Does it pass? bechdel.io

Passes the Bechdel test

Showgirls

1995. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Joe Eszterhas.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

  1. Yes 1. At least two women
    40 women characters. 15 of them speak.
  2. Yes 2. Who talk to each other
    In 36 scenes out of 143.
  3. 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.

Poster for Showgirls

The film

All alone in the world, Nomi Malone, making her way to Las Vegas, is determined to make a name as a dancer while putting her unspoken past behind her. Her tough, streetwise veneer is not as infallible as she would like, and as she arrives in Vegas she becomes more cautious about approaching strangers who seem willing to help her purely out of the goodness of their hearts. Her talent and connections in combination are only able to get her a job at the Cheetah Club, a strip joint. Her first true friend in Vegas, Molly Abrams, works as the costumer for Goddess, the topless production at the Stardust. It is through Molly that Nomi catches the eye of Goddess' headliner, Cristal Connors. Nomi has a love/hate feeling toward Cristal: she doesn't much like her but wants to become her. Being at the Stardust, Nomi also catches the eye of Cristal's boyfriend, Zack Carey, Stardust's entertainment director. Through these contacts, Nomi is presented opportunity after opportunity to be part of the Stardust/Goddess family. She has to decide how far she will go to achieve her dream. James Smith, a struggling dancer/choreographer who works whatever odd jobs he can get and who is also attracted to Nomi largely for her natural albeit very raw talent, doesn't see Nomi's chosen path as the one she should pursue as he considers Goddess illegitimate: while the Cheetah is what it appears on the surface, Goddess is the Cheetah hiding behind its big name. Through it all, Nomi discovers the good, the bad, and the very bad about Vegas life, especially among the rich and beautiful.

Released
22 Sep 1995
Genres
Drama
Rated
NC-17
IMDb
5.2 / 10
Metascore
25 / 100
Awards
10 wins & 12 nominations total
Elsewhere
View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

  • Women
  • Men
  • Not in the cast list
  • Bigger name, more lines
  1. Nomi 260 lines, woman
  2. Molly 93 lines, woman
  3. Zack 72 lines, man
  4. Cristal 66 lines, woman
  5. James 63 lines, man
  6. Tony 39 lines, man
  7. Al 29 lines
  8. Jeff 28 lines, man
  9. Phil 24 lines, man
  10. Henrietta 23 lines, woman
Full cast, 122 people
  • Elizabeth Berkley as Nomi Malone
  • Kyle MacLachlan as Zack Carey
  • Gina Gershon as Cristal Connors
  • Glenn Plummer as James Smith
  • Robert Davi as Al Torres
  • Alan Rachins as Tony Moss
  • Gina Ravera as Molly Abrams
  • Lin Tucci as Henrietta Bazoom
  • Greg Travis as Phil Newkirk
  • Al Ruscio as Mr. Karlman
  • Patrick Bristow as Marty Jacobsen
  • William Shockley as Andrew Carver
  • Michelle Johnston as Gay
  • Dewey Weber as Jeff
  • Rena Riffel as Penny
  • Melissa Williams as Julie
  • Ungela Brockman as Annie
  • Melinda Songer as Nicky
  • Lance Davis as Bell Captain
  • Jack McGee as Jack the Stagehand
  • Jim Ishida as Mr. Okida
  • Bobbie Phillips as Dee
  • Danté McCarthy as Carmi
  • Caroline Key Johnson as Nadia
  • Joan Foley as Jail Matron
  • Terry Beeman as Felix
  • Kevin Alexander Stea as Daryl
  • Sebastian La Cause as Sal
  • Lisa Boyle as Sonny
  • Alexander Folk as Booking Sergeant
  • Matt Battaglia as Andrew Carver's Bodyguard
  • Teo as Andrew Carver's Bodyguard
  • Melanie Jeffcoat as Versace Salesperson
  • Alexander Zale as Doctor
  • Irene Olga López as Personnel Woman
  • Julie Pop as Nurse
  • Pamela Anderson as Party Singer
  • Jacob Witkin as Caesar
  • Jana Walker as Secretary
  • Christina Robinette as Receptionist
  • Jim Wise as Cheetah Loudmouth
  • Michael Shure as Cheetah Drunk
  • Geoff Callan as Cheetah Drunk
  • Rick Marotta as Long-Haired Drunk
  • Paul Bates as Cheetah Bouncer
  • Michael Cooke as Casino Lecher
  • Jean Barrett as Change Girl
  • Gary Devaney as Texan at Spago
  • Gene Ellison-Jones as Texan at Spago
  • Fernando Celis as Hector
  • Bob Dunn as Chimp Trainer
  • Ashley Nation as Julie's Daughter
  • Cory Melander as Julie's Son
  • Sean Breen as Reporter
  • Elizabeth Kennedy as Photographer
  • Katherine Manning as Reporter
  • Warren Reno as Crave Club Bouncer
  • Ken Enomoto as Cheetah Customer
  • Y. Hero Abe as Cheetah Customer
  • Rodney Ueno as Cheetah Customer
  • Kathleen McTeague as Al Torres' Girl
  • Kristen Knittle as Al Torres' Girl
  • Sage Peart as Paramedic
  • Michael Washington as Crave Club Heckler
  • Debbie Ables as Goddess Dancer
  • Lindsley Allen as Goddess Dancer
  • Bryan Anthony as Goddess Dancer
  • Christopher D. Childers as Goddess Dancer
  • Tyce Diorio as Goddess Dancer
  • Eric L. Ellis as Goddess Dancer
  • Carrie Ann Inaba as Goddess Dancer
  • Deena Grassia as Goddess Dancer
  • John Jacquet Jr. as Goddess Dancer
  • Laurie Kanyok as Goddess Dancer
  • Caitlin McLean as Goddess Dancer
  • Suzi McDonald as Goddess Dancer
  • Lisa Ratzin as Goddess Dancer
  • Salvatore Vassallo as Goddess Dancer
  • Kim Wolfe as Goddess Dancer
  • Jamy Woodbury as Goddess Dancer
  • Jason Yribar as Goddess Dancer
  • Judette Warren as Spelling Dancer
  • Lonetta Pugh as Baby Fat Dancer
  • María Díaz as Yoga Dancer
  • Madison Clark as Classes Dancer
  • Bethany Chesser as Finalist Dancer
  • Kelly St. Romaine as Melon Dancer
  • Danielle Burgio as Ear and Nose Dancer
  • Micki Duran as Other Audition Dancer
  • Michelle Elkin as Other Audition Dancer
  • Neisha Folkes-LeMelle as Other Audition Dancer
  • Andrea Moen as Other Audition Dancer
  • Nancy O'Meara as Other Audition Dancer
  • Sandra Plazinic as Other Audition Dancer
  • Laurie Sposit as Other Audition Dancer
  • Tonya Tovias as Other Audition Dancer
  • Michelle Zeitlin as Other Audition Dancer
  • Chris Tedesco as Jazz Combo
  • Patrick Seymour as Jazz Combo
  • Larry Washington as Jazz Combo
  • Robb Vallier as Jazz Combo
  • Anne Gaybis as Cheetah Dancer (uncredited)
  • Mike Anderson as Pool Partygoer (uncredited)
  • Justin Armao as Club Goer (uncredited)
  • Richard Atchley as Club Patron (uncredited)
  • Stephen Austin-Skordiles as Strip Club Patron (uncredited)
  • Anthony Backman as Cheetah Customer / Club Dancer (uncredited)
  • Trevor Coppola as Dancer (uncredited)
  • David Garry as Crave Club Heckler #2 (uncredited)
  • Mason Marconi as Cheetah Dancer (uncredited)
  • Tyler Keegan as Caesar's Palace Forum Shopper (uncredited)
  • Gorja Max as Policeman (uncredited)
  • Joe Everett Michaels as Goddess Dancer (uncredited)
  • Matty J Murillo as Club Patron (uncredited)
  • Christy Oldenkamp as Clubgoer (uncredited)
  • Bruce Pobanz as Tourist (uncredited)
  • Timothy Scott Ralston as Penny's Friend (uncredited)
  • Eric Ritter as Car Driver / Fighter (uncredited)
  • Lisa Robinson as Club Patron (uncredited)
  • Richard Roraback as Clubgoer (uncredited)
  • Andreanna Veith as Goddess Dancer (uncredited)
  • Lenny Wilson as Lenny the Meatcarver (uncredited)

Who talks, scene by scene

Lines of dialogue in every 3 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 143

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

Show the numbers
ScenesWomen's linesMen's lines
1 to 3613
4 to 6610
7 to 9122
10 to 12180
13 to 15271
16 to 18383
19 to 211115
22 to 24143
25 to 27276
28 to 3060
31 to 33163
34 to 3634
37 to 391411
40 to 42150
43 to 45115
46 to 4892
49 to 511422
52 to 54512
55 to 5789
58 to 60195
61 to 63102
64 to 66196
67 to 6906
70 to 7269
73 to 7500
76 to 78207
79 to 81190
82 to 84379
85 to 871011
88 to 90813
91 to 9356
94 to 96154
97 to 9932
100 to 102145
103 to 105619
106 to 10890
109 to 111116
112 to 11478
115 to 11794
118 to 120218
121 to 1232011
124 to 12601
127 to 12901
130 to 132715
133 to 13531
136 to 13851
139 to 141132
142 to 14313

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.
MOLLY: I said that's my car. NOMI: I want my fucking suitcase! MOLLY: Stop it--! MOLLY: Jesus --
MOLLY: What was in your suitcase? NOMI: Nothin'. Just my stuff. Everything I had. Fuck, I just got here! MOLLY: Welcome to Vegas. MOLLY: You know anybody here?
NOMI: Check it out. MOLLY: They're great. NOMI: They're neat, aren't they? MOLLY: They're neat. You want to come with me? We've got a new lead. She's good.
JULIE: I don't know what happened, it just ripped. MOLLY: It's okay, it's almost done.
MOLLY: Go up by the spots, watch it from there. NOMI: Can I go up there? ANNIE: Molly, we've got one minute! JULIE: Wouldn't it be great if one of these nights she fell down the stairs?

Exhibit B: every 100 lines

Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 65 are women's.

538 lines from women, 296 from men.

  • Women
  • Men

Exhibit C: who's in it

40 women and 38 men in the cast. 15 women and 19 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

  • Women
  • Men

Exhibit D: who gets heard

The first woman speaks at line 3 of 890. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 19 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

  • First line by a woman
  • Longest stretch with no woman speaking

Words spoken

Women speak 58% of the words (4,723), men 42% (3,391). Women have 65% 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

Exhibit F: behind the camera

3 of the 12 people in these jobs are women. Across the whole crew, 32% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by
Paul Verhoeven (man)
Written by
Joe Eszterhas (man)
Produced by
Alan Marshall (man), Charles Evans (man)
Shot by
Jost Vacano (man)
Edited by
Mark Goldblatt (man), Mark Helfrich (man)
Music by
Dave Stewart (man)
Production design by
Allan Cameron (man)
Costumes by
Ellen Mirojnick (woman)
Cast by
Johanna Ray (woman), Elaine J. Huzzar (woman)

The crew, department by department

  • Other crew

    17 women, 22 men, 32 not listed

  • Sound

    7 women, 30 men, 26 not listed

  • Camera

    3 women, 9 men, 18 not listed

  • Production

    6 women, 10 men, 12 not listed

  • Art

    1 women, 11 men, 13 not listed

  • Costume & Make-Up

    7 women, 4 men, 10 not listed

  • Lighting

    0 women, 8 men, 11 not listed

  • Editing

    3 women, 5 men, 1 not listed

  • Women
  • Men
  • Gender not listed on TMDB

Exhibit G: how old the stars were

Women: 30 on average. Men: 46 on average. The top-billed cast, at the film's release.

Women

Elizabeth Berkley 23, Gina Ravera 29, Gina Gershon 33, Lin Tucci 35

Men

Glenn Plummer 34, Kyle MacLachlan 36, Greg Travis 37, Robert Davi 44, Alan Rachins 52, Al Ruscio 71

Exhibit H: the money

It made 45% of what it cost.

Budget
$45 million
Box office
$20.4 million

From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.

About this analysis

Our parser read the script: 143 scenes and 890 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works

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