Overview

• 2023 saw only 30 of the top 100 grossing films featuring women in leading roles, a sharp decline from 44 in 2022.
• The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report highlights a 'catastrophic step back' for women in film, contradicting the narrative of 2023 as the 'year of the woman'.
• Despite a slight increase in films led by actors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women of color saw decreased representation in leading roles.
• Only three films featured women aged 45 or older in leading roles, underscoring the industry's failure to represent older women.
• The report criticizes major studios for not fulfilling their diversity and inclusion commitments, noting that smaller distributors and international films drove the slight increase in diversity.