Passes the Bechdel test
tick, tick... BOOM!
2021. Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, written by Steven Levenson and Jonathan Larson and David Auburn.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
3 / 3
Passes
-
Yes
1. At least two women
31 women characters. 14 of them speak. -
Yes
2. Who talk to each other
In 4 scenes out of 191. -
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, though someone marked that rating as dubious.
The film
Jon (Andrew Garfield), a young theater composer, is waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. Days before he's to showcase his work in a make-or-break performance, Jon is feeling the pressure from everywhere: from his girlfriend Susan, who dreams of an artistic life beyond New York City; from his friend Michael, who has moved on from his dream to a life of financial security; amid an artistic community being ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. With the clock ticking, Jon is at a crossroads and faces the question that everyone must: What are we meant to do with the time we have?
- Released
- 19 Nov 2021
- Genres
- Biography, Comedy, Drama
- Rated
- PG-13
- IMDb
- 7.5 / 10
- Metascore
- 74 / 100
- Awards
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. 39 wins & 115 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Jon 374 lines, man
- Michael 84 lines, man
- Susan 80 lines, woman
- Ira 22 lines, man
- Judy 19 lines, woman
- Rosa 17 lines, woman
- Carolyn 16 lines, woman
- Karessa 13 lines, woman
- Roger 12 lines, man
- Freddy 10 lines, man
Full cast, 129 people
- Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson
- Alexandra Shipp as Susan Wilson
- Robin de Jesús as Michael
- Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Carolyn
- Ben Levi Ross as Freddy
- Jonathan Marc Sherman as Ira Weitzman
- Vanessa Hudgens as Karessa Johnson
- Joshua Henry as Roger Bart
- Bradley Whitford as Stephen Sondheim
- Judith Light as Rosa Stevens
- Laura Benanti as Judy
- Danielle Ferland as Kim
- Micaela Diamond as Peggy
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as Todd
- Gizel Jiménez as Cristin
- Kate Rockwell as Lauren
- Aneesa Folds as Danya
- Joel Perez as Lincoln
- Anna A. Louizos as Michelle
- Robyn Goodman as Gay
- Judy Kuhn as Nan
- Danny Burstein as Al
- Lauren Marcus as Donna
- Richard Kind as Walter Bloom
- Tariq Trotter as H.A.W.K. Smooth
- Janet Dacal as Sextet Actor #1
- Kenita R. Miller as Sextet Actor #2
- Eddy Lee as Sextet Actor #3
- Jared Loftin as Sextet Actor #4
- Kurt Crowley as Rehearsal Pianist - Francis
- Ryan Vasquez as Scott
- Joanna Adler as Molly
- Sheila Tapia as Nurse
- Ricardo Zayas as Hospital Man #1
- Travis Patton as Hospital Man #2
- Christopher Jackson as TTB Concert Attendee
- Jelani Alladin as David
- Andrew Bancroft as Building Parking Attendant
- Chris Sullivan as Building Doorman
- Luis A. Miranda Jr. as Building Concierge
- Kelly Watson as Homeless Person
- Chuck Cooper as "Sunday" Legend #1
- André De Shields as "Sunday" Legend #2
- Renée Elise Goldsberry as "Sunday" Legend #3
- Joel Grey as "Sunday" Legend #4
- Wilson Jermaine Heredia as "Sunday" Legend #5
- Beth Malone as "Sunday" Legend #6
- Howard McGillin as "Sunday" Legend #7
- Brian Stokes Mitchell as "Sunday" Legend #8
- Bebe Neuwirth as "Sunday" Legend #9
- Adam Pascal as "Sunday" Legend #10
- Bernadette Peters as "Sunday" Legend #11
- Phylicia Rashād as "Sunday" Legend #12
- Chita Rivera as "Sunday" Legend #13
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as "Sunday" Legend #14
- Phillipa Soo as "Sunday" Legend #15
- Chad Beguelin as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Nick Blaemire as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Eli Bolin as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Jason Robert Brown as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Eisa Davis as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Amanda Green as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Quiara Alegría Hudes as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Joe Iconis as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Tom Kitt as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Alex Lacamoire as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Steven Levenson as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Jaime Lozano as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Dave Malloy as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Matthew McCollum as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Grace McLean as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Helen Park as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Stephen Schwartz as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Marc Shaiman as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Matthew Sklar as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Georgia Stitt as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Shaina Taub as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Jeanine Tesori as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Stephen Trask as Aspiring Composers and Lyricists
- Sean McDaniel as TTB Band Member #1 - Drums
- Victoria Theodore as TTB Band Member #2 - Keyboards
- Bryndon Cook as TTB Band Member #3 - Guitar
- Debbie Tjong as TTB Band Member #4 - Electric Guitar
- Charles Conforti as Young Jon
- Derrick Delgado as Young Michael
- Mason Versaw as Teenage Jon
- Javiel Sellas as Teenage Michael
- Barbara Ames as Music Teacher
- James C. Nicola as Featured Diner #1
- Roger Bart as Featured Diner #2
- Emily Juean Stillings as Susan Company Dancer #1
- Jennifer Laroche as Susan Company Dancer #2
- Lauren Yalango-Grant as Susan Company Dancer #3
- Ayo Jackson as Susan Company Dancer #4
- Lucy Struever as Susan Company Dancer #5
- Stephanie Crousillat as Susan Company Dancer #6
- Gaby Diaz as Susan Company Dancer #7
- Ilia Jessica Castro as "PLAY GAME" Dancer #1
- Marie Rose Baramoski as "PLAY GAME" Dancer #2
- Keisha 'Sparkle' Hughes as "PLAY GAME" Dancer #3
- Lane Napper as Bookstore Dancer #1
- Kyle McIntire as Bookstore Dancer #2
- Sean Ryan as Bookstore Dancer #3
- Christopher Grant as "SUNDAY" Busboy Dancer #1
- Austin Goodwin as "SUNDAY" Busboy Dancer #2
- Carlos Gonzalez as "SUNDAY" Cook Dancer
- Elizabeth Chestang as Lobby Dancer #1
- Callan Bergmann as Lobby Dancer #2
- Kyle Richard Robinson as Lobby Dancer #3
- Erin N. Moore as Lobby Dancer #4
- Taeler Cyrus as Lobby Dancer #5
- Spencer Clark as Lobby Dancer #6
- Ehizoje Azeke as Lobby Dancer #7
- Chloe N. Crade as Lobby Dancer #8
- Maira Barriga Toyama as Lobby Dancer #9
- Christine Seinicki as Lobby Dancer #10
- Purdie Baumann as Lobby Dancer #11
- Erin Monteleone as Lobby Dancer #12
- Noah Lentini as HS West Side Dancer #1
- Jacob Patrick Wasson as HS West Side Dancer #2
- Adriel Flete as HS West Side Dancer #3
- Dwany Guzman as HS West Side Dancer #4
- Victoria Caban as HS West Side Dancer #5
- Melody Rose as HS West Side Dancer #6
- Alexia Belrose as HS West Side Dancer #7
- Lin-Manuel Miranda as Diner Manager (uncredited)
- Stephen Sondheim as Stephen Sondheim (voice on phone) (uncredited)
- Ken Holmes as YMCA Poolgoer (uncredited)
- Jonathan Larson as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Who talks, scene by scene
Lines of dialogue in every 4 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 16% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.
Women
Men
Scene 1 Scene 191
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 | 5 | 4 |
| 5 to 8 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 to 12 | 0 | 10 |
| 13 to 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 17 to 20 | 7 | 9 |
| 21 to 24 | 0 | 5 |
| 25 to 28 | 0 | 2 |
| 29 to 32 | 0 | 7 |
| 33 to 36 | 0 | 20 |
| 37 to 40 | 3 | 26 |
| 41 to 44 | 14 | 19 |
| 45 to 48 | 6 | 22 |
| 49 to 52 | 0 | 2 |
| 53 to 56 | 0 | 6 |
| 57 to 60 | 0 | 6 |
| 61 to 64 | 0 | 14 |
| 65 to 68 | 0 | 18 |
| 69 to 72 | 0 | 17 |
| 73 to 76 | 4 | 42 |
| 77 to 80 | 0 | 3 |
| 81 to 84 | 0 | 2 |
| 85 to 88 | 0 | 1 |
| 89 to 92 | 6 | 8 |
| 93 to 96 | 1 | 8 |
| 97 to 100 | 4 | 0 |
| 101 to 104 | 2 | 4 |
| 105 to 108 | 6 | 4 |
| 109 to 112 | 2 | 10 |
| 113 to 116 | 4 | 9 |
| 117 to 120 | 5 | 16 |
| 121 to 124 | 9 | 9 |
| 125 to 128 | 35 | 37 |
| 129 to 132 | 20 | 40 |
| 133 to 136 | 5 | 8 |
| 137 to 140 | 0 | 15 |
| 141 to 144 | 8 | 18 |
| 145 to 148 | 3 | 13 |
| 149 to 152 | 1 | 3 |
| 153 to 156 | 2 | 0 |
| 157 to 160 | 9 | 38 |
| 161 to 164 | 0 | 4 |
| 165 to 168 | 1 | 5 |
| 169 to 172 | 0 | 2 |
| 173 to 176 | 0 | 5 |
| 177 to 180 | 0 | 7 |
| 181 to 184 | 14 | 12 |
| 185 to 188 | 3 | 6 |
| 189 to 191 | 0 | 1 |
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.
SUSAN: You’re thinking about how to turn this into a song, aren’t you? KARESSA: NOW IT'S OFF OUR CHEST
JUDY: So why don’t we just start by throwing out some ideas that come to mind when I say the word “America”? PEGGY: George Washington. JUDY: Excellent.
KIM: The Constitution? JUDY: Yes.
JUDY: That is incredible. PEGGY: A window looking out on a field. KIM: Aww. I think of cute little bunnies and cute little squirrelys.
JUDY: ... and finally, in a small number of users, there were reports of toxic shock syndrome, resulting in brief hospitalization. JUDY: There are no bad ideas. PEGGY: Free Oil. JUDY: Love it.
Exhibit B: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 25 are women's.
181 lines from women, 546 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who's in it
31 women and 46 men in the cast. 14 women and 12 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit D: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 5 of 870.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 129 lines.
Every line of dialogue, first to last
- First line by a woman
- Longest stretch with no woman speaking
Words spoken
Women speak 22% of the words (1,644), men 78% (5,973). Women have 25% 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
7
Two men
44
Exhibit F: behind the camera
4 of the 13 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 35% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Lin-Manuel Miranda (man)
- Written by
- Steven Levenson (man)
- Produced by
- Julie Oh (woman), Lin-Manuel Miranda (man), Ron Howard (man), Brian Grazer (man)
- Shot by
- Alice Brooks (woman)
- Edited by
- Andrew Weisblum (man), Myron Kerstein (man)
- Production design by
- Alex DiGerlando (man), Lydia Marks (woman)
- Costumes by
- Melissa Toth (woman)
- Cast by
- Bernard Telsey (man)
The crew, department by department
-
Costume & Make-Up
7 women, 3 men, 10 not listed
-
Art
4 women, 3 men, 9 not listed
-
Other crew
1 women, 8 men, 5 not listed
-
Sound
1 women, 9 men, 4 not listed
-
Production
5 women, 5 men, 3 not listed
-
Camera
2 women, 3 men, 4 not listed
-
Directing
1 women, 4 men, 1 not listed
-
Visual Effects
2 women, 2 men, 1 not listed
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit G: how old the stars were
Women: 41 on average. Men: 45 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Alexandra Shipp 30, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez 30, Vanessa Hudgens 32, Judith Light 72
Men
Robin de Jesús 37, Joshua Henry 37, Andrew Garfield 38, Jonathan Marc Sherman 53, Bradley Whitford 62
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 191 scenes and 870 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
