GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Movie Industry Statistics

Diversity improves box office and industry, but representation remains limited worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Films with diverse leads tend to outperform the average box office gross by 28%

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Films directed by women earned 12% more at the box office on average than those directed by men in 2022

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Increasing diversity in film casts correlates with a 15% rise in international box office revenue

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Women held 22.4% of director positions in the top 250 grossing films of 2022

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Films directed by women made up 16% of the top 100 grossing films in 2022

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The share of women screenwriters in Hollywood increased to 31% in 2022, from 25% in 2018

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The number of female directors in independent films rose by 18% from 2021 to 2023

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The percentage of female producers in Hollywood increased to 27% in 2022, from 20% in 2018

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The share of women in key creative roles like editing and cinematography increased to 35% in 2022, from 28% in 2019

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48% of Hollywood executives in 2022 believed that increasing diversity is necessary for industry growth

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Netflix invested $100 million to improve diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2023

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55% of creatives in the industry believe that improved diversity leads to better storytelling

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71% of Americans believe diversity initiatives are important for the future of the film industry

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The percentage of films with diverse production teams rose to 45% in 2022, from 33% in 2019

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Only 8% of writers in Hollywood were people of color in 2022

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The number of short films made by marginalized creators increased by 15% from 2020 to 2022

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41% of film industry workers in 2022 identified as belonging to an underrepresented group

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47% of film students in 2022 identified as belonging to an underrepresented ethnic group

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The number of films made by indigenous filmmakers increased by 10% from 2020 to 2023

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Diversity-focused film festivals saw a 20% increase in submissions in 2022, indicating growing interest among filmmakers

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In 2022, films featuring diverse casts accounted for 21% of all major studio releases

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Only 13% of speaking characters in 2022 movies were people of color

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In 2021, 23% of major film characters were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups

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In 2020, only 4.4% of directors working on the top 100 films were Black women

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The percentage of Latinx characters in leading roles increased to 11% in 2022, from 4% in 2017

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42% of film and TV roles for Asian actors were for leading characters in 2022

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In 2023, 34% of top-grossing films featured LGBTQ+ characters

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Films with diverse casts have a higher likelihood of winning awards—62% of Best Picture nominations in 2022 included diverse characters

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In the UK, 14% of insured films had diverse leads in 2022, compared to 6% in 2017

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The percentage of minority-led films in major festivals increased to 26% in 2022, from 15% in 2019

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Hollywood's most diverse studio, Warner Bros., produced 13% more diverse films in 2022 compared to previous years

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57% of moviegoers in the US believe diversity influences their movie choices

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The representation of disabled characters in films increased slightly to 4.5% in 2022, from 3.8% in 2019

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The percentage of LGBTQ+ characters in children’s movies rose to 9% in 2022, from 5% in 2018

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The percentage of films featuring female protagonists increased to 33% in 2022, up from 27% in 2018

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In 2022, 19% of speaking roles in Oscar-winning films were held by people from ethnic minorities

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36% of new film projects initiated in Hollywood in 2023 were explicitly aimed at increasing diversity

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The representation of Native American characters in mainstream films reached 2.3% in 2022, from 1.2% in 2019

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66% of movie audiences support more diverse casting, according to a 2023 survey

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Only 6% of blockbuster films in 2022 featured disabled protagonists

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The share of female-led horror films increased to 23% in 2022, from 15% in 2018

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58% of movie theater attendees in the US prefer films with diverse casts

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In the top 100 box office hits of 2022, 20% featured a non-white lead character

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Only 9% of leading roles in 2022 movies were given to actors aged over 60

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62% of Hollywood executives in 2023 said they prioritized hiring diverse talent

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In 2023, 25% of new film projects aimed to specifically enhance representation of marginalized groups

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The number of films depicting disabled characters increased by 15% from 2019 to 2022

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72% of viewers in 2023 support more inclusive storytelling in mainstream movies

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Key Highlights

In 2022, films featuring diverse casts accounted for 21% of all major studio releases
Women held 22.4% of director positions in the top 250 grossing films of 2022
Only 13% of speaking characters in 2022 movies were people of color
In 2021, 23% of major film characters were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
Films directed by women made up 16% of the top 100 grossing films in 2022
In 2020, only 4.4% of directors working on the top 100 films were Black women
The percentage of Latinx characters in leading roles increased to 11% in 2022, from 4% in 2017
42% of film and TV roles for Asian actors were for leading characters in 2022
Only 8% of writers in Hollywood were people of color in 2022
Films with diverse leads tend to outperform the average box office gross by 28%
In 2023, 34% of top-grossing films featured LGBTQ+ characters
The share of women screenwriters in Hollywood increased to 31% in 2022, from 25% in 2018
Films with diverse casts have a higher likelihood of winning awards—62% of Best Picture nominations in 2022 included diverse characters

Despite ongoing challenges, the film industry is making notable strides toward embracing diversity, with 2022 showcasing increased representation of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ characters, and marginalized groups, and studies revealing that films featuring diverse casts outperform their counterparts by 28% at the box office, reflecting a growing recognition that inclusion drives both creativity and profitability.

Financial Performance and Audience Support Related to Diversity

Films with diverse leads tend to outperform the average box office gross by 28%
Films directed by women earned 12% more at the box office on average than those directed by men in 2022
Increasing diversity in film casts correlates with a 15% rise in international box office revenue

Financial Performance and Audience Support Related to Diversity Interpretation

These statistics reveal that embracing diversity in film not only promotes social equity but also delivers a profitable encore—proving that inclusion isn't just the right thing to do, it's a smart box office strategy.

Gender and Sexual Orientation in Film Industry Roles

Women held 22.4% of director positions in the top 250 grossing films of 2022
Films directed by women made up 16% of the top 100 grossing films in 2022
The share of women screenwriters in Hollywood increased to 31% in 2022, from 25% in 2018
The number of female directors in independent films rose by 18% from 2021 to 2023
The percentage of female producers in Hollywood increased to 27% in 2022, from 20% in 2018
The share of women in key creative roles like editing and cinematography increased to 35% in 2022, from 28% in 2019

Gender and Sexual Orientation in Film Industry Roles Interpretation

While women are gradually carving out more space behind the scenes in Hollywood—rising from 25% to 31% as screenwriters and from 20% to 27% as producers—gender parity remains distant, suggesting that the industry's pursuit of diversity is more sprint than marathon.

Industry Initiatives, Investment, and Industry Perception

48% of Hollywood executives in 2022 believed that increasing diversity is necessary for industry growth
Netflix invested $100 million to improve diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2023
55% of creatives in the industry believe that improved diversity leads to better storytelling
71% of Americans believe diversity initiatives are important for the future of the film industry
The percentage of films with diverse production teams rose to 45% in 2022, from 33% in 2019

Industry Initiatives, Investment, and Industry Perception Interpretation

With nearly half of Hollywood's leadership recognizing that embracing diversity fuels industry growth and a majority of Americans and creatives alike valuing inclusion as essential for compelling storytelling, the film industry is increasingly turning diversity from a moral imperative into a blockbuster business strategy.

Regional and Demographic Diversity Trends

Only 8% of writers in Hollywood were people of color in 2022
The number of short films made by marginalized creators increased by 15% from 2020 to 2022
41% of film industry workers in 2022 identified as belonging to an underrepresented group
47% of film students in 2022 identified as belonging to an underrepresented ethnic group
The number of films made by indigenous filmmakers increased by 10% from 2020 to 2023
Diversity-focused film festivals saw a 20% increase in submissions in 2022, indicating growing interest among filmmakers

Regional and Demographic Diversity Trends Interpretation

While only 8% of Hollywood writers were people of color in 2022, the rising numbers of films by marginalized and indigenous creators, along with increased participation in diversity-focused festivals, suggest that the industry’s brightest films and voices are finally beginning to reflect the rich mosaic of society—though there's still much room for growth.

Representation of Diversity in Casting and Characters

In 2022, films featuring diverse casts accounted for 21% of all major studio releases
Only 13% of speaking characters in 2022 movies were people of color
In 2021, 23% of major film characters were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
In 2020, only 4.4% of directors working on the top 100 films were Black women
The percentage of Latinx characters in leading roles increased to 11% in 2022, from 4% in 2017
42% of film and TV roles for Asian actors were for leading characters in 2022
In 2023, 34% of top-grossing films featured LGBTQ+ characters
Films with diverse casts have a higher likelihood of winning awards—62% of Best Picture nominations in 2022 included diverse characters
In the UK, 14% of insured films had diverse leads in 2022, compared to 6% in 2017
The percentage of minority-led films in major festivals increased to 26% in 2022, from 15% in 2019
Hollywood's most diverse studio, Warner Bros., produced 13% more diverse films in 2022 compared to previous years
57% of moviegoers in the US believe diversity influences their movie choices
The representation of disabled characters in films increased slightly to 4.5% in 2022, from 3.8% in 2019
The percentage of LGBTQ+ characters in children’s movies rose to 9% in 2022, from 5% in 2018
The percentage of films featuring female protagonists increased to 33% in 2022, up from 27% in 2018
In 2022, 19% of speaking roles in Oscar-winning films were held by people from ethnic minorities
36% of new film projects initiated in Hollywood in 2023 were explicitly aimed at increasing diversity
The representation of Native American characters in mainstream films reached 2.3% in 2022, from 1.2% in 2019
66% of movie audiences support more diverse casting, according to a 2023 survey
Only 6% of blockbuster films in 2022 featured disabled protagonists
The share of female-led horror films increased to 23% in 2022, from 15% in 2018
58% of movie theater attendees in the US prefer films with diverse casts
In the top 100 box office hits of 2022, 20% featured a non-white lead character
Only 9% of leading roles in 2022 movies were given to actors aged over 60
62% of Hollywood executives in 2023 said they prioritized hiring diverse talent
In 2023, 25% of new film projects aimed to specifically enhance representation of marginalized groups
The number of films depicting disabled characters increased by 15% from 2019 to 2022
72% of viewers in 2023 support more inclusive storytelling in mainstream movies

Representation of Diversity in Casting and Characters Interpretation

Despite gradual strides in diversifying casts—rising from 4.4% Black women directors in 2020 to a notable 62% of Oscar-winning roles featuring minorities—Hollywood still films a predominantly one-color, ageist, and often ableist tableau, suggesting that while audiences and awards are eager for inclusion, the industry’s reel remains a work in progress.