2020: 152 films, 45 rewatches, 1 in theaters (pre-pandemic), 62% passed the Bechdel test
2019: 158 films, 42 rewatches, 9 in theaters
In 2019, I began to track every film I watched, noting if it was something I was rewatching or if it was seen in theaters. Then in 2020, I added the exact date I watched the film, which enabled me to get a better snapshot of the year. When I was transcribing the data, I checked to see if the films passed the Bechdel test (https://bechdeltest.com/). Below, my partner visualized this data in various ways, looking at genres, release date, cumulative run time, and other miscellaneous characteristics.
Film genres: A lot more science fiction and fantasy escapism—likely owing in large part to watching all of the Planet of the Apes films (original five, three prequel films, but still haven’t seen Tim Burton’s!) and rewatching both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
Release date: The seminar I took on Jean Cocteau skewed the films earlier in the Spring, but the large number of 2020 films throughout and especially at the end owes to digital releases.
Watching time: Pretty steady progress throughout the year despite shifting lockdown regulations.
Misc. characteristics: While the majority of films passed the Bechdel test—defined as having (1) two female characters, (2) who talk to each other, and (3) discuss something other than a man—fewer featured female protagonists and even fewer had women directors.
Full list:
Long Shot
Rango
Midsommar
Catch Me if You Can
The Time Machine
Hustlers
The Farewell
Isn’t it Romantic?
Otherhood
Uncut Gems
Where’d You Go Bernadette?
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Star Trek: First Contact
Joker
The Birdcage
Velvet Buzzsaw
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You
Coraline
Kill Bill: Volume 2
Knives Out
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Muppet Movie
Frozen 2
Frost/Nixon
The Usual Suspects
Planet of the Apes
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Testament of Orpheus
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
The Aeronauts
Howard’s End
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
La Belle et la Bête
Despicable Me
The Terminator
Terminator T2
Train to Busan
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Onward
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Body Snatchers
Sea Fever
GoldenEye
Superman
Blood of a Poet
Orphée
Song of the Sea
Frances Ha
The Price of Everything
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Bad Education
The Two Popes
Force Majeure
Chicken Run
The Artist
Circus of Books
Tootsie
Sweet Home Alabama
Paprika
Harry Potter 1
Harry Potter 2
Harry Potter 3
Harry Potter 4
Harry Potter 5
Harry Potter 6
Harry Potter 7
Harry Potter 7: II
The Vast of Night
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
War for the Planet of the Apes
Miss Congeniality
Florida Project
Days of Future Past
Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened
Fyre Fraud
X-Men Apocalypse
Death of Stalin
Coherence
Avatar
Marriage of Maria Braun
Tron Legacy
Independence Day
Stargate
King Kong
Palm Springs
Pride
Star Trek: Generations
The Mummy
The Rental
The Mummy Returns
Pirates of the Caribbean
Hamilton
The Manchurian Candidate
War of the Worlds
Boys State
Raiders!
Salt
Star Trek: Insurrection
Enola Holmes
Galaxy Quest
The Boys in the Band
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Skyfall
Spectre
Doctor Sleep
Beetlejuice
Munich
Death Becomes Her
Nocturne
Little Shop of Hororrs
All of Me
The Witches
Save Yourselves
Borat 2
Sour Grapes
Ghostbusters
Yes, God, Yes
The Contender
Oculus
Pleasantville
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
Howl’s Moving Castle
Ford v. Ferrari
Fermat’s Room
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb
Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way
Terminator: Dark Fate
Maurice
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Happiest Season
Meet the Parents
Meet the Fockers
Little Fockers
Steve Jobs
Whip It
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Flightplan
Christmas on the Square
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Love Actually
Free Solo
Tenet
Meru
Superintelligence
Taking of Pelham 123