It’s a Man’s Celluloid World: Portrayals of Female Characters in the Top Grossing U.S. Films of 2024
EXCERPT:
In 2024, the percentage of top grossing films featuring female protagonists equaled the percentage of films with male protagonists. 42% of the 100 top domestic grossing films had female protagonists and 42% had male protagonists. 16% of films featured ensembles. The percentages of female characters in speaking roles increased only 2 percentage points, from 35% in 2023 to 37% in 2024. The percentage of major female characters rose a single percentage point, from 38% in 2023 to 39% in 2024. Ageism remains an issue. The percentage of female characters plummeted from 35% in their 30s to 16% in their 40s. In stark contrast, the percentage of male characters increased as they moved from their 30s (25%) to their 40s (31%). More than twice as many male characters as females were 50 and older. Now in its 23rd year, It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World is the longest-running and most comprehensive project examining women’s representation in film available.