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Stacy L. Smith -

Stacy L. Smith (pictured), an associate professor of communication and the founder of the Inclusion Initiative at USC's (University of Southern California) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, stated, “This is the first time we can say that gender equality has been reached in top-grossing films.” 

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Stacy L. Smith -

She went on to stress, “This is not the result of an economic awakening, but is due to a number of different constituencies and efforts, at advocacy groups, at studios, through DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives, to assert the need for equality on screen.”

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Hollywood finally lands on gender equality -

Female-led films such as ‘Wicked’ with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, ‘Anora’ with Mikey Madison, ‘The Substance’ with Demi Moore, and Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (pictured) paved the yellow brick way for these gains in Hollywood gender equality.

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A positive leap -

Comparing the 100 top-grossing films of 2023 and 2024 reveals a major improvement. In 2023, 54 films featured a girl or woman in a lead or co-lead role, while in 2024, there were only 30 movies featuring a female-identified protagonist.

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Films making a statement -

“Films such as ‘The Substance’ pushed back hard against a culture that considers women disposable,” Dr. Martha Lauzen, founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, publicly stated.

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Disney leads in girl power -

“In 2024, three of the top five films had a girl or woman in a leading role, as did five of the top 10 films—including the No.1 film of the year, Disney’s ‘Inside Out 2,’” continued Stacy L. Smith.

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Fading color -

However, the study also highlights that leads and co-leads from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups have declined significantly, as only 25 of the top 100 films featured a lead of color in 2024. This was a decrease from 2023 when 37 leads or co-leads were people of color.

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More stats -

A third of all Paramount Pictures films released in 2024 featured a lead or co-lead of color, with Lionsgate (27.3%) and Universal Pictures (26.7%) having similar demographics. Walt Disney Studios (20%), Sony Pictures Entertainment (15.4%) and Warner Bros Pictures (11.1%) reflected even lower numbers.

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USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative on sexuality -

The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report also revealed that in 2024, there were no nonbinary actors with a leading role among the top-grossing films, but, for the first time, there was one transgender actor with a leading role (Hunter Schafer in 'Cuckoo').

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Ageism -

A separate recent study, titled 'It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World: Portrayals of Female Characters in the Top Grossing US Films of 2024,' by the previously mentioned Dr. Martha M. Lauzen, revealed that ageism remains a significant issue in Hollywood.

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It's still a man's world -

The percentage of female characters plummeted from 35% in their 30s to just 16% in their 40s. In stark contrast, the percentage of male characters increased as they moved from their 30s (25%) to their 40s (31%). Additionally, more than twice as many male characters as female characters were aged 50 or older.

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White women demonstrated highest growth -

The study also found that in 2024, white women dominated major film roles, rising to 67.3% from 54.7% in 2023. Black female representation saw a slight increase to 17.4%.

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Female ethnicity stats continued -

Latina (4.3%), Asian or Asian American (6.4%), Native American (0.4%), and MENA (0.4%) representation all declined. Multiracial representation remained steady at 1.1%, but the most significant drop was in the "other race or ethnicity" category, which fell sharply from 11.6% to 2.8%.

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A positive step but more to be done -

So, while representation for women in leading or co-lead roles may have hit a record high in the top-grossing films of 2024, opportunities for women of color and women over 30 appear to have taken a sharp decline.

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Netflix is leading by example -

“This downturn signifies a lack of investment in storytelling that reflects the audience as a whole. The reality is that audiences want to see stories about women and people of color, studios and filmmakers do not have to choose between the two,” Smith said, crediting Netflix as a company that has successfully reached proportional representation for gender and race/ethnicity.

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Record breaking year for women, but not all women -

Thirteen films in 2024 had a woman of color star or co-star, which is similar to USC’s 2023 report and higher than the 2007 report. The study’s lead author Katherine Neff said: “While this year’s findings mark a historic step towards proportional representation for women, there is still work to be done for women of color.”

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A green beacon of light -

One movie exquisitely celebrated female leads, racial diversity, disability inclusion, LGBTQ+ representation, and even animal rights! It may not have made number one in the box office charts, but this green phenomenon was undoubtedly the number one film on everyone's lips by the end of the year. 

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'Wicked' -

When it comes to movies, 2024 was the year of ‘Wicked.' With two powerhouse female leads—one, a globally renowned American pop star of Italian descent, the other, an award-winning British stage actress, singer, and songwriter with Nigerian roots, the film was a cultural moment in itself. 

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Cynthia Erivo -

But beyond its star power, 'Wicked' also broke barriers in authentic representation. Cynthia Erivo took on the iconic role of Elphaba, making history as only the second Black woman to play the Wicked Witch in the musical’s 22-year history.

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Cynthia Erivo -

The first was Alexia Khadime in the West End production from 2008 to 2013. Cynthia was also given artistic space to influence how Elphaba looked, which is why she has braids, freckles, and long nails, so the role still celebrated and recognized that under the green there is a black woman.

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Marissa Bode -

Another significant landmark came with the casting of Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s paraplegic younger sister. Since the musical’s Broadway debut in 2003, the role had never been played by a disabled actor—until now. Bode became the first wheelchair user to portray Nessarose, marking a long-overdue milestone in authentic representation.

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Women of color as leads or co-leads in 2024 -

The major box office films featuring women of color as leads or co-leads in 2024 include: Cynthia Erivo in ‘Wicked,' Auli’i Cravalho in ‘Moana 2,' and Lupita Nyong’o in ‘The Wild Robot,’ and ‘A Quiet Place: Day One.'

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Women of color as leads or co-leads in 2024 -

Naomi Scott in ‘Smile 2,' Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,' DeWanda Wise in ‘Imaginary,' Melissa Barrera in ‘Abigail,' Naomi Ackie in ‘Blink Twice,' Nika King in ‘Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,' Ryan Destiny in ‘The Fire Inside,' and Ariana DeBose in ‘I.S.S.’.

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The top five female-led films of 2024 -

Continue to discover the top five female-led films of 2024, based on worldwide box office earnings.

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5. 'A Quiet Place: Day One' US$261M -

The prequel features a strong female protagonist portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o. She must find her way to safety after monsters descend in a terrifying, post-apocalyptic world.

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4. 'It Ends with Us' US$351M -

Blake Lively plays Lily Bloom, leading a complex story of love and resilience based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel.

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3. 'Wicked' US$723M -

Featuring two powerful female leads, Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba while Ariana Grande portrays Glinda, 'Wicked' breaks new ground in its film adaptation, showcasing the strength, complexity, and vulnerability of women in a magical world.

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2. 'Moana 2' US$1.04B -

Auli'i Cravalho reprises her role as Moana, the courageous and inspiring leader who embarks on a new adventure in this empowering sequel.

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1. 'Inside Out 2' US$1.69B -

'Inside Out 2' follows character Riley’s emotional growth as she navigates adolescence with her emotions; Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, continuing to play crucial roles in shaping her experiences. The film highlights the complexities of growing up through a female-driven emotional narrative.

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End credits -

While Hollywood has made significant strides in achieving gender equality in top-grossing films, the industry still has a long way to go in ensuring that diversity of race and age is not just an exception but the norm.

Sources: (Reuters) (Box Office Mojo) (The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative) (The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film)

See also: The best movies of 2024

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