, being single, and careers. It must have been hard though not to talk about dreamy Justin Timberlake.
This Is One Of The Few Rom-Coms To Pass
All those ’90s rom-coms you grew up with don’t come close to passing the Bechdel test, but How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days managed to slip through the cracks.
Kate Hudson’s character is a journalist who wrote an article about “How to: Bring Peace To Tajikistan,” but her female co-worker shoots it down because it won’t work in a lifestyle magazine. Articles about makeup and boys only, please.
Somehow Shrek Didn’t Make The Cut, But Shrek 2 Did
You’d think that it would be easy to make an animated movie pass the test, but a shocking amount still focuses on male characters. Princess Fiona proves that she is a no-nonsense female in Shrek, but she doesn’t have many other female characters to have a conversation with.
In Shrek 2, she visits her mom, and we get some scenes that pass.
Bueller? Bueller? Bechdel? Bueller?
In one scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, his sister Jeanie talks to the secretary about something other than Ferris for one. There’s also another scene between Jeanie and their mom while they drive home from the police station.
Ferris Bueller might be the main character,but his sister, mom, and girlfriend are equally hilarious.
Bridget Jones’ Diary Got Glowing Reviews
At first, Bridget Jones comes off as an outrageous character entirely preoccupied with two men, but the movie is about Jones dealing with being a sad, single 30-something year old.
Jones has multiple conversations with other female characters about birthdays, work, and food. All the important things in life.
Gamora Throwing Shade Helps This Marvel Movie Pass
The Guardians of the Galaxy are made up of a human, a tree, an alien, a raccoon, and one woman, so it’s hard to be Bechdel-positive, but thankfully that one woman has a sister she hates.
In the film, Nebula tells Gamora that out of all the siblings, she always hated her the least. Ouch.
Horror Movies Are Surprisingly Good At Passing The Test
You’d be shocked at how many horror movies pass the Bechdel Test with flying colors, but I didn’t expect the slasher-comedy Scream to pass too.
The main character Sidney talks to Gale about murder. Murder is usually a good way to distract yourself from boys.
13 Going On 30 Is Cheesy, But Forward Thinking
I thought this coming of age rom-com would fail miserably, but a lot of Jennifer Garner’s scenes are about figuring out what it means to be an adult.
Garner makes it pretty clear that having boobs and knowing the entire “Thriller” dance is way more important than having a relationship.
Mob Movies Rarely Come Close To Passing The Test
Any gangster and mob movie rarely have a central female character that does more than supporting her husband. But in Goodfellas, Karen and Rosie have a conversation about taking a trip to Florida which gets them a passing grade.
I’d love to see a mob movie where the women of the family take over the business.
This Remake Brought Fairytales Into The 21st Century
Any 2000-era teenage girl went to sleep dreaming of Chad Michael Murray in A Cinderella Story, but Hilary Duff had an amazing Bechdel-approved one-liner.
Shelby: What can I get here that has no sugar, no carbs, and is fat-free? Sam: Water.
Natalie Portman Gave Star Wars Their First Passing Grade
Princess Leia is one of the most incredible female characters, but none of the movies from the original Star Wars trilogy passed the Bechdel test.
Finally, in The Phantom Menace, Natalie Portman’s character Padme had multiple conversations with her handmaids and Anakin’s mother that pass the test.
Life… Finds A Way To Pass The Feminism Test
Jurassic Park is another one of those action movies with only one or two female characters, so it wasn’t easy to get a passing grade. Thankfully, when dinosaurs threaten your life, men aren’t the first topic of conversation.
Lex and Ellie have a couple of scenes where they’re about to be eaten alive about how to escape. You go, girls.
Three Little Girls Made Despicable Me Pass With Flying Colors
All three Despicable Me films pass the Bechdel test, partially because there are actually more female characters than male.
Yes, a lot of the conversations the girls have are about Gru, but they still talk to each other about everything from ballet to school.
