Fails the Bechdel test

Star Trek

Name: Star Trek
Released: 2009

2009. Directed by J.J. Abrams, written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and Gene Roddenberry.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

2 / 3

Fails

Yes 1. At least two women
43 women characters. 10 of them speak.
Yes 2. Who talk to each other
Women do talk to each other.
No 3. About something besides a man
Every conversation between women that our parser found mentions a man.

Second opinion

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

The film

On the day of James T. Kirk's birth, his father dies on his damaged starship in a last stand against a Romulan mining vessel looking for Ambassador Spock, who in this time, has grown on Vulcan disdained by his neighbors for his half-human heritage. 25 years later, James T. Kirk has grown into a young rebellious troublemaker. Challenged by Captain Christopher Pike to realize his potential in Starfleet, he comes to annoy academy instructors like Commander Spock. Suddenly, there is an emergency on Vulcan and the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise is crewed with promising cadets like Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov and even Kirk himself, thanks to Leonard McCoy's medical trickery. Together, this crew will have an adventure in the final frontier where the old legend is altered forever as a new version of the legend begins.

Released: 08 May 2009
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
IMDb: 7.9 / 10
Metascore: 82 / 100
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. 27 wins & 95 nominations total
Elsewhere: View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

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

Kirk 213 lines, man
Spock 117 lines, man
Spock Prime 64 lines, man
Pike 61 lines, man
Mccoy 53 lines, man
Uhura 50 lines, woman
Nero 41 lines, man
Chekov 30 lines, man
Sulu 30 lines, man
Scotty 24 lines, man

Full cast, 178 people

Chris Pine as Cadet James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock
Leonard Nimoy as Ambassador Spock
Eric Bana as Captain Nero
Bruce Greenwood as Captain Christopher Pike
Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Zoe Saldaña as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott
John Cho as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin as Ensign Pavel Chekov
Ben Cross as Sarek
Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson
Chris Hemsworth as Commander George Kirk
Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk
Rachel Nichols as Galia
Faran Tahir as Captain Robau
Clifton Collins Jr. as Ayel
Tony Elias as Officer Pitts
Sean Gerace as Tactical Officer
Randy Pausch as Kelvin Crew Member
Tim Griffin as Kelvin Engineer
Freda Foh Shen as Kelvin Helmsman
Kasia Kowalczyk as Kelvin Alien
Jason Brooks as Romulan Helmsman
Sonita Henry as Kelvin Doctor
Kelvin Yu as Medical Technician
Marta Martin as Medical Technician
Tavarus Conley as Kelvin Crew Member
Jeff Castle as Kelvin Crew Member
Billy Brown as Med Evac Pilot
Jimmy Bennett as Young James T. Kirk
Greg Grunberg as Stepdad (voice)
Spencer Daniels as Johnny
Jeremy Fitzgerald as Iowa Cop
Zoe Chernov as Vulcan Student
Max Chernov as Vulcan Student
Jacob Kogan as Young Spock
Lorenzo James Henrie as Vulcan Bully
Colby Paul as Vulcan Bully
Cody Klop as Vulcan Bully
Akiva Goldsman as Vulcan Council Member
Anna Katarina as Vulcan Council Member
Douglas Tait as Long Face Bar Alien
Tony Guma as Lew the Bartender
Gerald W. Abrams as Barfly
James McGrath as Barfly
Jason Matthew Smith as Burly Cadet
Marcus Young as Burly Cadet
Bob Clendenin as Shipyard Worker
Darlena Tejeiro as Flight Officer
Reggie Lee as Test Administrator
Jeffrey Byron as Test Administrator
Jonathan Dixon as Simulator Tactical Officer
Tyler Perry as Admiral Richard Barnett
Ben Binswanger as Admiral James Komack
Margot Farley as College Council Stenographer
Paul McGillion as Barracks Officer
Lisa Vidal as Barracks Officer
Alex Nevil as Shuttle Officer
Kimberly Arland as Kimberly Arland
Sufe Bradshaw as Cadet Alien
Jeff Chase as Cadet Alien
Charles Haugk as Enterprise Crew Member
Nana Kagga-Hill as Enterprise Crew Member
John Blackman as Enterprise Crew Member
Jack Millard as Enterprise Crew Member
Shaela Luter as Enterprise Crew Member
Sabrina Morris as Enterprise Crew Member
Michelle Parylak as Enterprise Crew Member
Osgood Perkins as Enterprise Communications Officer
Amanda Foreman as Hannity
Michael Berry Jr. as Romulan Tactical Officer
Lucia Rijker as Romulan Communications Officer
Pasha D. Lychnikoff as Romulan Officer
Matt Beisner as Romulan Crew Member
Neville Page as Romulan Crew Member
Jesper Inglis as Romulan Crew Member
Greg Ellis as Chief Engineer Olsen
Marlene Forte as Transport Chief
Leonard O. Turner as Vulcan Elder
Mark Bramhall as Vulcan Elder
Ronald F. Hoiseck as Vulcan Elder
Irene Roseen as Vulcan Elder
Jeff O'Haco as Vulcan Elder
Scottie Thompson as Nero's Wife
Deep Roy as Keenser
Majel Barrett as Starfleet Computer (voice)
Ronnie Steadman as Shuttle Pilot (uncredited)
Rico E. Anderson as Council Member - Captain Kelley Bogel (uncredited)
Richard Arnold as Romulan Science Tech (uncredited)
Tad Atkinson as Amphibian Prisoner (uncredited)
Leslie Augustine as Doctor (uncredited)
Johnny Baca as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Diora Baird as The Wrong Orion
Sala Baker as Drill Tower Romulan (uncredited)
Leo Baligaya as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Corey Becker as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Larry Blackman as Transport Chief (uncredited)
Jessica Boss as Bridgeport Cadet (uncredited)
Neil S. Bulk as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Etalvia Cashin as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
James Cawley as Enterprise Crewmember (uncredited)
Brad Champagne as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Zachary Culbertson as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Jeffrey De Serrano as Cop (uncredited)
T.C. De Witt as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Christopher Doohan as Starfleet Officer (uncredited)
Claire Doré as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Etienne Eckert as Vulcan Federation Officer (uncredited)
Ken Edling as Doctor (uncredited)
Aliza Finley as Hurried Cadet with Clipboard (uncredited)
Ian Fisher as Shipyard Worker (uncredited)
Anna Florence as Vulcan Cadet (uncredited)
Mathew Thomas Foss as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Massi Furlan as Missile Launcher (uncredited)
Tommy Germanovich Jr. as FourSquare (uncredited)
Mary Grace as Shipyard Bar Patron (uncredited)
Wyatt Gray as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Nancy Guerriero as Crew Member (uncredited)
Jarrell Hall as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Justin Rodgers Hall as Starfleet Security Officer (uncredited)
Jeffery Hauser as Kelvin Crew Member (uncredited)
Brad William Henke as Uncle Frank (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Ryan T. Husk as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Elizabeth Ingalls as Enterprise Nurse (uncredited)
Sierra Kane as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Christopher Karl Johnson as Shipyard Worker (uncredited)
Jolene Kay as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Lauren Mary Kim as Kelvin Bridge Officer (uncredited)
Sarah Klaren as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Makiko Konishi as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Tashana Landray as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Daniel D. Lee as Starfleet Commander (uncredited)
Anne Leighton as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
James Lew as Romulan (uncredited)
Jill Lover as Young Vulcan Midwife (uncredited)
Steve Luna as Lieutenant Star Fleet Command (uncredited)
Aaron Lynch as Flight Operational Air Safety Conductor (uncredited)
Justin Malachi as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Nav Mann as Romulan Crew Member Placing Bomb (uncredited)
Paul Marshall as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Owen Martin as Alien Cadet / Enterprise Crew (uncredited)
Taylor McCluskey as Kelvin Alien (uncredited)
Matthew McGregor as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Caitlin McKenna as Kelvin Computer (uncredited)
Andrew Mew as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Patrizia Milano as Councilwoman (uncredited)
Heidi Moneymaker as Kelvin Crewmember (uncredited)
Kevin Moser as Enterprise Crewman (uncredited)
Jonathan Dunkerley Newkerk as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Westley Nguyen as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Jim Nieb as Sal (uncredited)
Andres Perez-Molina as Romulan Crew Member (uncredited)
Mark Phelan as Romulan (uncredited)
Damion Poitier as Drill Hanson #1 (uncredited)
Rahvaunia as Academy Teacher (uncredited)
Bertrand Roberson Jr. as Shuttle Cadet (uncredited)
Deborah Rombaut as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Leonard Jonathan Ruebe as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Darth Schuhe as Injured Officer in Sickbay (uncredited)
Ramona Seymour as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
William Morgan Sheppard as Vulcan Science Minister (uncredited)
Katie Soo as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Joseph Stephens Jr. as Cadet Officer (uncredited)
Joseph Steven as Romulan Engineer (uncredited)
T.J. Storm as Klingon Agitator (uncredited)
Kaitlin Sullivan as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
Paul Townsend as Starfleet Security Officer (uncredited)
Scott Trimble as Klingon Prison Guard (uncredited)
Errik Tustenuggee as Federation Captain Cartwright (uncredited)
Ravi Valleti as Cadet at Trial (uncredited)
Jason Vaughn as Starfleet Cadet (uncredited)
A.J. Verel as Enterprise Crewman (uncredited)
Brian Waller as Vulcan Council Member (uncredited)
Steve Wharton as Star Fleet Cadet (uncredited)
Wil Wheaton as Romulan (voice) (uncredited)
Rob Wood as Enterprise Crew Member (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager as Enterprise Computer (voice) (uncredited)

Who talks, scene by scene

Lines of dialogue in every 6 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 7% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.

Women

Men

Scene 1 Scene 255

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 6	11	16
7 to 12	0	3
13 to 18	2	7
19 to 24	0	24
25 to 30	5	10
31 to 36	5	8
37 to 42	5	5
43 to 48	1	24
49 to 54	0	9
55 to 60	18	57
61 to 66	13	36
67 to 72	2	22
73 to 78	13	53
79 to 84	0	7
85 to 90	0	15
91 to 96	0	9
97 to 102	6	44
103 to 108	0	6
109 to 114	1	32
115 to 120	0	7
121 to 126	1	12
127 to 132	3	12
133 to 138	0	7
139 to 144	0	9
145 to 150	2	5
151 to 156	5	37
157 to 162	1	33
163 to 168	0	21
169 to 174	0	4
175 to 180	0	81
181 to 186	1	11
187 to 192	5	66
193 to 198	0	11
199 to 204	1	18
205 to 210	4	13
211 to 216	0	8
217 to 222	1	10
223 to 228	1	3
229 to 234	1	16
235 to 240	0	9
241 to 246	4	37
247 to 252	0	15
253 to 255	2	40

The evidence

Straight from the script
Counted from the script and the credits

Tap an exhibit to open it.

Exhibit A: every 100 lines

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

114 lines from women, 872 from men.

Women
Men

Exhibit B: who's in it

43 women and 88 men in the cast. 10 women and 46 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

Women
Men

Exhibit C: who gets heard

A woman speaks the first line. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 125 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

First line by a woman
Longest stretch with no woman speaking

Words spoken

Women speak 10% of the words (1,151), men 90% (10,498). Women have 12% of the lines, so their lines run shorter than men's.

Exhibit D: 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

100

Exhibit E: behind the camera

4 of the 14 people in these jobs are women. Across the whole crew, 23% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by: J.J. Abrams (man)
Written by: Roberto Orci (man), Alex Kurtzman (man)
Produced by: J.J. Abrams (man), Damon Lindelof (man)
Shot by: Dan Mindel (man)
Edited by: Mary Jo Markey (woman), Maryann Brandon (woman)
Music by: Michael Giacchino (man)
Production design by: Scott Chambliss (man)
Costumes by: Michael Kaplan (man)
Cast by: April Webster (woman), Alyssa Weisberg (woman), Gaby Kester (gender not listed)