Passes the Bechdel test

Jay Kelly

Name: Jay Kelly
Released: 2025

2025. Directed by Noah Baumbach, written by Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

Yes 1. At least two women
36 women characters. 29 of them speak.
Yes 2. Who talk to each other
In 1 scene out of 1.
Yes 3. About something besides a man
In that scene, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.

Second opinion

Not rated bechdeltest.com readers haven't rated this film.

The film

Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting his past and present with his devoted manager Ron. Poignant and humor-filled, pitched at the intersection of regrets and glories.

Released: 05 Dec 2025
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
IMDb: 6.5 / 10
Metascore: 67 / 100
Awards: 12 wins & 38 nominations total
Elsewhere: View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

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

Jay 403 lines, man
Ron 269 lines, man
Liz 65 lines, woman
Daisy 55 lines, woman
Jessica 46 lines, woman
Timothy 45 lines, man
Ben 35 lines, man
Jay’S Dad 35 lines, man
Young Jay 33 lines, man
Peter 25 lines, man

Full cast, 97 people

George Clooney as Jay Kelly
Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick
Laura Dern as Liz
Billy Crudup as Timothy
Riley Keough as Jessica Kelly
Grace Edwards as Daisy Kelly
Stacy Keach as Jay's Dad
Jim Broadbent as Peter Schneider
Patrick Wilson as Ben Alcock
Eve Hewson as Daphne
Greta Gerwig as Lois Sukenick
Alba Rohrwacher as Alba
Josh Hamilton as Carter
Lenny Henry as Larry
Emily Mortimer as Candy
Nicôle Lecky as Krista
Thaddea Graham as Meg
Isla Fisher as Melanie Alcock
Stanley Townsend as First Voice (voice)
Erica Sweany as Costume Designer
Kevin Shen as 2nd AD
David Neumann as Sound Recordist
Leila Farzad as 1st AD
Juliet Cowan as Actress
Eleanor Matsuura as Dresser
Lucas Aurelio as Electrician
Tuwaine Barrett as Rain Rigger
Martha West as Set PA
Philip Arditti as Cinematographer
Nigel Whitmey as Stand-in
Kyle Soller as Director
Parker Sawyers as Props
Giovanni Zeqireya as Silvano
Doug Cockle as Nathan
Sadie Sandler as Vivienne Sukenick
Helene Maksoud as Mourner
Dean Wareham as Mourner
Ruthie Rogers as Mourner
Josh Berger as Mourner
Penny Mortimer as Mourner
Christine Crais as College Kid at Bar
Kwabena Peprah as College Kid at Bar
Carlos Jacott as Gordon
Eloise Jacott as Michelle
John Macmillan as Chef
Andreas Muñoz as Chef Mario
Lars Eidinger as German Cyclist
Ferdi Stofmeel as Dutch Cyclist
Rosita Raffaelli as Daisy Lookalike
Antoinette Aaron as French Fan
Philippe Spall as Train Conductor
Nasser Memarzia as Professor
Christophe Guybet as French Businessman
Annabel Mullion as Woman in the Window
Federico Scribani as Fireman
Francesco De Vito as Farm Equipment
Sharon Rooney as Backpacker
Hannah Onslow as Backpacker
Amber Mendez Martin as Backpacker
Janine Duvitski as Sharon
Jamie Demetriou as Clive
Patsy Ferran as Brenda
Pippo Crotti as Priest
Yinka Awoni as Priest
May Nivola as Phoebe
Théo Augier as Guillaume
Alex Jarrett as Rio
Alaïs Lawson as Daisy's Friend
Cassius Hackforth as Daisy's Friend
Emily Piggford as Captain Jenny
Danielle Lewis as Co-Pilot Lourdes
Giovanni Esposito as Antonio
Monica Nappo as Catherina
Galatea Ranzi as Camilla
Fabio Vannozzi as Giovanni
Arianna Becheroni as Isabella
Lucian St Aubyn as Zeke
Marco Conte as Doctor
Donald Sabourin as Brother-in-Law Spike
Matilda Thorpe as Barbara
Charlie Rowe as Young Jay Kelly
Louis Partridge as Young Timothy
Ruby Stokes as Sara
Alastair Coughlan as Actor at Audition
Andrew Malik as Actor at Audition
Joe Hewetson as Actor at Audition
Max Beken as Actor at Audition
Tom Francis as Actor at Audition
Carly-Sophia Davies as Casting Assistant
Debora Weston as Casting Director
Martin McDougall as 1st AD
Kit Rakusen as Eli
Sadie Stallcup as Young Daisy
Noah Baumbach as Director (uncredited)
Phạm Quang Minh as Kak
Matthew Baunsgard as Casting Assistant
Pierre Bergman as Passenger

Who talks, scene by scene

We couldn't read who says what in this film's script, so there's no dialogue chart for it yet.

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.

MEG: They’re waiting for you. LIZ: What happened yesterday?

MEG: After we land tomorrow morning, we can surprise her at the jazz festival. LIZ: What do you mean, they’re giving the tribute to someone else?

LIZ: Well, it should be the greeter. KRISTA: Remember the last time we were in Paris? The Chanel show? It was in silence out of respect for the war. CANDY: I remember Gucci. That was very loud. Maybe it was for peace.

MEG: Flag on the play! We’re catching a train to Italy! LIZ: A train? We’re literally standing next to a plane. KRISTA: Why did we fly to Paris then?

LIZ: That’s the problem, I’m not allowed to be mad at you. MEG: According to Claire, Rio got a chai latte at the Starbucks at Gare de Lyon forty-five minutes ago.