‘Barbie,’ ‘A Thousand and One’ and ‘Joy Ride’ Rank Among the Inclusion List’s 150 Most Inclusive Films

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In 2023, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” shattered box office records, embodying the strength of inclusivity. However, this groundbreaking $1.45 billion-earning movie ranks as the 119th most inclusive film among those produced in the last five years, according to the Inclusion List, demonstrating that there’s still a long way to go in fostering diversity on screen.

Each year, Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, in partnership with the Adobe Foundation, publish a comprehensive list. This list is based on data analysis and recognizes the 150 most inclusive films produced from 2019 to 2023. The ranking also compares the representation of different groups (gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, disability, and age) within a single year’s film releases.

Dr. Smith announced in a press statement that our intention behind the Inclusion List is to honor individuals who are demonstrating remarkable talent from diverse backgrounds. In its second year, this updated version of the Inclusion List highlights movies, directors, and distributors who embody the idea that inclusivity contributes significantly to outstanding entertainment,” Dr. Smith said.

In terms of inclusivity over the past five years, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” (2022) takes the lead, while A. V. Rockwell’s “A Thousand and One,” released in 2023, comes in second place. Other notable films such as “Bottoms,” “The Color Purple,” and “The Blackening” have also made it to the top 10, with rankings of No. 7, 9, and 10 respectively.

In comparison to other movies assessed, “Barbie” scored exceptionally high (top 3.33%) for gender inclusivity, whereas “A Thousand and One” ranked even higher at the very top (0.67%).

1. In the realm of representing girls and women both on-screen and behind the camera, “Barbie”, “A Thousand and One”, “You Hurt My Feelings”, “The Marvels” and “Priscilla” stand out as top performers.

2. For exceptional representation of underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, “Joy Ride”, “A Thousand and One”, “The Color Purple”, “House Party” and “The Blackening” scored the highest.

3. Movies that excel in LGBTQ+ representation include “All of Us Strangers”, “Theater Camp”, “Bottoms”, “Knock at the Cabin” and “Saltburn”.

4. Works featuring people with disabilities prominently are “What Happens Later”, “John Wick: Chapter 4”, “Moving On”, “Golda” and “The Holdovers”.

5. Lastly, “Book Club: The Next Chapter”, “Moving On”, “Marlowe”, “The Miracle Club” and “Golda” have received the highest scores for their representation of individuals aged 65 and above on screen.

2023 films in the top 150 of the Inclusion List include “Origin,” “American Fiction,” “Past Lives,” “Chevalier,” “Journey to Bethlehem,” “Sound of Freedom,” “Love Again,” “Saw X,” “Transformers: Rise of the Beast,” “80 for Brady,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Missing,” “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” “It Lives Inside,” “About My Father,” “Silent Night,” “65,” “Big George Foreman,” “Cocaine Bear,” “Blue Beetle,” “Creed III,” and “The Creator.” These are some of the other notable films to look forward to in 2023.

This round of the Inclusion List highlights five directors and a group of eight editors who have made significant strides towards inclusivity in film over the past five years. As Dr. Smith explained, our intention is to shine a light on these talented creators to emphasize the importance of their voices in shaping narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Among over 400 film directors reviewed during this time, Catherine Hardwicke (“Mafia Mamma,” “Miss Bala”), Olivia Wilde (“Booksmart,” “Don’t Worry Darling”), Destin Daniel Cretton (“Just Mercy,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Reinaldo Marcus Green (“King Richard,” “Joe Bell”), and Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet,” “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody”) had the highest proportion of women and diverse individuals serving as department or unit heads on their films, compared to others evaluated.

The editors Annette Davey, Anne McCabe, Blair McClendon, Catrin Hedström, Hilda Rasula, Harry Yoon, Mary Jo Markey, and Terilyn A. Shropshire were recognized as the most inclusive in their field by having multiple films on the list that celebrate diversity.

The leading movie distributors were organized based on the number of films they had on the list. Universal Pictures topped the list among major studios, as they contributed 29 movies, followed by Sony Pictures Entertainment with 21 and Warner Bros. with 18. In terms of independent distributors, A24 took the lead with 14 films, then came Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) with 10, and Bleecker Street in third place with 9 movies.

I’ve compiled an extensive report on the 100 most inclusive TV series, covering both broadcast and cable programs from the 2021-22 season, as well as streaming series spanning 2021 to 2023. You can find all the details, including the methodology, at inclusionlist.org.

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2025-01-22 17:48