Female Protagonists Featured in Record Number of Films in 2024, Study Finds

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Movies such as “Wicked,” “The Substance,” “A Quiet Place: Part I” and the upcoming “Moana 2” didn’t merely rule the box office; they also offered substantial characters for women in several of this year’s most significant productions.

In a significant shift, the proportion of high-earning movies with leading ladies has finally reached parity with those starring men, as per a recent study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. In the year 2024, out of the 100 highest-grossing domestic films, 42% showcased female leads, mirroring the number of movies with male leads. This is a marked improvement from the previous year, where just 28% of these films were centered around women, while a majority (62%) revolved around men.

2024 presented an extraordinary selection of films with leading female characters, a trend I’ve found remarkably refreshing. These cinematic heroines stood up against unfulfilling personal connections and workplace prejudice. Remarkable films like ‘The Substance’ boldly challenged a society that often devalues women, portraying them as anything but disposable. Martha Lauzen, the founder of the center and the study’s author, made this assertion in a statement.

The film “The Substance” has resonated in Hollywood for a significant reason: it highlights the disparity between the number of roles available to women and men as they age, particularly after the age of 40. While the representation of female characters decreases from 35% in their thirties to just 16% in their forties, the opposite is true for male characters – their representation increases from 25% in their thirties to 31% in their forties. This gender imbalance is evident when considering that only a quarter of female characters are over forty, whereas more than half (55%) of male characters are.

Lauzen pointed out that if we only portray older female characters on screen, we miss out on a variety of stories and life experiences. He stated that our films often overlook the richness of character development that comes from women’s real-life experiences, and the extra tension that arises when a character knows they’re in the later stages of their journey.

The research revealed that nearly one-seventh of the movies released last year showcased ensemble casts, which is an increase from just 9% in the previous year (2023). To arrive at these results, the study concentrated on main characters whose viewpoint the narrative unfolds and acknowledges that due to its focus on the top 100 films, a limited sample size, even small variations can cause significant changes in the final numbers.

This research also analyzed the proportions for all speaking characters and significant female characters from approximately 2000 figures, making these findings more consistent and less likely to experience significant fluctuations in either direction. However, the situation appears less promising. In 2024, the proportion of female characters with speaking roles increased by only 2% to 37%, while the percentage of major female characters rose by a mere 1% to 39%.

In the majority of films released last year (72%), there were more male characters with speaking roles compared to their female counterparts. Conversely, only a small proportion of films (21%) showcased more female characters with speaking roles than males.

By the year 2024, a significant increase was observed in the representation of major female characters who were white, accounting for approximately 67.3%, compared to 54.7% previously. Meanwhile, the number of Black female characters saw an increment, making up about 17.4%, as opposed to 16.7% earlier. However, a decrease was noticed in the representation of Latinas, with just 4.3% compared to 7.6%. Similarly, Asian or Asian American female characters dropped slightly from 6.7% to 6.4%. Representation for Native American female characters also decreased from 0.6% to 0.4%, as did MENA characters, going from 0.9% to 0.4%. The proportion of female characters who identified as multiple races and ethnicities remained relatively stable at about 1.1%, almost equal to the previous figure of 1.2%.

2019’s top films tended to perpetuate traditional gender roles in several ways. Among the 17% of significant characters depicted as leaders, about 63% were male, while nearly 37% were female. Additionally, it was found that male characters were more often shown as employed compared to their female counterparts. In fact, only 62% of male characters with dialogue had a clear job or occupation, whereas this was true for only 38% of female characters.

The person in charge significantly impacts the gender representation in movies. In productions that have at least one female director or writer, approximately 81% of the main characters are female. Conversely, when only men hold these roles, women make up around 33% of the main characters.

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2025-02-11 16:18