: The percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists plummeted from 42% in 2024 to 29% in 2025 .
: Women directors in the top 100 films hit a seven-year low (8.1%) in 2025.
: Only 8% of female central characters were estimated to be over 35 years old, compared to 38% for their male counterparts. 2. Character Portrayals and Stereotypes
: 59% of films feature older characters as villains, while only 30% portray them as heroes .
: 69% of adults say accurate representation of older adults is important, but only 7% feel it is currently achieved .
: Among characters aged 50+, men outnumber women roughly 4 to 1 in film and 3 to 1 in broadcast television .
frail-frumpy-and-forgotten-report.pdf - Geena Davis Institute
There is a stark disconnect between industry output and audience expectations:
: The percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists plummeted from 42% in 2024 to 29% in 2025 .
: Women directors in the top 100 films hit a seven-year low (8.1%) in 2025.
: Only 8% of female central characters were estimated to be over 35 years old, compared to 38% for their male counterparts. 2. Character Portrayals and Stereotypes
: 59% of films feature older characters as villains, while only 30% portray them as heroes .
: 69% of adults say accurate representation of older adults is important, but only 7% feel it is currently achieved .
: Among characters aged 50+, men outnumber women roughly 4 to 1 in film and 3 to 1 in broadcast television .
frail-frumpy-and-forgotten-report.pdf - Geena Davis Institute
There is a stark disconnect between industry output and audience expectations:
