Passes the Bechdel test
The Dark Knight Rises
2012. Directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
3 / 3
Passes
-
Yes
1. At least two women
21 women characters. 8 of them speak. -
Yes
2. Who talk to each other
In 2 scenes out of 323. -
Yes
3. About something besides a man
In those scenes, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.
Second opinion
Disagree bechdeltest.com readers give it 1 out of 3.
The film
Despite his tarnished reputation after the events of The Dark Knight (2008), in which he took the rap for Dent's crimes, Batman feels compelled to intervene to assist the city and its Police force, which is struggling to cope with Bane's plans to destroy the city.
- Released
- 20 Jul 2012
- Genres
- Crime, Thriller
- Rated
- PG-13
- IMDb
- 8.4 / 10
- Metascore
- 78 / 100
- Awards
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award. 45 wins & 104 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Wayne 189 lines, man
- Blake 128 lines, man
- Bane 86 lines, man
- Gordon 76 lines, man
- Alfred 71 lines, man
- Selina 65 lines, woman
- Fox 56 lines, man
- Batman 47 lines, man
- Miranda 46 lines, woman
- Foley 43 lines, man
Full cast, 166 people
- Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne
- Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon
- Tom Hardy as Bane
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Blake
- Anne Hathaway as Selina
- Marion Cotillard as Miranda
- Morgan Freeman as Fox
- Michael Caine as Alfred
- Matthew Modine as Foley
- Alon Aboutboul as Dr. Pavel
- Ben Mendelsohn as Daggett
- Burn Gorman as Stryver
- Daniel Sunjata as Captain Jones
- Aidan Gillen as CIA Op
- Sam Kennard as Special Ops Sergeant
- Aljaž Tepina as Hooded Man #2
- Nestor Carbonell as Mayor
- Brett Cullen as Congressman
- Nick Julian as Caterer
- Miranda Nolan as Maid #2
- Claire Julien as Maid #3
- Reggie Lee as Ross
- Joseph Lyle Taylor as DWP Man
- Chris Ellis as Fr. Reilly
- Tyler Dean Flores as Mark
- Juno Temple as Jen
- Duane Henry as SWAT in Dive Bar
- James Harvey Ward as SWAT in Alley
- Gonzalo Menendez as Cop at Manhole
- Cameron Jack as Sewer Thug #1
- Lex Daniel as Sewer Thug #2
- Thomas Lennon as Doctor
- Trevor White as Yuppie
- Rob Brown as Allen
- Fredric Lehne as Exchange Security Chief
- Courtney Munch as Female Security Guard
- Chris Hill as Paparazzi #1
- Travis Guba as Paparazzi #2
- Jay Benedict as Rich Twit
- Will Estes as Officer Simon Jansen
- David Dayan Fisher as Shoe Shine Man at GSE
- P.J. Griffith as Sniper at Exchange
- Glen Powell as Trader #1
- Ben Cornish as Trader #2
- Russ Fega as Trader #3
- Andres Perez-Molina as Valet at Museum
- Brent Briscoe as Veteran Cop
- John Nolan as Fredericks
- Oliver Cotton as 2 Star Air Force General
- Mark Killeen as Airport Cop
- Sarah Goldberg as Analyst #1
- John Macmillan as Analyst #2
- Robert Wisdom as Army Captain at Bridge
- Ronnie Gene Blevins as Cement Truck Driver
- John Hollingworth as CIA Analyst
- Ian Bohen as Cop with Gordon
- Uri Gavriel as Blind Prisoner
- Noel Gugliemi as Ex-Prisoner at River
- Max Schuler as Foley's Kid
- Daina Griffith as Foley's Wife
- Hector Atreyu Ruiz as Gangbanger
- Patrick Cox as Huge Inmate
- Aramis Knight as Kid with Apple
- Josh Stewart as Barsad
- William Devane as President
- Harry Coles as Younger Prison Child
- Joey King as Older Prison Child
- Liam Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul
- Julie Mun as Reporter at Stadium
- Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow
- David Gyasi as Skinny Prisoner
- Patrick Jordan as Special Forces #2
- Tom Conti as Prisoner
- Joshua Elijah Reese as Mercenary at City Hall
- Desmond Harrington as Uniform
- Mychael Bates as Bomb Truck Driver
- Rory Nolan as Little Boy at Bridge
- Tomas Arana as Wayne's Lawyer
- Peter Holden as Applied Sciences Tech #1
- David Monahan as Applied Sciences Tech #2
- Jillian Armenante as Lawyer's Clerk
- Aja Evans as Greeter at Museum
- Aldous Davidson as Valet at Wayne Enterprises
- Michael James Faradie as Guard at Blackgate
- Wade Williams as Warden at Blackgate
- Antwan Lewis as Reporter at Wayne Enterprises
- Jake Canuso as Waiter in Florence Café
- Josh Pence as Young Ra's al Ghul
- India Wadsworth as Warlord's Daughter
- Kevin Kiely Jnr as Thug #1 in Basement
- Daniel Newman as Thug #2 in Basement
- Massi Furlan as Janitor at GSE
- Warren Brown as Mercenary Security #1
- Luke Rutherford as Mercenary Security #2
- Phillip Browne as Mercenary Security #3
- Christopher Judge as Mercenary Assassin #3
- Aldo Bigante as 2nd Cop with Gordon
- Charles Jackson Coyne as Anthem Singer
- Patrick Leahy as Board Member #2
- Todd Gearhart as Uniform #2
- Gus Lewis as Bruce Wayne (Age 8) (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Isiah Adams as Young Stock Broker (uncredited)
- Charlie Alejandro as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Robert Arensen as Former Upscaler (uncredited)
- Grant Babbitt as Angry Mobster / Prisoner (uncredited)
- Rick Bolander as Mercenary (uncredited)
- Kyle Patrick Brennan as Police Officer (uncredited)
- Scott Churchson as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Bill Cowher as Gotham Rogues Coach (uncredited)
- Graham Curry as Pentagon Navy Petty (uncredited)
- Stephanie Domini as Reporter (uncredited)
- John Farrer as Older Upscale Person (uncredited)
- Frank Fata as Prisoner / Thug (uncredited)
- Christopher Bryan Gomez as Stock Broker (uncredited)
- Vito Grassi as Thug (uncredited)
- Michael Wren Gucciardo as Stockbroker in Snipers Scoop - Stock Exchange (uncredited)
- Ed Heavey as Police Officer (uncredited)
- John W. Iwanonkiw as Gotham Police Officer / Fan (uncredited)
- Cindy Jackson as Gordon's Cop #4 (uncredited)
- Daniel Jordano as Boom Operator News Crew (uncredited)
- Tiffany Kemp as Gotham Rogues Fan (uncredited)
- Sun Jae Kim as Stock Broker (uncredited)
- Hrvoje Klecz as Thug (uncredited)
- Alex Kruz as Wall Street Broker (uncredited)
- Tyler La Marr as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- LeJon Stewart as Thug (uncredited)
- Joe Lipari as Prisoner (uncredited)
- Silvia Lombardo as Tourist (uncredited)
- Jorge Mardel as Gotham Rogues Fan (uncredited)
- Cale McConnell as Gotham Rogues Fan (uncredited)
- David Dale McCue as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Michael Papajohn as Prison Guard (uncredited)
- Salomon Passariello as Prisoner / Mob (uncredited)
- Allen Merritt as Angry Mobster (uncredited)
- Olan Montgomery as Wayne Enterprises Security (uncredited)
- Alex Moore as Mercenary (uncredited)
- Shane Nolan as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Kyle David Pierce as Gotham Stock Trader (uncredited)
- Troy Polamalu as Gotham Rogues Player (uncredited)
- Michael Power as Gotham Police Officer (uncredited)
- Sebastian James as Thug (uncredited)
- Kirsten Roeters as Doris in Black (uncredited)
- Ben Roethlisberger as Gotham Rogues Player (uncredited)
- Mark Roman as Gotham Police Officer (uncredited)
- Eric Salazar as Angry Thug (uncredited)
- Emily Schooley as Hot Football Fan (uncredited)
- Thomas Tull as Gotham Rogues Owner (uncredited)
- Chris Vaina as Thug (uncredited)
- Barbara Vincent as Gotham Rogues Fan (uncredited)
- Jason Yee as Mercenary Soldier (uncredited)
- John Zion as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Alex Ziwak as Thug (uncredited)
- Tommy Bayiokos as Gotham City Police Officer (uncredited)
- Jeff Moffitt as Cop (uncredited)
- Diogo Hausen as Thug (uncredited)
- Gary Sievers as Prisoner (uncredited)
- Orion McCabe as Mercenary (uncredited)
- London May as Court Room Thug (uncredited)
- James Quinn as Gothamite (uncredited)
- Joe Fishel as Police Officer (uncredited)
- Simon Rhee as Bane's Henchmen (uncredited)
- Hines Ward as Gotham Rogues Player (uncredited)
- Heath Miller as Gotham Rogues Player (uncredited)
- Collin Taylor as Gotham City Rogues Football Player (uncredited)
- Jackson Nunn as Prisoner / Thug (uncredited)
- Leonard Zimmerman as Displaced Millionaire (uncredited)
Who talks, scene by scene
Lines of dialogue in every 7 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 323
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 7 | 0 | 27 |
| 8 to 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 to 21 | 4 | 29 |
| 22 to 28 | 8 | 39 |
| 29 to 35 | 0 | 32 |
| 36 to 42 | 17 | 15 |
| 43 to 49 | 0 | 26 |
| 50 to 56 | 3 | 69 |
| 57 to 63 | 8 | 9 |
| 64 to 70 | 22 | 67 |
| 71 to 77 | 0 | 16 |
| 78 to 84 | 0 | 6 |
| 85 to 91 | 0 | 4 |
| 92 to 98 | 0 | 19 |
| 99 to 105 | 0 | 59 |
| 106 to 112 | 12 | 53 |
| 113 to 119 | 10 | 32 |
| 120 to 126 | 12 | 12 |
| 127 to 133 | 0 | 19 |
| 134 to 140 | 7 | 17 |
| 141 to 147 | 1 | 30 |
| 148 to 154 | 3 | 20 |
| 155 to 161 | 0 | 9 |
| 162 to 168 | 0 | 4 |
| 169 to 175 | 0 | 2 |
| 176 to 182 | 0 | 9 |
| 183 to 189 | 0 | 12 |
| 190 to 196 | 0 | 5 |
| 197 to 203 | 0 | 9 |
| 204 to 210 | 0 | 20 |
| 211 to 217 | 5 | 10 |
| 218 to 224 | 0 | 17 |
| 225 to 231 | 2 | 29 |
| 232 to 238 | 0 | 17 |
| 239 to 245 | 18 | 57 |
| 246 to 252 | 1 | 16 |
| 253 to 259 | 0 | 32 |
| 260 to 266 | 0 | 5 |
| 267 to 273 | 2 | 9 |
| 274 to 280 | 0 | 16 |
| 281 to 287 | 0 | 4 |
| 288 to 294 | 0 | 3 |
| 295 to 301 | 0 | 8 |
| 302 to 308 | 0 | 20 |
| 309 to 315 | 4 | 13 |
| 316 to 322 | 0 | 0 |
| 323 to 323 | 0 | 0 |
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.
SELINA: Okay, okay - SELINA: My friend is waiting outside. Just hit 'send'... JEN: Place is a little dead. SELINA: It'll liven up in a minute, trust me.
JEN: Who's that? SELINA: This was someone's home. JEN: Now it's everyone's home. JEN: 'Storm's coming', remember? This is what you wanted.
Exhibit B: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 13 are women's.
139 lines from women, 929 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who's in it
21 women and 113 men in the cast. 8 women and 55 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit D: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 43 of 1,186.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 193 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 (1,236), men 88% (9,387). 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
3
Two men
98
Exhibit F: behind the camera
3 of the 18 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 31% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Christopher Nolan (man)
- Written by
- Jonathan Nolan (man), Christopher Nolan (man)
- Story by
- David S. Goyer (man), Christopher Nolan (man)
- Produced by
- Christopher Nolan (man), Charles Roven (man), Emma Thomas (woman)
- Shot by
- Wally Pfister (man)
- Edited by
- Lee Smith (man)
- Music by
- Hans Zimmer (man)
- Production design by
- Nathan Crowley (man), Kevin Kavanaugh (man)
- Costumes by
- Lindy Hemming (woman), Roberto Craciunica (gender not listed)
- Cast by
- John Papsidera (man), Toby Whale (gender not listed), Dixie Webster-Davis (woman)
The crew, department by department
-
Other crew
26 women, 55 men, 48 not listed
-
Costume & Make-Up
28 women, 12 men, 54 not listed
-
Visual Effects
8 women, 15 men, 53 not listed
-
Production
17 women, 20 men, 30 not listed
-
Lighting
0 women, 15 men, 37 not listed
-
Camera
1 women, 17 men, 24 not listed
-
Sound
1 women, 24 men, 13 not listed
-
Art
2 women, 13 men, 18 not listed
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit G: how old the stars were
Women: 33 on average. Men: 51 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Anne Hathaway 29, Marion Cotillard 36
Men
Joseph Gordon-Levitt 31, Tom Hardy 34, Christian Bale 38, Alon Aboutboul 47, Matthew Modine 53, Gary Oldman 54, Morgan Freeman 75, Michael Caine 79
Exhibit H: the money
It made 4.3 times what it cost.
- Budget
- $250 million
- Box office
- $1.1 billion
From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 323 scenes and 1,186 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
