Passes the Bechdel test
Malcolm X
1992. Directed by Spike Lee, written by Arnold Perl and Spike Lee and Alex Haley.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
3 / 3
Passes
-
Yes
1. At least two women
46 women characters. 12 of them speak. -
Yes
2. Who talk to each other
In 1 scene out of 171. -
Yes
3. About something besides a man
In that scene, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.
Second opinion
Agree bechdeltest.com readers give it 3 out of 3, though someone marked that rating as dubious.
The film
Biograpical epic of Malcolm X, the legendary African American leader. Born Malcolm Little, his father (a Garveyite Baptist minister) was killed. Malcolm became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad. He preaches the teachings when let out of jail, but later on goes on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, there he converts to the original Islamic religion and becomes a Sunni Muslim and changes his name to El-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz. He is assassinated on February 21, 1965.
- Released
- 18 Nov 1992
- Genres
- Biography, Drama, History
- Rated
- PG-13
- IMDb
- 7.7 / 10
- Metascore
- 73 / 100
- Awards
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. 19 wins & 24 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Malcolm 431 lines, man
- Bembry 85 lines, man
- Betty 70 lines, woman
- Archie 61 lines, man
- Shorty 37 lines, man
- Sophia 25 lines, woman
- Voice Of Malcolm X 25 lines, man
- Elijah 15 lines, man
- Brother Earl 14 lines, man
- Sidney 12 lines, man
Full cast, 314 people
- Denzel Washington as Malcolm X
- Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz
- Albert Hall as Baines
- Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad
- Delroy Lindo as West Indian Archie
- Spike Lee as Shorty
- Theresa Randle as Laura
- Kate Vernon as Sophia
- Lonette McKee as Louise Little
- Tommy Hollis as Earl Little
- James McDaniel as Brother Earl
- Ernest Lee Thomas as Sidney
- Jean-Claude La Marre as Benjamin 2X
- O.L. Duke as Pete
- Larry McCoy as Sammy
- Maurice Sneed as Cadillac
- Debi Mazar as Peg
- Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Honey
- Scot Anthony Robinson as Daniel
- Sonny Jim Gaines as Cholly
- Joe Seneca as Toomer
- LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Lorraine
- Wendell Pierce as Ben Thomas
- Michael Guess as William X
- Leland Gantt as Wilbur Kinley
- Giancarlo Esposito as Thomas Hayer
- Leonard L. Thomas as Leon Davis
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Rudy
- Craig Wasson as TV Host
- Graham Brown as Dr. Payson
- Gerica Cox as Eva Marie
- Kristan Rai Segure as Saudi
- Lauren Padick as Lisha
- Danielle Fletcher as Attalah
- Frank Adu as Chuck
- Aleta Mitchell as Sister Robin
- Curt Williams as Mr. Cooper
- John Ottavino as Blades
- John Reidy as Simmons
- Frances Foster as Woman Outside Audubon Ballroom
- Reggie Montgomery as Dick Jones
- David Patrick Kelly as Mr. Ostrowski
- Gary L. Catus as Doctor
- Sharon Washington as Augusta
- Shirley Stoler as Mrs. Swerlin
- Oran "Juice" Jones as Hustler
- Ricky Gordon as Lionel Hampton
- George Lee Miles as Preacher
- Raye Dowell as Sister Evelyn Williams
- Veronica Webb as Sister Lucille Rosary
- Abdul Salaam El Razzac as Fox
- Keith Randolph Smith as Brother Gene
- George Guidall as Mr. Holway
- James L. Swain as Conductor
- Peewee Love as Speedy
- Lawrence James as Tully
- Steve White as Brother Johnson
- K. Smith as Roderick
- Christopher Rubin as Sophia's Husband
- Matthew Harris as Malcolm, 5 Years Old
- Zakee Howze as Young Malcolm
- Cytia Fontenette as Hilda, 3 Years Old
- Marlaine Bass as Hilda, 8 Years Old
- Benjamin Atwell as Philbert, 1 Years Old
- Peter Dunn as Philbert, 6 Years Old
- Dion Smack Jr. as Reginald, 2 Years Old
- Darnell Smith as Elijah Muhammad's Grandson
- TaiNesha Scott as Elijah Muhammad's Granddaughter
- Chelsea Counts as Yvonne, 6 Months Old
- Chela Counts as Yvonne, 6 Months Old
- Natalie Clanton as Yvonne, 1 Year Old
- Jessica Givens as Attalah
- LaToyah Bigelow as Qubillah, 3 Years Old
- Martaleah Jackson as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old
- Tamaraleah Jackson as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old
- Jasmine Smith as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old
- Valentino Smith as Wilfred, 4 Years Old
- David Thomas Jr. as Wilfred, 8 Years Old
- Simon Do-Ley as Son of Elijah Muhammad and Secretary Evelyn Williams
- Bill Goldberg as The 'John'
- Jonathan Peck as Phone Voice (voice)
- Leonard Parker as Jason
- Lennis Washington as Mrs. Johnson
- Dyan Humes as Maid at open air marker
- Lizbeth Mackay as White Woman in market
- Terry Layman as CIA Agent
- Terry Sumter as CIA Agent
- Jasper McGruder as Hotel Clerk
- Mary Alice as School Teacher
- Wyatt Tee Walker as Hospital Spokesperson
- Hazel Medina as Cashier Person
- Wendy E. Taylor as Numbers Woman
- Ed Herlihy as Joe Louis Announcer
- Ralph Cooper Sr. as Radio Announcer
- Christian J. Dacosta as Passerby
- Karen Duffy as Sophia’s Friend
- Walter Jones as Barber's Customer
- Marc Phillips as Photographer
- Showman Uneke as Hustler at Grand Central Station
- Theara Ward as Moviegoer
- Larry M. Cherry as Prison Barber
- Clebert Ford as Barber
- Grafton Trew as Barber
- Rogers Simon as Barber
- George T. Odom as Barber
- Vincent Moscaritola as Prison Guard
- Larry Attile as Guard Baines
- Brendan Kelly as Guard Cone
- John Griesemer as Guard Wilkins
- Fia Porter as Coed
- Billy J. Mitchell as Man #1
- Kent C. Jackman as Man #2
- Beatrice Winde as Elderly Woman
- Fracaswell Hyman as Bartender
- Rion Johnson as Shoeshine Boy
- Charles Weldon as Follower at Temple #7
- Mike Hodge as Follower at Temple #7
- Iris Little Thomas as Follower at Temple #7
- Ilyasah Shabazz as Follower at Temple #7
- Bahni Turpin as Follower at Temple #7
- Aaron Blackshear as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Nilyne Fields as Student in Harlem Classroom
- John David Washington as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Rudi Bascomb as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Muhammad Parks as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Chinere Parry as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Ian Quiles as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Sharmeek Martinez as Student in Harlem Classroom
- Chuck Cooper as Customer
- Damon Chandler as Customer
- Shellye Broughton as Customer
- Nicholas Barnwell as Customer
- Sam Dixon as Customer
- Barbara Smith as Customer
- Rome Neal as Prisoner
- Earl Whitted as Prisoner
- Michael C. Mahon as Prisoner
- Addison Cook as Prisoner
- Byron Utley as Prisoner
- George Rafferty as Prisoner
- Maxwell Sinovoi as Prisoner
- Eric Sharp as Prisoner
- Stewart J. Zully as TV Reporter
- Colleen Cowan as TV Reporter
- Armand Schultz as TV Reporter
- Reade Kelly as TV Reporter
- Janet Zarish as TV Reporter
- Annie Corley as TV Reporter
- Stephen James as TV Reporter
- Steven Randazzo as TV Reporter
- Chris Skutch as TV Reporter
- William Swinton as TV Reporter
- Marcus Naylor as TV Reporter
- Anthony Nocerino as TV Reporter
- Gareth Williams as JFK Reporter
- Stephen Hanan as JFK Reporter
- Richard Schiff as JFK Reporter
- David Berman as JFK Reporter
- Michael Imperioli as Reporter at Fire Bombing
- Steve Stapenhorst as Reporter at Fire Bombing
- Arthur French as Pullman Porter
- Lex Monson as Pullman Porter
- Judd Jones as Pullman Porter
- C.E. Smith as Fountain Waiter
- Erika Smith-Brown as Waitress
- Raymond Anthony Thomas as Crowd Member
- Delilah Picart as Crowd Member
- Michael Ralph as Crowd Member
- Monique Cintron as Hooker
- Jake-Ann Jones as Hooker
- Sharon Ferguson as Hooker / Roseland Dancer
- Amelia Mimi Walker as Hooker
- Neisha Folkes-LeMelle as Hooker
- Karen Michaels as Hooker
- Lenore Pemberton as Hooker
- Elise Neal as Hooker
- Felicia Wilson as Hooker
- Yvette Brooks as Hooker
- Teresa Yvon Farley as Young Hooker
- John Sayles as FBI Agent
- Martin Donovan as FBI Agent
- Jay Charbonneau as Cop at Audubon
- Joe Pentangelo as Mounted Police
- Mike Farley as Mounted Police
- Nick Muglia as Mounted Police
- David Reilly as Mounted Police
- Nicholas Turturro as Boston Cop
- James Murtaugh as Cop at Harlem Station
- William Fichtner as Cop at Harlem Station
- Tim Kelleher as Cop at Harlem Station
- Michael Cullen as Desk Sergeant
- James MacDonald as Lieutenant
- Steve Aronson as Black Legion Leader
- Bill Anagnos as Black Legion Member
- Don Hewitt Sr. as Black Legion Member
- Jery Hewitt as Black Legion Member
- Joe Fitos as KKK Member
- Manny Siverio as KKK Member
- John P. 'Jack' McLaughlin as KKK Member
- Shawn O'Neil as KKK Member
- Andy Duppin as KKK Member
- Elmer Licciardello as KKK Member
- Matthew Underwood as DJ at the Harlem 'Y' Dance
- Renton Kirk as DJ at the Harlem 'Y' Dance
- Tim Hutchinson as Fruit of Islam
- Andre Blair as Fruit of Islam
- Abdul Hakeem Hijrah as Fruit of Islam
- Rony Clanton as Fruit of Islam
- Scott Whitehurst as Malcolm's FOI
- Eric Payne as Malcolm's FOI
- Ali A. Wahhab as Malcolm's FOI
- Terry Hodges as Malcolm's FOI
- Kevan Gibbs as Malcolm's FOI
- Dana S. Hubbard as Malcolm's FOI
- David Reivers as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Robert Jason as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Kevin Rock as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Mansoor Najee-Ullah as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Dion Graham as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Zaahir Muhammad as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Gregory Bargeman as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Lee Summers as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Rich Gordon as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Larry Rushing as Elijah Muhammad's FOI
- Monty Ross as MC - Roseland
- Eddie Davis as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet
- Reggie Pittman as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet
- Patrick Rickman as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet
- Gerald Brazel as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet
- Clack Gaton as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone
- Richard Owens as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone
- Douglas Purviance as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone
- Mark Gross as Lionel Hampton Band - Alto Saxophone
- Cleave Guyton Jr. as Lionel Hampton Band - Alto Saxophone
- Javon Jackson as Lionel Hampton Band - Tenor Saxophone
- Lance Bryant as Lionel Hampton Band - Tenor Saxophone
- Daniel Lemelle as Lionel Hampton Band - Baritone Saxophone
- David Fludd as Lionel Hampton Band - Piano
- Marcus Lauper as Lionel Hampton Band - Bass
- Dwayne Cook Broadnax as Lionel Hampton Band - Drums
- Preston Vismale as Lionel Hampton Band - Music Assistant
- Miki Howard as Billie Holiday Quartet - Billie Holiday
- Terence Blanchard as Billie Holiday Quartet - Trumpet
- Bruce David Barth as Billie Holiday Quartet - Piano
- Rodney Whitaker as Billie Holiday Quartet - Bass
- William E. Kilson as Billie Holiday Quartet - Drums
- Sonny Allen as Roseland Dancer
- Vanessa Benton as Roseland Dancer
- Cheryl Burr as Roseland Dancer
- Leslie Dockery as Roseland Dancer
- Cisco Drayton as Roseland Dancer
- Byron Easley as Roseland Dancer
- John Elejaide as Roseland Dancer
- Debra Elkins as Roseland Dancer
- Gina Ellis as Roseland Dancer
- John Festa as Roseland Dancer
- Robert H. Fowler III as Roseland Dancer
- Ryan Francois as Roseland Dancer
- Phillip Gilmore as Roseland Dancer
- Jauquette Green as Roseland Dancer
- Wendy King as Roseland Dancer
- Jerome Jamal Hardeman as Roseland Dancer
- Dawn Hampton as Roseland Dancer
- Monique Harcum as Roseland Dancer
- Raymond Harris as Roseland Dancer
- Delphine T. Mantz as Roseland Dancer
- Bernard Marsh as Roseland Dancer
- Greta Martin as Roseland Dancer
- Norma Miller as Roseland Dancer
- Frances Morgan as Roseland Dancer
- John Parks as Roseland Dancer
- Greg Poland as Roseland Dancer
- Judine Hawkins Richard as Roseland Dancer
- Eartha Robinson as Roseland Dancer
- Michelle Robinson as Roseland Dancer
- Tracy Robinson as Roseland Dancer
- Ken Leigh Rogers as Roseland Dancer
- Eddie Sanabria as Roseland Dancer
- Eddie Shellman as Roseland Dancer
- Lynn Sterling as Roseland Dancer
- Keith Thomas as Roseland Dancer
- Debbie Williams as Roseland Dancer
- Charles Young as Roseland Dancer
- Anthony Dewitt as Roseland Dancer
- Cynthia Thomas as Shorty's Dance Partner
- Sharon Brooks as Skeleton Crew Dancer
- Laurieann Gibson as Skeleton Crew Dancer
- El Tahara Ibrahim as Skeleton Crew Dancer
- Keith Lewis as Skeleton Crew Dancer
- Dereque Whithurs as Skeleton Crew Dancer
- Kiki Della Vecchia as Teenage Whore
- Bobby Seale as Speaker #1
- Al Sharpton as Speaker #2
- Christopher Plummer as Chaplain Gill
- Karen Allen as Miss Dunne
- Peter Boyle as Captain Green
- William Kunstler as The Judge
- Nelson Mandela as Soweto Teacher
- Ossie Davis as Eulogy Performer (voice)
- Michael Albanese as Harvard Law Student (uncredited)
- Ashanti as Student in Harlem Classroom (uncredited)
- Dan Gifford as Prison Guard (uncredited)
- Mark Gorham as Police Chief's Driver (uncredited)
- Ralph Hughes as FOI Member (uncredited)
- Eddie Kehler as Harlem Cop (uncredited)
- Frankie Manning as Roseland Dancer (uncredited)
- Charles Mitchell as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- Sonya Wallace as Crowd Member (uncredited)
- Joe James as Shooter (voice, uncredited)
- Tracy Chapman as Self (uncredited)
- Bill Cosby as Self (uncredited)
- Janet Jackson as Self (uncredited)
- Magic Johnson as Self (uncredited)
- Michael Jordan as Self (uncredited)
Who talks, scene by scene
Lines of dialogue in every 4 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 6% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.
Women
Men
Scene 1 Scene 171
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 4 | 0 | 17 |
| 5 to 8 | 0 | 15 |
| 9 to 12 | 6 | 14 |
| 13 to 16 | 8 | 14 |
| 17 to 20 | 13 | 19 |
| 21 to 24 | 18 | 8 |
| 25 to 28 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 to 32 | 0 | 23 |
| 33 to 36 | 1 | 55 |
| 37 to 40 | 4 | 28 |
| 41 to 44 | 9 | 42 |
| 45 to 48 | 0 | 4 |
| 49 to 52 | 1 | 10 |
| 53 to 56 | 6 | 45 |
| 57 to 60 | 7 | 28 |
| 61 to 64 | 0 | 5 |
| 65 to 68 | 0 | 84 |
| 69 to 72 | 0 | 33 |
| 73 to 76 | 0 | 34 |
| 77 to 80 | 0 | 25 |
| 81 to 84 | 0 | 13 |
| 85 to 88 | 0 | 35 |
| 89 to 92 | 5 | 10 |
| 93 to 96 | 23 | 31 |
| 97 to 100 | 0 | 10 |
| 101 to 104 | 0 | 7 |
| 105 to 108 | 0 | 30 |
| 109 to 112 | 11 | 11 |
| 113 to 116 | 1 | 21 |
| 117 to 120 | 0 | 12 |
| 121 to 124 | 1 | 17 |
| 125 to 128 | 22 | 30 |
| 129 to 132 | 0 | 16 |
| 133 to 136 | 2 | 17 |
| 137 to 140 | 1 | 5 |
| 141 to 144 | 3 | 13 |
| 145 to 148 | 0 | 7 |
| 149 to 152 | 2 | 7 |
| 153 to 156 | 4 | 11 |
| 157 to 160 | 0 | 0 |
| 161 to 164 | 1 | 2 |
| 165 to 168 | 5 | 23 |
| 169 to 171 | 3 | 16 |
The evidence
- Straight from the script
- Counted from the script and the credits
Tap an exhibit to open it.
Exhibit A: the passing scene
The scene our parser counted as passing, word for word.
PEG: Beacon Hill survey. SOPHIA: We're doing a survey for the Athenaeum Society -- We wondered if you'd permit us to include your collection in the catalog of Great New Engl…
Exhibit B: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 16 are women's.
159 lines from women, 847 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who's in it
46 women and 126 men in the cast. 12 women and 51 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit D: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 38 of 1,067.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 267 lines.
Every line of dialogue, first to last
- First line by a woman
- Longest stretch with no woman speaking
Words spoken
Women speak 12% of the words (1,712), men 88% (12,359). Women have 16% of the lines, so their lines run shorter 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
3
Two men
57
Exhibit F: behind the camera
2 of the 12 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 17% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Spike Lee (man)
- Written by
- Arnold Perl (man), Spike Lee (man), James Baldwin (man)
- Produced by
- Spike Lee (man), Marvin Worth (man)
- Shot by
- Ernest R. Dickerson (man)
- Edited by
- Barry Alexander Brown (man)
- Music by
- Terence Blanchard (man)
- Production design by
- Wynn Thomas (man)
- Costumes by
- Ruth E. Carter (woman)
- Cast by
- Robi Reed (woman)
The crew, department by department
-
Other crew
3 women, 20 men, 4 not listed
-
Art
2 women, 7 men, 14 not listed
-
Camera
0 women, 11 men, 7 not listed
-
Sound
4 women, 10 men, 2 not listed
-
Directing
1 women, 3 men, 5 not listed
-
Production
2 women, 3 men, 2 not listed
-
Costume & Make-Up
1 women, 2 men, 3 not listed
-
Lighting
0 women, 2 men, 4 not listed
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit G: how old the stars were
Women: 33 on average. Men: 44 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Theresa Randle 27, Kate Vernon 31, Angela Bassett 34, Lonette McKee 38
Men
Spike Lee 35, Denzel Washington 37, Tommy Hollis 38, Delroy Lindo 40, Albert Hall 55, Al Freeman Jr. 58
Exhibit H: the money
It made 1.4 times what it cost.
- Budget
- $34 million
- Box office
- $48.2 million
From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 171 scenes and 1,067 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
