Passes the Bechdel test

Man on the Moon

Name: Man on the Moon
Released: 1999

1999. Directed by Miloš Forman, written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

Yes 1. At least two women
51 women characters. 13 of them speak.
Yes 2. Who talk to each other
In 1 scene out of 174.
Yes 3. About something besides a man
In that scene, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.

Second opinion

Disagree bechdeltest.com readers give it 1 out of 3.

The film

A biographical film on the late comedian Andy Kaufman. Kaufman, along with his role on Taxi (1978), was famous for being the self-declared Intergender Wrestling Champion of the world. After beating women time and time again, Jerry Lawler (who plays himself in the movie), a professional wrestler, got tired of seeing all of this and decided to challenge Kaufman to a match. In most of the matches the two had, Lawler prevailed with the piledriver, which is a move by spiking an opponent head-first into the mat. One of the most famous moments in this feud was in the early 80s when Kaufman threw coffee on Lawler on [error], got into fisticuffs with Lawler, and proceeded to sue NBC.

Released: 22 Dec 1999
Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Rated: R
IMDb: 7.4 / 10
Metascore: 58 / 100
Awards: 5 wins & 25 nominations total
Elsewhere: View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

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

Andy 319 lines, man
George 125 lines, man
Tony Clifton 50 lines, man
Zmuda 44 lines, man
Lynne 43 lines, woman
Ed 23 lines
Stanley 22 lines, man
Maynard 16 lines, man
Janice 14 lines, woman
Yogi 13 lines, man

Full cast, 233 people

Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman / Tony Clifton
Danny DeVito as George Shapiro
Courtney Love as Lynne Margulies
Paul Giamatti as Bob Zmuda
Vincent Schiavelli as Maynard Smith
Peter Bonerz as Ed Weinberger
Jerry Lawler as Himself
Gerry Becker as Stanley Kaufman
Leslie Lyles as Janice Kaufman
Greyson Erik Pendry as Little Michael Kaufman
Brittany Colonna as Baby Carol Kaufman
Bobby Boriello as Little Andy Kaufman
George Shapiro as Mr. Besserman
Budd Friedman as Himself
Tom Dreesen as Wiseass Comic
Thomas Armbruster as Improv Piano Player
Pamela Abdy as Diane Barnett
Wendy Polland as Little Wendy
Cash Oshman as Yogi
Matt Price as Meditation Student
Christina Cabot as Meditation Student
Richard Belzer as Richard Belzer
Melanie Vesey as Carol Kaufman
Michael Kelly as Michael Kaufman
Miles Chapin as SNL Assistant
Isadore Rosenfeld as NBC Executive
Molly Schaffer as Maynard Smith's Assistant
Howard West as ABC Executive
Greg Travis as ABC Executive
Maureen Mueller as ABC Executive
Philip Perlman as Mama Rivoli's Angry Guy
Jessica Devlin as Mama Rivoli's Diner
Jeff Thomas as Andy's Stand-In
Randall Carver as Himself
Howard Keystone as Taxi Marching Man
Howdy Doody as Himself
Brent Briscoe as Heavyset Technician
Ray Bokhour as Blue Collar Guy
Patton Oswalt as Blue Collar Guy
Caroline Gibson as Sorority Girl
Conrad Roberts as College Promoter
Jeff Zabel as College Student
Marilyn Sokol as Madame
Angela Jones as Hooker
Krystina Carson as Hooker
Gerry Robert Byrne as Taxi AD / Stage Manager
Mark Davenport as LA Times Reporter
Bert F. Balsam as Taxi Security Guard
Lonnie Hamilton as Taxi Security Guard
Ron Sanchez as Taxi Security Guard
Billy D. Lucas as Taxi Security Guard
Patricia Scanlon as Ed Weinberger's Secretary
Max Alexander as Harrah's Booker
Ed Mitchell as Harrah's Conductor
Reiko Aylesworth as Mimi
Michael Villani as Merv Griffin
Maria Elena Maglaris as Irate Merv Spectator
Heath Hyche as Merv's Guest Coordinator
Robert Holeman as Boxing Trainer
Jim Ross as Wrestling Commentator
Tamara Bossett as Foxy Jackson
Gene LeBell as Foxy Jackson Referee
Bob Zmuda as Jack Burns
Brian Peck as Friday's Announcer
Caroline Rhea as Friday's Melanie
Mary Lynn Rajskub as Friday's Mary
Philip Lenkowsky as Friday's Tech Director
Rob Steiner as Friday's Control Booth Director
Claudia Jaffee as Friday's Floor Director
Armando Guerrero as Jerry Lawler Referee
Lance Russell as Ring Announcer
Stephen Sayadian as Stadium Photographer
K.P. Palmer as Memphis Paramedic
Mark Majetti as Memphis Paramedic
Deana Molle' as Memphis Paramedic
Mews Small as TM Administrator
David Elliott as TM Administrator
Fredd Wayne as Bland Doctor
Tracey Walter as National Enquirer Editor
David Koechner as National Enquirer Reporter
Jeanine Jackson as National Enquirer Reporter
Johnny Legend as Wild-Haired Guru
Doris Eaton as Eleanor Gould
Gregg Sutton as Carnegie Hall Conductor
Sydney Lassick as Crystal Healer
Yoshi Jenkins as Jun Roxas
Lance Alarcon as Comedy Store Patron
D.J. Johnson as Comedy Store Waiter
Melissa Carrey as Comedy Store Waitress
Doug Ford as Tony Clifton Biker
Bill Reid as Tony Clifton Biker
Chuck Zito as Tony Clifton Biker
Danielle Burgio as New York City Rockette
Linda Cevallos as New York City Rockette
Betsy Chang as New York City Rockette
Jennifer Chavarria as New York City Rockette
Shirry Dolgin as New York City Rockette
Lisa Eaton as New York City Rockette
Melanie A. Gage as New York City Rockette
Catherine Hader as New York City Rockette
Betsy Harris as New York City Rockette
Kelly Jones Gabriele as New York City Rockette
Tricia Lilly as New York City Rockette
Karen Martin as New York City Rockette
Tabbatha Mays as New York City Rockette
Katie Miller as New York City Rockette
Jessica Moore as New York City Rockette
Tara Nicole Hughes as New York City Rockette
Mia Pitts as New York City Rockette
Kelleia Sheerin as New York City Rockette
Alison Simpson as New York City Rockette
Melinda Songer as New York City Rockette
Michon Suyama as New York City Rockette
Michelle E. Swanson as New York City Rockette
Natalie Webb as New York City Rockette
Jacqueline Case as Tony Clifton Dancer
Karen Blake Challman as Tony Clifton Dancer
Teresa Chapman as Tony Clifton Dancer
Kelly Cooper as Tony Clifton Dancer
Penny Fisher as Tony Clifton Dancer
Eva Jeníčková as Tony Clifton Dancer
Lindsay Lopez as Tony Clifton Dancer
Natalie Mills as Tony Clifton Dancer
April Nixon as Tony Clifton Dancer
Tiffany Olson as Tony Clifton Dancer
Kathryn Rossberg as Tony Clifton Dancer
Karissa Seaman as Tony Clifton Dancer
Lea Sullivan as Tony Clifton Dancer
Amy Tinkham as Tony Clifton Dancer
Kristin Richardson as Tony Clifton Dancer
Thomas Barney as SNL Band
Lewis Del Gatto as SNL Band
Alex Foster as SNL Band
Earl Gardner as SNL Band
Lukasz Gottwald as SNL Band
Cheryl Hardwick as SNL Band
Valerie Naranjo as SNL Band
Shawn Pelton as SNL Band
Leon Pendarvis as SNL Band
Lenny Pickett as SNL Band
Steve Turre as SNL Band
Frank DeVito as Mama Rivoli's Band
Tony Galla as Mama Rivoli's Band
Frank Marocco as Mama Rivoli's Band
Pat Senatore as Mama Rivoli's Band
Anton Fig as Letterman Band
Will Lee as Letterman Band
Sid McGinnis as Letterman Band
Bob Emmet as Comedy Store Band
Michael Lufkin as Comedy Store Band
James McCarty as Comedy Store Band
David Thomasson as Comedy Store Band / Harrah's Band
Thomas Verdonck as Comedy Store Band
Hal Blaine as Harrah's Band
Charlie Brissette as Harrah's Band
Evan Diner as Harrah's Band
Tim Divers as Harrah's Band
Phillip Feather as Harrah's Band
Alex Iles as Harrah's Band
James Lum as Harrah's Band
Norman Henry Mamey as Harrah's Band
John Mitchell as Harrah's Band
Robert O'Donnell as Harrah's Band
Greg Prechel as Harrah's Band
James Sawyer as Harrah's Band
Steven D. Williams as Harrah's Band
John Yoakum as Harrah's Band
Jordan Jay Adams as Man (uncredited)
Job Alonso as Reporter (uncredited)
David Aronson as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Scott Baldyga as Audience Member (uncredited)
Judy Ben-Asher as Day Player (uncredited)
Greg Beville as Wrestling Fan (uncredited)
Jani Blom as Crazy Fan (uncredited)
Robert M. Bouffard as Photographer (uncredited)
Greg Bronson as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Edita Brychta as Pig-Tailed Wrestler (uncredited)
Josh Caldwell as Comedy Store Patron (uncredited)
Christine Cameron as Sarah (uncredited)
Tim Carr as Audience Member (uncredited)
Stacy Carter as Lawler's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Angela Theresa Collins as Angry Woman (uncredited)
Jeff Conaway as Self (uncredited)
Stephanie D'Abruzzo as New York City Rockette / Tony Clifton Dancer (uncredited)
Brian Durkin as Friday's Audience Member (uncredited)
Kenneth David Ebling as Arizona Student (uncredited)
Shari Emami as Andy Kaufman Fan (uncredited)
Christina Engelhardt as Woman (uncredited)
Roger Ferreira as Moviegoer (uncredited)
Leon David Franco as Improv Heckler (uncredited)
Shannon Frank as Jerry's Deli Patron (uncredited)
Brian Habicht as Taxi Crew Member (uncredited)
Lisa Haley as Musician (uncredited)
Rich Hall as Club Patron (uncredited)
Marilu Henner as Self (uncredited)
Jeff Hill as Man (uncredited)
Judd Hirsch as Self (uncredited)
Jeffrey M. Hoffman as TV Cameraman (uncredited)
Chris Humphrey as Stadium Usher (uncredited)
James Hunter as Wrestling Fan (uncredited)
Davey Rockit Hynes as Smoking Improv Patron (uncredited)
Carol Kane as Self (uncredited)
Angella Kaye as Tony Clifton Dancer (uncredited)
Howard Kremer as Man (uncredited)
David Letterman as Self (uncredited)
Christopher Lloyd as Self (uncredited)
Norm Macdonald as Friday's Michael (uncredited)
Tiger Mendez as Harrah's Audience Heckler (uncredited)
Lorne Michaels as Self (uncredited)
Catherine Mary Moroney as Concert Guest (uncredited)
Bill Normyle as Mustang Ranch Clerk (uncredited)
Johan-Carl Nowack as Heckler (uncredited)
Kate O'Neill as Waitress (uncredited)
Rook Overman as Frat Boy (uncredited)
Bob Pepper as Pool Player (uncredited)
Christie Pesicka as Comedy Store Patron (uncredited)
Lance Polland as Man (uncredited)
J.A. Popovec as Audience Member (uncredited)
Aaron Rosenberg as Patron (uncredited)
Cheryl Rusa as Wrestler (uncredited)
Paul Shaffer as Letterman Band (uncredited)
Paul Sinacore as Comedy Store Patron (uncredited)
Jackie Smason as Italian Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Brian Smyj as Letterman Security (uncredited)
Claude Stuart as Comedy Store Patron (uncredited)
J. Alan Thomas as Self (uncredited)
Tony Verley as Man (uncredited)
Jodi White as Audience Member (uncredited)
Nicholas Wilder as Waiter (uncredited)
Allen Woodman as Davis (Reporter) (uncredited)
Yaping as Clinic Receptionist (uncredited)
Howard Yearwood as Carnegie Hall Band Member (uncredited)
Rachel Zients as Waitress at Improv (uncredited)

Who talks, scene by scene

Lines of dialogue in every 4 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 174

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	1	6
5 to 8	2	13
9 to 12	0	20
13 to 16	0	30
17 to 20	6	26
21 to 24	0	2
25 to 28	1	64
29 to 32	0	15
33 to 36	0	0
37 to 40	0	26
41 to 44	7	25
45 to 48	1	14
49 to 52	0	11
53 to 56	0	17
57 to 60	4	9
61 to 64	0	13
65 to 68	2	15
69 to 72	0	15
73 to 76	0	13
77 to 80	1	21
81 to 84	3	14
85 to 88	6	10
89 to 92	12	26
93 to 96	3	13
97 to 100	4	4
101 to 104	4	12
105 to 108	4	9
109 to 112	1	7
113 to 116	5	17
117 to 120	4	11
121 to 124	0	35
125 to 128	0	14
129 to 132	4	19
133 to 136	0	14
137 to 140	0	23
141 to 144	8	19
145 to 148	6	8
149 to 152	0	26
153 to 156	0	10
157 to 160	0	8
161 to 164	0	5
165 to 168	5	20
169 to 172	1	4
173 to 174	0	10

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.

MARY: "Gee, restaurants are amazing, aren't they? All these strangers sitting around... stuffing dead animals in their faces! It's just incredible… MELANIE: "If you say so."

Exhibit B: every 100 lines

Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 12 are women's.

95 lines from women, 693 from men.

Women
Men

Exhibit C: who's in it

51 women and 78 men in the cast. 13 women and 29 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

Women
Men

Exhibit D: who gets heard

The first woman speaks at line 7 of 872. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 68 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

First line by a woman
Longest stretch with no woman speaking

Words spoken

Women speak 7% of the words (728), men 93% (9,106). Women have 12% 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

Two men

Exhibit F: behind the camera

4 of the 17 people in these jobs are women. Across the whole crew, 37% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by: Miloš Forman (man)
Written by: Scott Alexander (man), Larry Karaszewski (man)
Produced by: Danny DeVito (man), Stacey Sher (woman), Michael Shamberg (man)
Shot by: Anastas N. Michos (man)
Edited by: Adam Boome (man), Christopher Tellefsen (man), Lynzee Klingman (woman)
Music by: Michael Stipe (man), Bill Berry (man), Peter Buck (man), Mike Mills (man)
Production design by: Patrizia von Brandenstein (woman)
Costumes by: Jeffrey Kurland (man)
Cast by: Francine Maisler (woman)