Passes the Bechdel test
Rocketman
2019. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, written by Lee Hall.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
3 / 3
Passes
-
Yes
1. At least two women
30 women characters. 4 of them speak. -
Yes
2. Who talk to each other
In 1 scene out of 167. -
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
A deep insight into the career and life of one of the biggest music superstars of all time. Along the way, outside of his career, a look into the difficulties and troubles that he faced with his bad and mean family and the people who he thought were his friends.
- Released
- 31 May 2019
- Genres
- Biography, Drama, Music
- Rated
- R
- IMDb
- 7.3 / 10
- Metascore
- 69 / 100
- Awards
- Won 1 Oscar. 25 wins & 88 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Elton 268 lines, man
- Bernie 68 lines, man
- Reggie 68 lines, man
- John Reid 58 lines, man
- Sheila 50 lines, woman
- Stanley 24 lines, man
- Linda 20 lines
- Hugh 19 lines, man
- Fred 15 lines, man
- Ray 15 lines, man
Full cast, 186 people
- Taron Egerton as Elton John
- Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin
- Richard Madden as John Reid
- Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila
- Gemma Jones as Ivy
- Steven Mackintosh as Stanley
- Tom Bennett as Fred
- Matthew Illesley as Young Reggie
- Kit Connor as Older Reggie
- Charlie Rowe as Ray Williams
- Peter O'Hanlon as Bobby
- Ross Farrelly as Cyril
- Evan Walsh as Elton Dean
- Tate Donovan as Doug Weston
- Sharmina Harrower as Heather
- Ophelia Lovibond as Arabella
- Celinde Schoenmaker as Renate
- Harriet Walter as Helen Piena
- Stephen Graham as Dick James
- Sharon D. Clarke as AA Counsellor
- Aston McAuley as Dave Godin
- Jason Pennycooke as Wilson
- Alexia Khadime as Diana
- Carl Spencer as Richard
- Jimmy Vee as Arthur
- Leon Delroy Williams as Clint
- David Doyle as Pub Man 1
- Leigh Francis as Pete
- Dickon Tolson as Barman
- Diana Alexandra Pocol as Mary the Receptionist
- Eddie Mann as Band Member
- Josh McClorey as New Bluesology Band Member
- Rachel Muldoon as Kiki Dee
- Benjamin Mason as Bryan
- Guillermo Bedward as Geoff
- Max Mackintosh as Stephen
- Micah Holmes as LA Transgender Maid
- Charles Armstrong as Mr. Anderson
- Barbara Drennan as Mrs. Anderson
- Jake Shears as MC Drag Queen
- Graham Fletcher-Cook as Maître D'
- Sian Crisp as Waitress
- Dale Monie as 1st Hanger-On
- Alex James-Phelps as Young Guy
- Fabian Sgoluppi as Kid
- Alison Ball as LA Party Girl
- Danielle Scott as LA Party Girl
- Leon Cooke as Hugh / Dancer
- Juozas Statkevičius as Parkland Patient
- Benjamin Lok as Parkland Patient
- Dempsey Bovell as Parkland Patient
- Max Croes as Parkland Patient
- Natalie Adams as Parkland Patient
- Pete McCabe as Parkland Patient
- Rebecca Davis as Parkland Patient
- Titilayo Abiola as Parkland Patient
- Ross Dawes as Parkland Patient
- Alexa Povah as Parkland Patient
- Mark Atkin as Pub Man 2
- Stevee Davies as Minion
- Nia Towle as Sushi Girl
- Lee Bridgman as Steve
- Rob Callender as Rory
- Demetri Goritsas as Carter
- James Bennett as Dancer
- Stephan Lee Benson as Dancer
- Ava Brennan as Dancer
- Myles Brown as Dancer
- Sophie Carmen-Jones as Dancer
- Nikkita Chadha as Dancer
- Navala Chaudhari as Dancer
- Tom Clark as Dancer
- Zoe Reeve as Dancer
- Miles Coote as Dancer
- Jack Dargen as Dancer
- Michael Downing as Dancer
- Jo Dyce as Dancer
- Mark Ellison as Dancer
- Michael J. Fellows as Dancer
- Rebecca Fennelly as Dancer
- Ross Finnie as Dancer
- Ashley Franklin as Dancer
- Fraser Fraser as Dancer
- Lucia Marin Gonzalez as Dancer
- Martina Gumbs as Dancer
- Jared Martyn-Hageman as Dancer
- Pip Hersee as Dancer
- Connor Hill as Dancer
- Thomas Inge as Dancer
- Sarah Haruko Iwaskow as Dancer
- Luke Jackson as Dancer
- Christopher Jeffers as Dancer
- Hayley Jones as Dancer
- Jamie Karitzis as Dancer
- Emily Kuhl as Dancer
- Wade Lewin as Dancer
- Neeve Martin as Dancer
- Thomas Charles Torrance Mather as Dancer
- Fiona McDonald as Dancer
- Liam Marcinello as Dancer
- Alicia Mencia as Dancer
- Oliver Metzler as Dancer
- Ramzan Miah as Dancer
- Jake Moyle as Dancer
- Ed Munro as Dancer
- Sam Murphy as Dancer
- Myles Newland as Dancer
- Callum Powell as Dancer
- Aishwarya Raut as Dancer
- Lauren-Kate Seymour as Dancer
- Phil Snowden as Dancer
- Nadia Sohawon as Dancer
- Sam Stanley as Dancer
- Amira Stevens as Dancer
- Tristan Temple as Dancer
- Alex Thomas as Dancer
- Grant Thresh as Dancer
- Matt Turner as Dancer
- Megan Westpfel as Dancer
- Josh Weston as Dancer
- Layton Williams as Dancer
- Luke Woolaston as Dancer
- Tom Woolaston as Dancer
- Alexandra Worrall as Dancer
- Luke Wright as Dancer
- Zeng Yixin as Dancer
- Emily Yuen as Dancer
- Ziad Abaza as Hospital Nurse (uncredited)
- Christina Andrew as Dodger Girl (uncredited)
- Lasco Atkins as Extended Family (uncredited)
- Jamie Bacon as Cool Dude (uncredited)
- Anna Benamati as Elton John's House Manager (uncredited)
- Carlos Borrás as Dancer (uncredited)
- Dan Burns as Dancer (uncredited)
- Peter Cerlienco as Dee Murray (uncredited)
- Eric Coco as Bodybuilder (uncredited)
- David Cradduck as Newspaper Seller (uncredited)
- Marco De Marlo as Dancer (uncredited)
- Michele Donockley as Gig Goer (uncredited)
- Dani Dupont as Air Stewardess (uncredited)
- Healthy Emmie as Fan (uncredited)
- Amor Evans as Fashion Journalist (uncredited)
- Viktorija Faith as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Delia Florea as Dancer (uncredited)
- Jack French as Drug Dealer (uncredited)
- Inna Georgia as Bernie Taupin Girlfriend (uncredited)
- Michel Alexandre Gonzalez as Busboy (uncredited)
- Mark Gooden as Fairground Guest (uncredited)
- Nicholle Hembra as Teddy Girl (uncredited)
- Theo Ip as 80's New Yorker / Londoner (uncredited)
- Nick Kellington as Elton's Stagehand (uncredited)
- Adnan Kundi as Gig Punter / Hollywood Bowl Crowd (uncredited)
- Kamil Lemieszewski as Dr. Maverick / Paramedic (uncredited)
- Xiao Xue Xu Lin as Party Goer (uncredited)
- Francesco Lucidi as Nigel Olsson (uncredited)
- Ketan Majmudar as Dodgers Stadium Attendee (uncredited)
- Giles Martin as Music Producer (uncredited)
- Ida May as Party Girl (uncredited)
- Elizabeth McCafferty as Ray Williams' Girlfriend (uncredited)
- Solomon Mousley as Sonny (uncredited)
- Adrian Mozzi as Elton John's Guest (uncredited)
- Laura Obiols as Elton John's Guest (uncredited)
- Tom Ogg as George - John Reid's Boyfriend (uncredited)
- Rory Okey as LA Drug Dealer (uncredited)
- Richard Price as Pinner Resident / Concert Attendee (uncredited)
- Jess Radomska as Teddy Girl 1 (uncredited)
- Eddie Register as Burly Guy (uncredited)
- Kemal Shah as Doorman (uncredited)
- Charlotte Sharland as Ice Cream Girl (Pinner) (uncredited)
- Sarah Sharman as Backing Singer (uncredited)
- Mariela Silva as Dancer (uncredited)
- Amanda Smith as Punter's Wife (uncredited)
- Robert Smith as Fan At Concert (uncredited)
- Tanisha Spring as Sylvi (uncredited)
- Alisha Tarran as Elton Fangirl (uncredited)
- Emily Tebbutt as Tiller Girl (uncredited)
- Dave Thompson as Elton's Stage Manager (uncredited)
- Peter Trevor as Singing Flash Restaurant Customer (uncredited)
- Lochlan White as Dancer - Pinner Child (uncredited)
- Luke White as Bouncer (uncredited)
- Riley White as Dancer - Pinner Child (uncredited)
- Sara Wilkins as Passerby (uncredited)
- Samuel Williams as Drag Queen (uncredited)
- Charlie Bentley as Parkland Patient (uncredited)
- Bethany Harrison as Dancer
- Karl Farrer as Fine Restaurant Diner (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 167
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 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 to 8 | 5 | 4 |
| 9 to 12 | 1 | 11 |
| 13 to 16 | 2 | 4 |
| 17 to 20 | 1 | 3 |
| 21 to 24 | 9 | 7 |
| 25 to 28 | 4 | 14 |
| 29 to 32 | 2 | 6 |
| 33 to 36 | 0 | 13 |
| 37 to 40 | 1 | 13 |
| 41 to 44 | 4 | 4 |
| 45 to 48 | 3 | 45 |
| 49 to 52 | 0 | 26 |
| 53 to 56 | 0 | 29 |
| 57 to 60 | 0 | 13 |
| 61 to 64 | 1 | 7 |
| 65 to 68 | 0 | 19 |
| 69 to 72 | 0 | 16 |
| 73 to 76 | 0 | 8 |
| 77 to 80 | 0 | 19 |
| 81 to 84 | 0 | 3 |
| 85 to 88 | 0 | 4 |
| 89 to 92 | 0 | 4 |
| 93 to 96 | 0 | 12 |
| 97 to 100 | 0 | 11 |
| 101 to 104 | 0 | 26 |
| 105 to 108 | 1 | 7 |
| 109 to 112 | 18 | 29 |
| 113 to 116 | 6 | 34 |
| 117 to 120 | 0 | 0 |
| 121 to 124 | 3 | 14 |
| 125 to 128 | 0 | 3 |
| 129 to 132 | 0 | 9 |
| 133 to 136 | 7 | 15 |
| 137 to 140 | 0 | 20 |
| 141 to 144 | 0 | 22 |
| 145 to 148 | 0 | 29 |
| 149 to 152 | 7 | 33 |
| 153 to 156 | 0 | 15 |
| 157 to 160 | 5 | 7 |
| 161 to 164 | 2 | 21 |
| 165 to 167 | 0 | 4 |
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.
SHEILA: You remember the Andersons from next door, don’t you. IVY: I can’t believe I’m actually in America.
Exhibit B: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 13 are women's.
84 lines from women, 584 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who's in it
30 women and 58 men in the cast. 4 women and 14 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit D: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 4 of 743.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 144 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 (845), men 88% (6,323). Women have 13% 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
2
Two men
59
Exhibit F: behind the camera
None of the 13 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 29% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Dexter Fletcher (man)
- Written by
- Lee Hall (man)
- Produced by
- Matthew Vaughn (man), David Furnish (man), Lawrence Bender (man), David Reid (man), Adam Bohling (man)
- Shot by
- George Richmond (man)
- Edited by
- Chris Dickens (man)
- Music by
- Matthew Margeson (man)
- Production design by
- Marcus Rowland (man)
- Costumes by
- Julian Day (man)
- Cast by
- Reg Poerscout-Edgerton (man)
The crew, department by department
-
Other crew
11 women, 29 men, 15 not listed
-
Costume & Make-Up
9 women, 3 men, 21 not listed
-
Production
4 women, 13 men, 12 not listed
-
Sound
1 women, 10 men, 9 not listed
-
Art
1 women, 3 men, 12 not listed
-
Camera
0 women, 5 men, 5 not listed
-
Directing
1 women, 3 men, 1 not listed
-
Editing
0 women, 1 men, 3 not listed
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit G: how old the stars were
Women: 57 on average. Men: 33 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Bryce Dallas Howard 38, Gemma Jones 76
Men
Kit Connor 15, Charlie Rowe 23, Taron Egerton 29, Richard Madden 32, Jamie Bell 33, Tom Bennett 49, Steven Mackintosh 52
Exhibit H: the money
It made 4.2 times what it cost.
- Budget
- $40 million
- Box office
- $167 million
From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 167 scenes and 743 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
