You are here:

What Women Want

Name: What Women Want
Director: Nancy Meyers
Released: 2000
Duration: 127 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2000

PG-13

Director

Nancy Meyers

Runtime

127 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

What Women Want succeeds in challenging traditional male-centric communication patterns. By focusing on the protagonist's forced empathy towards women, the film questions the dominance of the chauvinistic male archetype and highlights the professional ability to act of women. However, the film's benefits are limited by its narrow, homogeneous corporate setting that overlooks diverse racial, LGBTQ+, and disability perspectives. Ultimately, it functions as a mainstream commercial comedy that critiques specific gendered behaviors while maintaining a traditional social hierarchy.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does What Women Want have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does What Women Want portray gender?

Good

The narrative challenges traditional gender hierarchies by showing a chauvinistic man learning to understand women's inner lives. It also highlights the professional barriers faced by women and their intellectual depth.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What Women Want?

Limited

The cast is predominantly made up of white, upper-middle-class individuals, reflecting a narrow racial and socioeconomic background.

How does What Women Want represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story focuses on high-end consumerism and capitalist success, offering a mild critique of traditional masculinity but avoiding religious or cultural themes.

Does What Women Want include disability representation?

Minimal

The supernatural ability to hear thoughts is used as a comedic element and does not explore neurodivergence or lived disability experiences.

Present on Screen

Highlights the limitations of the chauvinistic male archetype.
Shows female characters with significant intellectual and emotional depth in a professional context.
Uses a unique narrative conceit to address male-centric communication and power imbalances.

Limited or Absent

Needs more racial and ethnic diversity in the cast.
Does not represent LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth perspectives.
Uses the supernatural ability as a comedic tool without exploring disability.

Official Synopsis

Advertising executive Nick Marshall is as cocky as they come, but what happens to a chauvinistic guy when he can suddenly hear what women are thinking? Nick gets passed over for a promotion, but after an accident enables him to hear women's thoughts, he puts his newfound talent to work against Darcy, his new boss, who seems to be infatuated with him.

How are these scores produced? →