Passes the Bechdel test

Babylon

Name: Babylon
Released: 2022

2022. Directed by Damien Chazelle, written by Damien Chazelle.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

Yes 1. At least two women
36 women characters. 23 of them speak.
Yes 2. Who talk to each other
In 10 scenes out of 142.
Yes 3. About something besides a man
In those scenes, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.

Second opinion

Agree bechdeltest.com readers give it 3 out of 3.

The film

An original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, with an ensemble cast including Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li and Jean Smart. A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

Released: 23 Dec 2022
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
IMDb: 7.1 / 10
Metascore: 61 / 100
Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars. 48 wins & 158 nominations total
Elsewhere: View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

Women
Men
Not in the cast list
Bigger name, more lines

Manny 196 lines, man
Jack 155 lines, man
Nellie 140 lines, woman
Ruth Adler 45 lines, woman
James Mckay 43 lines, man
Elinor St. John 37 lines, woman
Lady Fay Zhu 31 lines, woman
Manny Nellie 27 lines
Irving Thalberg 24 lines, man
Levine 24 lines, man

Full cast, 243 people

Diego Calva as Manny Torres
Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy
Brad Pitt as Jack Conrad
Jovan Adepo as Sidney Palmer
Jean Smart as Elinor St. John
J.C. Currais as Truck Driver
Jimmy Ortega as Elephant Wrangler
Marcos A. Ferraez as Police Officer
Shane Powers as Dale
Phoebe Tonkin as Jane Thornton
Troy Metcalf as Orville Pickwick
Hansford Prince as Joe Holiday
Telvin Griffin as Reggie
Cutty Cuthbert as Jimmy
Albert Hammond Jr. as Guest (Chicken Line)
Flea as Bob Levine
Olivia Wilde as Ina Conrad
Bregje Heinen as Female Guest (Nathalie)
Tal Seder as Male Guest (Wallach's)
Dana Marcolina as Female Guest (Jack Tattoo)
Robert Morgan as Director (Wallach's Party)
Nana Ghana as Woman in Ostrich Feather Hat
E.E. Bell as Wilbur
Joe Dallesandro as Charlie / Photographer (Wallach's Party)
Solomon Shiv as Publicity Executive (Wallach's Party)
Karina Fontes as Jen
Circus-Szalewski as Driver (Wallach's Party)
Lukas Haas as George Munn
Li Jun Li as Lady Fay Zhu
Kaia Gerber as Starlet
Patrick Fugit as Officer Elwood
Eric Roberts as Robert Roy
Cici Lau as Gho Zhu
David Lau as Sam Wong Zhu
Tyler Seiple as Customer at Sam Wong's
Zack Newick as P.A. (Early Kinoscope)
Rory Scovel as The Count
Olivia Hamilton as Ruth Adler
P.J. Byrne as Max (Ruth's Assistant Director)
Alexandre Chen as Ruth's D.P. (James Wong Howe)
Bob Clendenin as Otto's Assistant Director
Miraj Grbić as Extra
Johnny Hoops as Extra
James Wellington as Extra
Carlos Nunez as Tim
Max Minghella as Irving Thalberg
Laura Steinel as Abby (Assistant Jack's Tent)
Danny Jolles as Writer (Jack's Tent)
James Vincent as Employee (Camera Rental House)
Richard Clarke Larsen as A.C. (Camera Rental House)
Samara Weaving as Constance Moore
Jeff Garlin as Don Wallach
Anthony Burkhalter as Reporter (Small Restaurant)
Terry Walters as Editor (Kinoscope)
Trisha Simmons as Woman at Door
Ariel Flores as Young Man
Karolina Szymczak as Olga Putti
Sean O'Bryan as Studio Executive (Billy)
David Ury as Fan (Autograph)
Katia Gomez as Nurse at Sanatorium
Vanessa Bednar as Nellie's Mother
Carson Higgins as Lloyd (Sound Mixer)
Armando Cosio as Grip Harry (1st Day of Sound)
Frederick Koehler as D.P. Bill (1st Day of Sound)
Spencer Morgan as Clapper (1st Day of Sound)
Ric Sarabia as Crew Member (1st Day of Sound)
Jim Allen Jackson as Set Medic (1st Day of Sound)
Katherine Waterston as Estelle
Yissendy Trinidad as Carmelita
Cyrus Hobbi as Footballer
Anton Hedayat as Footballer
Hayley Huntley as Liz (Pool Party)
John Mariano as Master of Ceremonies
Arely Vianet as Spanish Language Actress
Jeremy Roberts as Studio Employee (Sidney's House)
Alex Reznik as Kinoscope Exec
Chloe Fineman as Marion Davies
Pat Skipper as William Randolph Hearst
John Kerry as Jonathan Rothschild
Sarah Ramos as Harriet Rothschild
Jennifer Grant as Mildred Yates
Julian Lefevre as Waiter
Taylor Nichols as Wealthy Man
Bryan Scott Johnson as Wealthy Man
Kelly Meyer as Wealthy Woman
Brenna Power as Wealthy Woman
David Abed as Young Studio Executive
Kevin Symons as Guest at Hearst Bungalow
Jonathan Thomson as Guest at Hearst Bungalow
Jim O'Brien as Guest at Hearst Bungalow
Chris Doubek as Guest at Hearst Bungalow
Dorian Martin as Production Assistant
Todd Giebenhain as Prop Master (Kinoscope)
Mather Zickel as Distribution Executive
Ireland Sexton as Thalberg's Secretary
Andrew Hawtrey as Kinoscope Assistant Director
Mike Fletcher as Guard (Kinoscope)
Jonathan Ohye as New MGM Assistant Director
James Crittenden as Harold
Pete Ploszek as Young Actor (Jack's Beach Set)
Robert Beitzel as Lewis the Director
Ethan Suplee as Wilson
Tobey Maguire as James McKay
Walker Hare as McKay's Associate
Douglas Fruchey as Masked Man
Taylor Hill as Rebecca
Marc Platt as Producer
Noah Reilly as Bellhop
Stephen Thomas as Tourism Official
John Macey as Kyle
Kenajuan Bentley as Conductor (Night Club)
Karen Bethzabe as Silvia Torres
Sophia Magaña as Manny's Daughter
Oscar Balderrama as Guard at Gate
Aurielle Simmons as Ticket Clerk (1952)
Eamon Hunt as Man Shouting in Bad Irish Accent
Jeremy Lappitt as Piccolo
Robert Verdi as Flute
Kenneth Foerch as Oboe
Sean Franz as Oboe
Jonathan Stehney as Bassoon
Andrew Leonard as Clarinet
Richard Dobeck as Clarinet
Alex Budman as Clarinet
Jacob Scesney as Clarinet / Saxophone
Frank Fontaine as Clarinet / Saxophone
Anibal Seminario as Clarinet
Scott Mayo as Saxophone
Dan Kaneyuki as Saxophone
Alex Sadnik as Saxophone
John Mitchell as Saxophone
Gerald Dixon as Saxophone
Rickey D. Woodard as Saxophone
Jonathan James Thompson as Saxophone
Francis C. Edemobi as Saxophone
Larry O. Williams as Saxophone
Aaron Shaw as Saxophone
Micah Wright as Saxophone
Rayner Fernandez as Saxophone
Glen Turner as Saxophone
Roy Wiegand as Trumpet
Bryce Schmidt as Trumpet
Sean Billings as Trumpet
Aaron O. Smith as Trumpet
Justin Gilmore as Trumpet
Johnny Britt as Trumpet
Keith Beyer as Trumpet
Luis Gonzalez as Trumpet
Francisco Torres as Trumpet
Gary Hickman as Tuba
Steve Suminski as Trombone
Wendell Kelly as Trombone
Byron Sleugh as Trombone
Ryan Porter as Trombone
Jeffery Miller as Trombone
Mykail McDade as Trombone
William Roper as Trombone
Philip Keen as Trombone
Erm Navarro as Trombone
Alvin Starks as Trombone
Robert Murray as Tuba
John Polite as Tuba
Errol Rhoden III as Tuba
Kyle Richter as Tuba
Sidney Hopson as Percussion
Ronald Bruner as Percussion
Dramane Kone as Percussion
Lyndon Rochelle as Percussion
Joey de Leon as Percussion
Dayramir Gonzàlez as Percussion
Greg Sadler as Percussion
Michael Naishtut as Taiko Drum
Joseph Small as Taiko Drum
Avery Baylin as Taiko Drum
Jalen Harvey as Steel Drums
Lara Wickes as Theremin
Andrew Lederman as Accordion / Piano
Karen Han as Erhu
Justin Smith as Banjo
Mateo Pollock as Banjo
Hamed Santigui Camara as Banjo
Brandon Owens as Banjo / Guitar
John Fluker as Piano
Jordan Seigel as Piano
Ralph Nader as Piano
Kevin Toney as Piano
Eric Reed as Piano
John Proulx as Piano
Michael Bustamante as Piano
Darrell Alston as Piano
Evan Greer as Guitar
Gregory Poree as Guitar
Joshua Alfaro as Guitar
Brent Tyler as Drum Kit
Ian Wurfl as Drum Kit
Keelan Tobia as Drum Kit
Justin Hargrove as Drum Kit
Greg Webster as Drum Kit
Luis Vadel as Drum Kit
Benjamin Jacobson as Violin
Dean Anderson as Violin
Joel Pargman as Violin
Steve Huber as Violin
Eric Boulanger as Violin
Fernando Arroyo Lascurain as Violin
Lora'nd Lokustza as Violin
Michael Freed as Violin
Robert Miskey as Violin
Robin Olson as Violin
Aaron Oltman as Viola
Christopher Allen as Manny's Assistant
Peter Hatch as Viola
Phillip Triggs as Viola
Rodney Wirtz as Viola
Zach Dellinger as Viola
Benjamin Hoffman as Viola
Benjamin Penzner as Viola
Alex Mansour as Cello
Evgeny Tonkha as Cello
Michael Kaufman as Cello
Steve Velez as Cello
Raymond Newell as Cello
Del Atkins as Bass
Edwin Livingston as Bass
Miguel Norwood as Bass
Frank Abraham as Bass
Richard Simon as Bass
Marlon Martinez as Bass
Spike Jonze as Otto (uncredited)
Lewis Tan as Smoking Man (uncredited)
Manny Liotta as Sneezing PA (uncredited)
Freya Parker as Naked Dancer (uncredited)
Anna Chazelle as Bobbie Hart (uncredited)
Mike Manning as New York Fan (uncredited)
Anna Dahl as Ava (uncredited)
Jennifer Mariela Bermeo as Dancer (uncredited)
Azizi Donnelly as Beauty (uncredited)
Masha Ko as Striptease Performer (uncredited)
Ana Bergman as Beauty (uncredited)
Edwin Taylor as Man with Tattoos (uncredited)
Kevin Kaouthomn as Orchestra Cello Player / MGM Crew (uncredited)
Erin Everheart as Naked Dancer (uncredited)
William Maizel as Party Guest (uncredited)

Who talks, scene by scene

Lines of dialogue in every 3 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 10% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.

Women

Men

Scene 1 Scene 142

Hover, tap or tab to a bar to see those scenes: where they happen and who's talking.

Show the numbers

Scenes	Women's lines	Men's lines
1 to 3	0	21
4 to 6	0	23
7 to 9	20	31
10 to 12	0	9
13 to 15	4	22
16 to 18	18	32
19 to 21	5	7
22 to 24	0	20
25 to 27	4	3
28 to 30	3	7
31 to 33	5	27
34 to 36	1	15
37 to 39	3	13
40 to 42	5	3
43 to 45	19	10
46 to 48	0	5
49 to 51	4	1
52 to 54	6	1
55 to 57	4	0
58 to 60	4	31
61 to 63	0	3
64 to 66	7	12
67 to 69	17	12
70 to 72	6	8
73 to 75	13	26
76 to 78	17	11
79 to 81	48	37
82 to 84	0	28
85 to 87	1	9
88 to 90	2	3
91 to 93	0	3
94 to 96	5	18
97 to 99	30	32
100 to 102	2	13
103 to 105	0	13
106 to 108	0	14
109 to 111	0	4
112 to 114	20	21
115 to 117	2	35
118 to 120	0	79
121 to 123	0	28
124 to 126	15	24
127 to 129	9	10
130 to 132	1	10
133 to 135	0	2
136 to 138	1	0
139 to 141	2	18
142 to 142	0	2

The evidence

Straight from the script
Counted from the script and the credits

Tap an exhibit to open it.

Exhibit A: the passing scenes

The scene our parser counted as passing, word for word.

LADY FAY ZHU: ...Ok, sweetie. NELLIE: I love this song!!!

GHO ZHU: Liu. We could use your help. LADY FAY ZHU: Coming, Mom.

RUTH ADLER: Ok, good... And -- action Ms. Moore! CONSTANCE MOORE: Goodness, what is going on here?? RUTH ADLER MAX: Ok, glycerine. Um... We seem to be out. RUTH ADLER MAX: What? We haven’t used any! Porky thought it was lube...

RUTH ADLER: Cut! RUTH ADLER: I wanna try something. Do you think you could hold two beats for the tears gushing? Eyes water for two, then on the third beat I’m gonna do … NELLIE: Water for two, gush on three. Gotcha.

RUTH ADLER: Cut!! Print! Now this is nuts, forgive the ask -- but could you by any chance try the same thing...with less tears? NELLIE: Sure. Ya want one tear or two?

Exhibit B: every 100 lines

Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 29 are women's.

303 lines from women, 756 from men.

Women
Men

Exhibit C: who's in it

36 women and 80 men in the cast. 23 women and 99 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

Women
Men

Exhibit D: who gets heard

The first woman speaks at line 55 of 1,174. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 127 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

First line by a woman
Longest stretch with no woman speaking

Words spoken

Women speak 30% of the words (3,738), men 70% (8,710). Women have 29% of the lines, so their lines run longer than men's.

Exhibit E: the test the other way

Two named men talk to each other about something besides a woman. It passes the reverse test.

Conversations between two named characters

Two women

Two men

Exhibit F: behind the camera

4 of the 11 people in these jobs are women. Across the whole crew, 33% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by: Damien Chazelle (man)
Written by: Damien Chazelle (man)
Produced by: Marc Platt (man), Olivia Hamilton (woman), Matthew Plouffe (man)
Shot by: Linus Sandgren (man)
Edited by: Tom Cross (man)
Music by: Justin Hurwitz (man)
Production design by: Florencia Martin (woman)
Costumes by: Mary Zophres (woman)
Cast by: Francine Maisler (woman)