For the first time in history, top-grossing films with female leads are as common as those with male leads, according to studies from the University of Southern California and San Diego State University. The 2024 box office saw over half of the top 100 films featuring a female lead, a significant increase from previous years. While this marks a positive shift, the studies also highlight disparities in representation for people of color and older women.
For the first time in the history of both studies, one conducted at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and one at San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, top-grossing films with female lead s were at least as common as top-grossing films with male leads.
“We’re seeing a real shift in sensibility,” says Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. “This is the first time we can say thatprograms, which studios had been growing and promoting in the years since both of these studies were founded.
The 23-year-old San Diego State study, called “It’s a Man’s World” depicts a similarly groundbreaking level of gender equity on screen in 2024, with researcher Martha Lauzen reporting that 42 percent of the 100 top domestic grossing films had female protagonists, 42 percent had male protagonists and 16 percent featured ensembles.
BOX OFFICE FILM INDUSTRY FEMALE LEAD REPRESENTATION DEI
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These films took the top prizes at Sundance – plus 11 films our critic lovedA documentary deconstructs the true crime genre, an obsessive worms his way into a pop star's entourage, and more standouts from Sundance 2025.
Read more »
Female protagonists reach parity with men in top-grossing films of 2024For the first time in recent history, the percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists equaled the percentage of films with male protagonists, according to a pair of annual studies released Tuesday
Read more »
Female protagonists reach parity with men in top-grossing films of 2024For the first time in recent history, the percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists equaled the percentage of films with male protagonists, according to a pair of annual studies released Tuesday.
Read more »
Katia Passerini Named First Female President of Gonzaga UniversityKatia Passerini, Ph.D., a distinguished higher education leader with a strong background in academia and administration, has been appointed as the next president of Gonzaga University. She will assume her role on July 15, succeeding Thayne M. McCulloh, D.Phil., who served the university for 16 years. Passerini's unanimous appointment marks a historic moment for Gonzaga as she becomes the first woman to lead the institution.
Read more »
Chinese Women Find Their Voice Through ComedyDespite government crackdowns on feminist activism, women in China are finding a platform to express themselves through stand-up comedy and female-led films. A growing number of female comedians are tackling sensitive topics like gender roles and societal expectations, while films like 'Her Story' are breaking box office records with their frank portrayals of female experiences.
Read more »
Elizabeth Cantwell Makes History as First Female President of Washington State UniversityElizabeth Cantwell is set to become the first woman president of Washington State University (WSU), marking a historic moment for the institution. Cantwell, who previously served as president at Utah State University, was selected after a nationwide search that considered 260 potential candidates. She is praised for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to open communication. Cantwell will officially assume her role as WSU's 12th president and also join the WSU engineering faculty.
Read more »