5. Drama about unemployed
mother (Julia Roberts) that
finds job as litigator
Discovers cover up of
industrial poisoning and
sues
Film grossed over 256
million dollars
Academy Award for Best
Actress
(Scott, 2000)
6. Brockovich interviews several women about
the effects they are experiencing due to the
poisoning
Brockovich discusses the factors and goals of
the court case with other female characters
7. Film adaption of Broadway
musical
Aspiring performers, Roxie
(Renee Zellweger) and Velma
(Catherine Zeta-Jones),
stand trial for murder
Grossed 306 million dollars
Academy Award for Best
Picture
(Mitchell, 2002)
8. Roxie and Velma frequently discuss stardom,
fame and their future careers
Roxie and Velma discuss the rules of the
prison and strategies for their trials with the
female warden
9. Spanish drama about Raimunda
(Penelope Cruz), who murders
her husband after he attempts
to rape their daughter
Film centers around women in
Raimunda’s family (mother,
daughter, sister, aunt)
Grossed 84 million dollars
Academy Award for Best
Actress
(Scott, 2006)
10. Women in Raimunda’s family frequently
discuss the history and current state of their
family
Women in family talk about the ghost of
Raimunda’s mother
11. Drama about Elizabeth
Gilbert (Julia Roberts) travels
around the world after
divorce
Lessons she learns in Italy,
India and Indonesia
Grossed 204 million
Received mixed reviews
(Scott, 2010)
12. Gilbert speaks with women from various
countries about their lifestyles, customs,
children, religion, and food
Gilbert speaks with female friend about self-
discovery and life transitions
13. Drama about Skeeter Phelan
(Emma Stone) as she
interviews African American
maids in Jackson, Mississippi
during the Civil Rights era
Releases book chronicling
their experiences
Grossed 211 million
Received positive reviews
(Dargis, 2011)
14. Skeeter interviews African American women
about the discrimination they experience
The women open up about their childhoods, jobs
and children
Skeeter talks about her goals and future as a
writer with female friends
Women discuss the book that Skeeter releases
15. Want to know if your favorite
movie passes the Bechdel test?
Check out this site:
http://bechdeltest.com/
16. Dargis, M. (2011, August, 9). ‘The maids’ now have their say. The New
York Times. Retrieved from
http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/movies/the-help-spans-two-
worlds-white-and-black-review.html
Kesler, J. (2010, December 28). The Bechdel test: It’s not about passing.
The Hathor Legacy. Retrieved from http://thehathorlegacy.com/the-
bechdel-test-its-not-about-passing/
Mitchell, E. (2002, December 27). ‘Chicago’ bare legs and all, makes it to
film. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE0DC113CF934A15
751C1A9649C8B63
Scott, A.O. (2000, March 27). High ideals, higher heels. The New York
Times. Retrieved from
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9805EED8163AF934A25
750C0A9669C8B63
Scott, A.O. (2006, November 3). The darkest of troubles in the brightest
of colors. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http://movies.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/movies/03volv.html?_r=0
Scott, A.O. (2010, August, 12). Globe-trotting and soul-searching. The
New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/movies/13eat.html?pagewanted
=all
