In 2013, female-driven films killed in the box office. TIME magazine reported that movies released last year passing the Bechdel test made $1.55 billion more than movies that didn’t. The Bechdel test, for those of you who aren’t fans of the “Dykes to Watch Out For” comic strip, is a standard that works of fiction are held to in order to determine gender bias. Films, books, TV shows and other forms of entertainment pass the Bechdel test if they contain two or more named female characters, the female characters speak to one another, and their conversations are about something other than men or relationships.
In general, a shockingly low number of films pass the Bechdel test. A running list of these movies is updated on bechdeltest.com. Even though Bechdel test-approved movies in 2013 brought in some serious cash at the box office — think “Catching Fire,” “American Hustle” and “Frozen” — they accounted for only 36 percent of the top 50 highest-grossing movies.
The “if you build it, they will come” principle counts when it comes to women-driven movies. It’s clear that there’s a demand from the public for female action stars, comedians and dramatic actors. Then why are so few movies immune to gender bias?
The sad reality is that even in 2013, most major Hollywood studios — and most TV networks — rely on tired stereotypes when crafting female characters. Although news outlets are quick to tout the successes of movies showcasing deep, witty female characters, 36 percent isn’t nearly enough.
Furthermore, the Bechdel test isn’t exactly the be-all, end-all standard we should be holding the entertainment industry to; it’s merely a jumping-off point. It’s not enough to ask for a minimum of two characters who briefly have conversations that don’t revolve around the ever-present “him.” Hollywood needs films with female stars who reflect women in real life, and women in real life don’t concoct zany plans to trap men or stand idly by while male superheroes save the world. For example, this year the buddy cop flick “The Heat” was a high-grossing film that passed the Bechdel test, but its success was purely commercial. Rotten Tomatoes gave it just a 66 percent rating, and The New Yorker and the Village Voice gave it poor reviews.
The future looks bright for 2014, however. Highly anticipated films such as “Divergent,” “Veronica Mars,” “Maleficent” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I” represent some serious strides forward in the film industry’s women problem. Sales last year showed that audiences want to see female characters on screen getting their hands dirty and fighting evil — with or without a Prince Charming. Money talks, as they say, and perhaps Hollywood execs are finally beginning to listen.
[A version of this editorial ran on page 6 on 1/29/2014 under the headline "Money talks: Americans want female leads"]
