Bechdel Test Movie List

Minimal talk between female characters.

"Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion."

It passes the test for that line alone.

Yeah I agree with Lith. For a movie that's pretty much entirely about a disturbed male teenager, it's pretty brilliant that one of the best and funniest lines has absolutely nothing to do with him.

For the record I'd like to say that I disagree with the "dubious" rating. Sure, it doesn't feature very many conversations between female characters, but the "Sparkle Motion" conversation (which is one of the best and funniest parts of the movie, in my opinion, and is the line I most often quote) has pretty much nothing at all to do with a male character.

The parallel universe in which the movie takes place for the most part is created in order to get Donnie to die. While I don't agree with the theories that what happened in the parallel universe was only in Donnie's head, they are still valid. For this reason I would agree that while it passes the test, the circumstances are dubious.

"I would agree that while it passes the test" -- Then why did you click "I disagree with the rating"?

Whether it happens in a parallel universe or in Donnie's mind, it still takes place within the film

Is that the only verbal interaction between women that isnt about men? If so, it doesnt count, unless there is a reply to the statement, "sometimes i doubt your commitment to sparkle motion", because a conversation is verbal communication between two parties, where both parties are actively communicating.

Kitty convinces Rose of leading the dance team, and begrudgingly Rose accepts. I think that this short conversation makes Donnie Darko pass.

I don't understand why this film's test result remains "dubious"; the film obviously passes the test, due to the famous "Sparkle Motion" line, as well as all other conversations between Kitty and Rose, and Kitty and her friends. There are also several lines of dialog exchanged between the therapist and Rose, though his father is also present, so I'm not sure if those particular lines count. However, there is obviously nothing "dubious" about this film's passing the test.

Leaning towards removing the dubious status as well. There's also an exchange between Samantha and Elizabeth:
– If it fell from the plane, then what happened to the plane?
– They don't know, Samantha
– Is there any way we can make money from this? Can't we get on television and sue the airline?

What about the 2 school girls that talk about the school flooding? "there is water and feces everywhere" "what are feces?" "baby mice" "aww!"

It definitely passes the Bechdel test on the Sparkle Motion conversation alone. See transcript:

Kitty: "Now as their coach, I was the obvious choice to chaperone them on the trip--"
Rose: "But now you can't go."
Kitty: "Yes."
Rose: "Mmm."
Kitty: "Now believe me, of all the other mothers, I would never dream of asking you. But none of the other mothers are available to go!"
Rose: "I dunno, Kitty. It's a bad weekend. Eddie's in New York."
Kitty: "ROSE! I don't know if you realize what an opportunity this is for our daughters! This is been a dream of Samantha's and, and all of ours, for a long time! I made her lead dancer! Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!"

I'm surprised nobody has noted the scene at the parent-teacher assembly where they are discussing the vandalism of the school and whether or not the students should be reading the short story "The Destructors." If I remember correctly, the only people active in the argument are three of the (named) female characters.