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Passes the Bechdel test

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

1999. Directed by George Lucas, written by George Lucas.

The Bechdel test

Bechdel score

3 / 3

Passes

  1. Yes 1. At least two women
    20 women characters. 7 of them speak.
  2. Yes 2. Who talk to each other
    In 4 scenes out of 183.
  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 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

The film

When the Trade Federation organize a blockade around the planet Naboo, the Supreme Chancellor Valorum sends the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to negotiate the end of the blockade. However the evil Viceroy Nute Gunray is ordered to kill the Jedi and invade Naboo. However the Jedi escape and Qui-Gon saves the life of the clumsy Gungan Jar Jar Binks. The outcast native takes the Jedi to his submerged city and the Gungan leader gives transportation to them. The Jedi head to the capital to warn Queen Amidala about the invasion. However she has been captured by the Federation droids but the Jedi rescue the queen and her court and they flee in a spacecraft that is damaged when they cross the blockade. They land on a desert planet and Qui-Gon Jinn goes to the town with Jar Jar, the droid R2-D2 and the queen's assistant Padmé to seek the necessary part for the spacecraft. When they find the component, they do not have money to buy it. But the slave boy Anakin Skywalker offers to dispute a race with his pod to raise the necessary money. Qui-Gon feels the Force in the boy and accepts his offer. Will the boy win the race? What will happen to Naboo? Will Queen Amidala be capable to convince the politicians to release her planet from the Trade Federation?

Released
19 May 1999
Genres
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated
PG
IMDb
6.5 / 10
Metascore
51 / 100
Awards
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 28 wins & 72 nominations total
Elsewhere
View on IMDb

Starring, by lines spoken

  • Women
  • Men
  • Not in the cast list
  • Bigger name, more lines
  1. Qui-Gon 269 lines, man
  2. Anakin 180 lines, man
  3. Jar Jar 87 lines, man
  4. Obi-Wan 71 lines, man
  5. Padme 59 lines, woman
  6. Amidala 45 lines, woman
  7. Nute 41 lines, man
  8. Capt. Panaka 35 lines, man
  9. Shmi 33 lines, woman
  10. Yoda 29 lines, man
Full cast, 121 people
  • Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
  • Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala
  • Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker
  • Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine
  • Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker
  • Oliver Ford Davies as Governor Sio Bibble
  • Hugh Quarshie as Captain Panaka
  • Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks
  • Anthony Daniels as C-3PO (voice)
  • Kenny Baker as R2-D2
  • Frank Oz as Yoda (voice)
  • Terence Stamp as Chancellor Valorum
  • Brian Blessed as Boss Nass (voice)
  • Andy Secombe as Watto (voice)
  • Ray Park as Darth Maul
  • Lewis Macleod as Sebulba (voice)
  • Warwick Davis as Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen
  • Steve Speirs as Captain Tarpals
  • Silas Carson as Nute Gunray / Ki-Adi-Mundi / Lott Dodd / Republic Cruiser Pilot
  • Jerome St. John Blake as Mas Amenda / Orn Free Taa / Oppo Rancisis / Rune Haako / Horox Ryyder / Graxol Kelvynn / Mick Reckrap
  • Alan Ruscoe as Daultay Dofine / Plo Koon / Bib Fortuna
  • Ralph Brown as Ric Olié
  • Celia Imrie as Fighter Pilot Bravo 5
  • Benedict Taylor as Fighter Pilot Bravo 2
  • Clarence Smith as Fighter Pilot Bravo 3
  • Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu
  • Dominic West as Palace Guard
  • Karol Cristina da Silva as Rabé
  • Liz Wilson as Eirtaé
  • Candice Orwell as Yané
  • Sofia Coppola as Saché
  • Keira Knightley as Sabé
  • Bronagh Gallagher as Republic Cruiser Captain
  • John Fensom as TC-14
  • Greg Proops as Fode (voice)
  • Scott Capurro as Beed (voice)
  • Margaret Towner as Jira
  • Dhruv Chanchani as Kitster
  • Oliver Walpole as Seek
  • Megan Udall as Melee
  • Hassani Shapi as Eeth Koth
  • Gin Clarke as Adi Gallia
  • Khan Bonfils as Saesee Tiin
  • Michelle Taylor as Yarael Poof
  • Michaela Cottrell as Even Piell
  • Dipika O'Neill Joti as Depa Billaba
  • Phil Eason as Yaddle
  • Mark Coulier as Aks Moe
  • Lindsay Duncan as TC-14 (voice)
  • Peter Serafinowicz as Darth Maul / Battle Droid Commander / Gungan Scout (voice)
  • James Taylor as Rune Haako (voice)
  • Chris Sanders as Daultay Dofine (voice)
  • Toby Longworth as Senator Lott Dodd / Gragra (voice)
  • Marc Silk as Aks Moe (voice)
  • Danny Wagner as Mawhonic
  • Amanda Lucas as Tey How / Diva Funquita (voice) (as Tyger)
  • Katie Lucas as Amee
  • Richard Armitage as Tonra
  • Sacha Alexander as Graf Zapalo - Advisor to Queen Amidala (uncredited)
  • Simon Allen as Flag Bearer (uncredited)
  • Paul Bannon as Pod Racer Mechanic (uncredited)
  • Don Bies as Pod Race Mechanic (uncredited)
  • Trisha Biggar as Orn Free Taa's Aide (uncredited)
  • Michonne Bourriague as Aurra Sing (uncredited)
  • Douglas Bunn as Naboo Guard (uncredited)
  • Ben Burtt as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
  • Doug Chiang as Flag Bearer (uncredited)
  • Rob Coleman as Pod Race Spectator in Jabba's Private Box (uncredited)
  • Roman Coppola as Senate Guard (uncredited)
  • Sean Cronin as Coruscant Senate Guard (uncredited)
  • Zsuzsanna Cseh as Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)
  • Matt Daniel-Baker as Naboo Foot Soldier (uncredited)
  • Russell Darling as Naboo Royal Security Guard (uncredited)
  • Philip Delancy as Naboo Starship Pilot (uncredited)
  • Sebastian Dewing as Senate Guard (uncredited)
  • Andrew Doucette as Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)
  • C. Michael Easton as Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)
  • Andrew Elias as Naboo Royal Guard (uncredited)
  • Catherine Ernster as Naboo Civilian (uncredited)
  • Salo Gardner as (uncredited)
  • Andrew Gersh as Pod Race Spectator (uncredited)
  • Patrice Girod as Naboo Citizen (uncredited)
  • Ned Gorman as Naboo Citizen (uncredited)
  • Joss Gower as Naboo Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
  • Raymond Griffiths as GONK Droid (uncredited)
  • Nathan Hamill as Pod Race Spectator / Naboo Palace Guard (uncredited)
  • Tim Harrington as Naboo Security Guard (uncredited)
  • Sally Hawkins as Bystander (uncredited)
  • Jack Hayes as Pod Race Spectator in Jabba's Private Box (uncredited)
  • Nifa Hindes as Ann Gella (uncredited)
  • Nishan Hindes as Tann Gella (uncredited)
  • Frank Huseyin as Jenn Smeel (uncredited)
  • Alexi Kaye Campbell as Naboo Guard (uncredited)
  • David Knight as Aqualish Alian (uncredited)
  • John Knoll as Lt. Rya Kirsch - Bravo 4 / Flag Bearer (uncredited)
  • Kamay Lau as Sei Taria - Senators Aide (uncredited)
  • Andrew Lawden as Naboo Foot Soldier (uncredited)
  • John M. Levin as Naboo Fighter Pilot / Naboo Citizen / Senator (uncredited)
  • Dan Madsen as Kaadu Handler (uncredited)
  • Iain McCaig as Orn Free Taa's Aide (uncredited)
  • Rick McCallum as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
  • João Costa Menezes as Naboo Fighter Pilot (uncredited)
  • Lorne Peterson as Mos Espa Citizen (uncredited)
  • Andrew Raven as Naboo Soldier (uncredited)
  • Steve Sansweet as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
  • Mike Savva as Naboo Royal Guard (uncredited)
  • Chris Scarabosio as Neumodian Senator (voice) (uncredited)
  • Jeff Shay as Pod race spectator (uncredited)
  • Christian Simpson as Lt. Gavyn Sykes - Bravo 6 (uncredited)
  • Paul Martin Smith as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
  • Scott Squires as Naboo Speeder Driver (uncredited)
  • Tom Sylla as Battle Droid (voice) (uncredited)
  • Bill Tlusty as Chokk, Jabba's Bodyguard (uncredited)
  • Matthew Wood as Bib Fortuna / Ody Mandrell (voice) (uncredited)
  • Jeff Olson as Pod Race Spectator in Jabba's Private Box (uncredited)
  • Michael Dondero as Battle Droid / Protocol Droid (voice) (uncredited)
  • Scott Schumann as Jabba the Hutt (voice) (uncredited)
  • Jon Abrahams as Naboo Flight Crew (uncredited)
  • Robby the Robot as Self (uncredited)
  • Alan Harris as Valorum (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 183

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 403
5 to 8017
9 to 12012
13 to 16924
17 to 20043
21 to 24037
25 to 28034
29 to 32021
33 to 36527
37 to 40016
41 to 44520
45 to 48010
49 to 52624
53 to 56434
57 to 60923
61 to 64217
65 to 681457
69 to 72746
73 to 7632
77 to 80329
81 to 84211
85 to 8832
89 to 9213
93 to 9603
97 to 100213
101 to 1041250
105 to 108314
109 to 11203
113 to 116010
117 to 12056
121 to 124110
125 to 1281135
129 to 1321355
133 to 136155
137 to 140621
141 to 144011
145 to 1481128
149 to 15206
153 to 156218
157 to 16003
161 to 164110
165 to 168212
169 to 17227
173 to 176023
177 to 18026
181 to 183011

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.
AMIDALA: Either choice presents a great risk...to all of us... PADME: We are brave, Your Highness.
PADME: These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind. SHMI: Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races.
SHMI: It's so wonderful, Annie. You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you... PADME: We owe you everything.
AMIDALA: We wish to form an alliance... PADME: Your Honor...

Exhibit B: every 100 lines

Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 14 are women's.

147 lines from women, 922 from men.

  • Women
  • Men

Exhibit C: who's in it

20 women and 73 men in the cast. 7 women and 38 men from it get lines.

Characters

With lines

  • Women
  • Men

Exhibit D: who gets heard

The first woman speaks at line 55 of 1,135. The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 139 lines.

Every line of dialogue, first to last

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

Words spoken

Women speak 15% of the words (1,740), men 85% (10,083). Women have 14% of the lines, so their lines run longer 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

1 of the 10 people in these jobs is a woman. Across the whole crew, 19% of the people whose gender is listed are women.

Directed by
George Lucas (man)
Written by
George Lucas (man)
Produced by
Rick McCallum (man)
Shot by
David Tattersall (man)
Edited by
Ben Burtt (man), Paul Martin Smith (man)
Music by
John Williams (man)
Production design by
Gavin Bocquet (man)
Costumes by
Trisha Biggar (woman)
Cast by
Robin Gurland (gender not listed)

The crew, department by department

  • Sound

    7 women, 18 men, 9 not listed

  • Other crew

    1 women, 14 men, 14 not listed

  • Visual Effects

    1 women, 13 men, 13 not listed

  • Art

    2 women, 17 men, 3 not listed

  • Production

    2 women, 9 men, 8 not listed

  • Costume & Make-Up

    6 women, 1 men, 9 not listed

  • Directing

    2 women, 7 men, 7 not listed

  • Camera

    0 women, 6 men, 4 not listed

  • Women
  • Men
  • Gender not listed on TMDB

Exhibit G: how old the stars were

Women: 29 on average. Men: 40 on average. The top-billed cast, at the film's release.

Women

Natalie Portman 17, Pernilla August 41

Men

Jake Lloyd 10, Ahmed Best 25, Ewan McGregor 28, Hugh Quarshie 44, Liam Neeson 46, Anthony Daniels 53, Ian McDiarmid 54, Oliver Ford Davies 59

Exhibit H: the money

It made 9.1 times what it cost.

Budget
$115 million
Box office
$1 billion

From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.

About this analysis

Our parser read the script: 183 scenes and 1,135 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works

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