Bechdel Test Movie List

This is contingent on whether or not you think "Mrs. Stacy" counts as being named. Her name is Helen, but I don't think that she's actually named in the film except by her relation to Gwen. Though, Gwen's father, who has a much larger role in the film, is also only referred to as Captain Stacy.

Mrs. Stacy interrupts Gwen and Peter on the roof to tell Gwen that her father wants to talk to her. Otherwise, the film still passes the first test, including Gwen Stacy, Aunt May, and Mary Parker.

I believe it DOES pass the third test, considering that other than the family dialog between the Stacys, there's also dialog between Mary Parker and Aunt May, and although it mentions Peter and his father at times, it's not 100% related to them.

When does that dialogue occur, Rodrigo? Because the only dialogue that I remember at all between Mary Parker and Aunt May was (a) about Peter and (b) not even specifically to Aunt May but also to Uncle Ben. Plus, Aunt May didn't reply, so that doesn't count as a conversation. Peter does watch his parents, aunt, and uncle discuss something beforehand, but it's in the background and completely silent to the audience, so there's no telling who's talking to who or about what.

Movies that are told through the point of view of a male character are almost never going to pass. This movie only had a few lines that were not directly witnessed by Peter, and in many movies like this, the titular character is present for ALL of the dialogue. I kind of think that movies where the main character is always present should be exempt, because it wouldn't make sense for two women to have a conversation while he's standing right there.

That doesn't sound legit. The male main characters witness conversations between males all the time, not just ones that he takes part in. There needs to be more female representation in general.

Surely, also, if the main character participates in a conversation where two women speak to one another, it would still count? Also, I thought George Stacy named his wife when he complimented her cooking.

@a sapient racoon very nice point that should be put up onto the main page.

Sapient Racoon, excuses are excuses and nothing more. The Bechdel test isn't a measure of goodness, badness, responsibility, or feminist-satisfaction. It is what it is: A measure of two women talking about not-men.

Although she is not necessarily speaking with another female, Gwen seems to talk as much about science as she does romance/Spider-Man, if not more. Although there is no connection between this film and the previous Spider-Man movies, unlike Mary-Jane Watson, Gwen Stacey is rarely depicted as the "damsel in distress" and when she is, rescuing her is not the focus of the plot. My apologies if this fits better as a review.

I am unsure what sapient racoomn means by being exempt from the rating - does this mean they shouldnt be judged at all - or automatically fail? I think that any movie with a male point of view should automatically fail to pass the test, not be exempt from it. Thsi may be what sapient meant but it was unclear.

This movie barely passes the first test. Sapient has completely missed the point of the test. Why does a film with a male central protagonist automatically need to fail? The test is about how so many movies unconsciously ignore women and their views by not having well-drawn female characters. There are a million ways to tell a story: if you choose a way which removes realistic female characters from your story, you should be asking yourself, "why?"

This movie barely passes the first test. Sapient has completely missed the point of the test. Why does a film with a male central protagonist automatically need to fail? The test is about how so many movies unconsciously ignore women and their views by not having well-drawn female characters. There are a million ways to tell a story: if you choose a way which removes realistic female characters from your story, you should be asking yourself, "why?"

Re: Idiomatic

A male character can participate in the conversation, but the subject must be about something other than related to a man, including himself.

Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy, and Peter have just one conversation about differential calculus, or some other subject to study, where Peter doesn't space out and cause one of the girls to ask how he's doing (bringing the conversation to him), then it would pass.

I disagree that the movie barely passes the first test. Gwen Stacy and May Parker are named female characters in the film.
I also disagree with a sapient racoon. A film from the POV of any character doesn't have to that character be part of every conversation, just because he / she are in it. Especially with Spider-Man where as a scientist he's used to sitting back observing and he could easily cling to a wall outside a window and eaves drop.

I'd say this passes all three only because I'd consider talking about a child different then talking about a man.