The Bechdel Test: 11 Classic Movies That Meet the Mark

When it comes to Hollywood’s portrayal of women, there is an ever-present need for growth. In an industry historically dominated by men — both in front of and behind the camera — it’s not a mystery as to why stories of strong, complex, and intricate women aren’t always being told on screen.

Enter: the Bechdel Test, a set of rules that help determine if a film portrays women in a non-sexist manner. The movie test originated with a 1985 comic strip by artist Alison Bechdel and simply asks three questions of its subjects: Does the film contain at least two women with names? Do they talk to each other? And is their conversation about something other than a dude? If so, the movie “passes” the Bechdel Test.

It sounds like a simple enough request that all movies should be able to pass with flying colors, but a surprising number fall flat. (The entire original Star Wars trilogy, for one, only contains three female characters — and none of them ever say a word to each other.)

Of course, there’s definitely room for growth beyond the Bechdel Test; those three rules aren’t the only requirements for developing multi-faceted female characters by any means. But the simple fact that so many movies don’t measure up to the Bechdel Test serves as a reminder that Hollywood still has lots of work to do.

That said, there are plenty of films — and iconic ones, at that — that do pass the Bechdel Test. Ahead, check out 11 classic movies that make the grade, as just one more reminder that they deserve to be watched again and again.

1. Mean Girls

Sure, plenty of screen time was given to talking about Aaron Samuels (whose hair is dreamy pushed back, I’ll admit), but in Mean Girls, the Plastics talk about a lot more than just boys. And let’s not forget the conversations between Janis and Cady — many of which were focused on bringing down Regina George by way of Kalteen Bars and foot cream. While hilarious and packed with lines we still can’t stop quoting, Mean Girls also reminded us that, well, girls can be mean. In a world where the tragically flawed anti-hero is often portrayed as a man, characters like Regina George and Cady Heron were — and still are — altogether refreshing.

2. Bring It On

Women are at the forefront of the narrative in Bring It On, and each of the main characters is complex enough for us to understand their shortcomings while also seeing them grow. On the surface, the film might seem to be only about a cheerleading rivalry, but we also watch the protagonist, Torrance, learn important lessons after realizing that all of her team’s routines were stolen from the Clovers, a team across town comprised of black cheerleaders.

But we don’t view the entire story through Torrance’s eyes, and that’s what makes Bring It On unique. We also see the damage that’s been done to Isis, the Clovers captain, and her teammates from having their routines stolen over the years — and how they get “revenge” by simply doing their best. Bring It On is a rare film in that it manages to get its audience to root for multiple conflicting characters at the same time.

3. The Princess Diaries

There are many reasons to love The Princess Diaries — and one of them is that it totally passes the Bechdel Test. With plenty of female characters (Mia, Lilly, Lana, and Queen Clarisse Renaldi, to name a few), there are countless conversations throughout the film that have absolutely nothing to do with a guy. In fact, most of the dialogue between Mia and Clarisse is about the rules for royal decorum, and Mia and Lily often talk about school during their chats. Many of Mia’s conversations play a role in the unwitting princess figuring out her own identity — which is, after all, what the film is truly about.

4. Clueless

Cher and Dionne’s friendship in Clueless encompasses way more than just talking about boys — or talking to each other on oversized cell phones in the hallways between classes. They chat about school, Cher’s dad, party plans, outfits, shopping, and movies — pretty much everything that regular people talk about with their BFFs. And even when Tai enters the scene and spends a ton of time gushing about Elton (and later Josh), the three main female characters also bond in other ways. Clueless, which Rolling Stone dubbed “the ultimate teen comedy”, served as an important reminder that what we see on the surface isn't always reality. And if it ever got a modern-day update, there's no doubt that Cher and Di would text and Snapchat about everything under the sun, too.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You

At first glance, it seems like 10 Things I Hate About You wouldn’t pass the Bechdel Test; after all, the movie’s entire premise (based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew) hinges upon the fact that Bianca Stratford isn’t allowed to date until her sister, Kat, does. So when Cameron (who likes Bianca) pays Patrick to date Kat, the inevitable ensues: Kat and Patrick fall for each other, despite their seemingly polarizing personalities.

Nevertheless, 10 Things presents plenty of moments between its female characters that aren’t about the guys. Kat and Bianca, despite their separate romantic storylines, have several conversations that reveal who they really are underneath their high school archetypes. And, of course, there’s the “Prada backpack” convo between Bianca and her best friend, Chastity, which introduced us to the word(ish), “whelmed.”

6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

OK, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a brand-new movie; but it’s already a classic in our books, so we have to include it here. At the center of the film is the Covey family, featuring three sisters: Lara Jean, Margot, and Kitty. The Covey sisters are seen together throughout the movie — be it at family dinners, having Golden Girls marathons, or helping each other through crises — and their conversations span a host of different topics. After all, close siblings talk about everything; and while that may include boys, that certainly isn’t the the beginning or end of the list.

7. Titanic

You might be thinking, “Hold up. How does Titanic pass the Bechdel Test?” It’s a valid question, considering that so many of the scenes are between Jack and Rose, and most of Rose’s conversations with her mother are about her impending marriage to Cal. But given that the big event of the film is the actual sinking of the Titanic, there’s honestly a lot of discussion about the water, lifeboats, and the ship itself that happens. To be fair, it’s all going on while you’re wondering why Jack and Rose are going back down to E-deck, so you might have missed it the first time around.

8. Frozen

Given that Frozen is not your typical Disney love story by any means, it makes a ton of sense that it passes the Bechdel Test. After all, where some classic Disney films focus on a “true love’s kiss” (looking at you, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White), Frozen reminded us that the love between sisters is just as important as the romantic variety. Elsa and Anna have plenty of conversations that have nothing to do with Hans or Kristoff, and are more about their own relationship — and Elsa’s icy powers.

9. Pitch Perfect

Like Bring It On, Pitch Perfect’s romantic storylines are secondary; instead, the film presents a team of women facing adversity in the form of an a capella competition. Thus, much of the female characters’ conversations are centered on their performances, with very little room for talking about men. And similarly to other films on this list, Pitch Perfect’s many women are all flawed in their own ways. As the story unfolds, we learn a little more about why the individual characters are the way they are — and we begin to root for all of them, despite opinions we formed at the beginning of the movie.

10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Considering the fact that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants focuses on four tight-knit high school friends, it’s no surprise that it passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. As anyone with a super-close clique knows, friends talk about everything — and while that may include boys for some people, it’s not the entire story. The characters in the Sisterhood franchise (the sequel passes the Bechdel Test, too) are all different from one another, with their own interests and personalities, meaning each friend brings something different to the table. And sometimes the subject of conversation is their friendship itself, which is definitely worth talking about.

11. The Devil Wears Prada

The conversations between Andy, Emily, and Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada almost never mention men. Instead, they talk about coats, Harry Potter, scarves, skirts, dogs, “The Book,” Paris, and a million other things that one might discuss while working at a high-profile fashion magazine like Runway. One of the reasons why The Devil Wears Prada still holds up today is that it offers us characters who aren’t always likable (Andy, Emily, and Miranda all have their shortcomings), but each one has a story arc that humanizes them to the point that the audience understands their actions and behavior. And let’s just say we’ll never be able to wear a blue sweater without thinking of Miranda’s long-winded yet unforgettable explanation of the color “cerulean.” That’s all.

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