Which DC Movies Are the Most Feminist?

Superhero movies aren’t exactly famous for female representation. Generally, that representation comes in the form of leather swimsuit-esque costumes and little else. In 1985, Alison Bechdel wrote a comic strip called The Rule, which appeared in Dykes to Watch Out For.

The Rule became the basis for what we know of now as the Bechdel Test: simply, it’s a test for gauging female representation in a film. There are three rules. First, there must be at least two named women in it. Second, those women have to talk to each other. And third, their conversation has to be about something besides a man.

So, of course, we decided to create our own DC movies Bechdel Test rankings. The results may actually surprise you.

Batman Returns (1992)

If you were hoping Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle would be enough of a badass female character to carry Batman Returns into a higher position on this list, we’re sorry to disappoint you.

Not only are there zero woman to woman conversations to try and break down by topic, but there isn’t even a second named female character. Zero out of three — “Ice Princess” and “Poodle Lady” are not names, dammit.

Batman Forever (1995)

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Sure, there are named women in 1995’s Batman Forever — one of them is even a doctor! But do any of them actually talk to each other? No. Let alone have the opportunity to discuss non-man related topics.

One out of three, although Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar’s Sugar and Spice should be enough to drop it down to a zero.

Green Lantern (2011)

Thankfully, by 2011, we’ve at least reached the point in superhero films where we can have more than one named female. For Green Lantern, that means Carol Ferris and Amanda Waller. And that’s… all we can have.

One out of three — Green Lantern is a steaming pile of garbage in general, but it’s a hair better than Batman Forever.

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Ah, the very first of DC’s live action superhero films. Surprisingly, it isn’t the worst offender on our list.

Of course, that’s only because of Kitka (The Catwoman) and Aunt Harriet Cooper. One out of three — and still a higher position than Batman Forever — because Batman: The Movie is an intentionally campy romp.