Reports for 2024 and 2025 reveal that while overall female leads hit record highs, mature women remain sidelined:
Audiences are increasingly "hungry" for diverse, aspirational stories of mature women. Two in three survey respondents believe realistic menopause stories on screen are important, signaling a major appetite for "ageless beauty" narratives that celebrate maturity rather than fearing it. Menopause Representation and the Big Screen beauty milf pictures
: In 2025, women accounted for only 23% of pivotal behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, producers) in the top 250 films. Audience Demand for Change Reports for 2024 and 2025 reveal that while
: Despite being a universal experience for midlife women, menopause was mentioned in only 6% of films, often as a brief joke rather than a meaningful storyline. Audience Demand for Change : Despite being a
: Despite on-screen gains, 59% of women in media feel dissatisfied with their career progress as of 2025, with attrition highest among mid-career and senior women due to a lack of promotional opportunities.
: Female characters 40+ are twice as likely as men to have plots centered on physical aging (15% vs. 7%).
: Characters aged 50+ make up less than 25% of all personas in blockbuster movies and top-rated TV.