Movies That FAIL The Reverse Bechdel Test

Skip to the list of movies that FAIL the reverse Bechdel

Link to my letterboxd list of every movie mentioned in the TikTok comments.

You may have seen my video on the "Reverse Bechdel Test" on tiktok.

The Reverse Bechdel Test is a variation of the original Bechdel Test, which is used to assess gender representation in movies. While the original test focuses on women, the reverse version focuses on men. To pass the Reverse Bechdel Test, a film must have:

1. At least two named male characters,

2. Who talk to each other,

3. About something other than a woman.

If a movie doesn't meet these criteria, it fails the Reverse Bechdel Test, indicating a lack of meaningful male-to-male interactions independent of female characters (which is what we want lol).

Why is the Bechdel test important?

The Bechdel Test is important because it serves as a basic metric for assessing gender representation and equality in films and other media. While not a comprehensive measure, it highlights the frequent absence or underrepresentation of meaningful female roles and interactions. By drawing attention to this imbalance, the test encourages creators to think more critically about their characters and storytelling choices.

Alison Bechdel & Liz Wallace

Alison Bechdel and Liz Wallace are important because they popularized the Bechdel Test, a significant tool for assessing gender representation in films and other media. Originating in Bechdel's 1985 comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For," the test has become a cultural touchstone that highlights the frequent absence or underrepresentation of meaningful female roles and interactions. Beyond the test, Alison Bechdel is a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community and has made notable contributions to queer literature. Their work has been instrumental in advancing conversations about gender equality in storytelling.

Here is Alison's original comic about what is now known as the "Bechdel Test".

Every movie that was suggested in the Tiktok's comments

Movie Name	# of Named Male Characters (on IMDB)	Do the men have any character-building convos with other men (not about women)?	Does it fail the reverse Bechdel Test?
The Women (2008)	0	No	Yes
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire	0	No	Yes
Suspiria	2	No	Yes
Coraline	3
Barbie And The Diamond Castle	3
Everything Everywhere All At Once	4
Bridesmaids	4
Mean Girls	5	No	Yes
The Help	5
Pride & Prejudice (2005)	8
Now And Then	5
Oceans 8	10
Charlie's Angels (2019)	12
Shiva Baby	3
Annihilation	5
Wonder Woman
Gone Girl	7
Mamma Mia!	8
Joy Ride	4
Steel Magnolias	8
The Lobster (2015)
Legally Blonde	6
Ladybird	7
Rocks (2019)

Juno
Maleficent (2014)
Kill Bill
When Harry Met Sally
Cinderella
The Notebook
Tinkerbell
Mad Max Road Fury
Bachelorette (2012)
The Little Mermaid
Kiki's Delivery Service
The Sweetest Thing
The Love Witch
Bride Wars
The Princess Diary
The Devil Wears Prada
Ghostbusters (2016)
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Easy A
Wild Child
The Descent
Beguilded
Ammonite
Madoka Magica
The Trouble With Angels

The Edge of Seventeen
Girl Interrupted
Wall-e
Show Me Love
Season of Love
Thelma & Louise
Inside Out
Gravity
Ashoka
Nancy Drew
Reservoir Dogs
But I'm A Cheerleader
Drive
I Am Mother
The First Wives Club
Volver
Bring It On (2000)
Hustlers (2019)
Watermelon Woman
Salo (1975)
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Fried Green Tomatoes

Perfect Blue
Sucker Punch
The Parent Trap
Beaches
Practical Magic