While the silver screen promises to reflect our world, the stark reality behind the camera tells a different story, where women hold only 28.5% of speaking roles in top films, people of color are systematically underrepresented in key creative positions, and authentic LGBTQ+ and disabled characters remain a glaring exception.
Key Takeaways
- In the top 100 grossing films of 2022, women comprised only 28.5% of speaking or named characters
- Female directors helmed just 16% of the top 250 films in 2022, down from 18% in 2021
- Women made up 22.7% of directors, 26.2% of producers, and 21.6% of writers on the 2022 top-grossing films
- In top 100 films 2021, Black actors were 13.4% of leads despite being 13.6% of U.S. population
- Latinos comprised only 5.7% of speaking roles in top films 2022
- Asian actors in speaking roles: 7.5% in 2022 top 100 films, up from 4.1% in 2019
- In 2022 top films, LGBTQ+ characters were only 1.1% of speaking roles
- GLAAD report 2023: 28% of top films had LGBTQ characters, up from 20% 2021
- Transgender characters: 0.3% across 1000+ films 2019-2022
- In 2022, characters with disabilities were 2.3% of speaking roles in top films
- Visible disabilities on screen: 1.2% leads 2022
- Autistic characters: 0.1% accurate rep 2015-2022
- In 2022, actors over 50 were 28% of speaking roles despite 35% workforce age
- Directors over 60: 45% of top 250 in 2022
- Under 40 leads: 55% in top films 2022
Hollywood's diversity statistics reveal persistent inequity behind and in front of the camera.
Age Diversity
- In 2022, actors over 50 were 28% of speaking roles despite 35% workforce age
- Directors over 60: 45% of top 250 in 2022
- Under 40 leads: 55% in top films 2022
- Senior actors (65+): 12% roles matching demographics
- Women over 40: 22% roles vs men 35%
- Young directors under 30: 2% features 2022
- Age 40-50 producers: 28% industry 2022
- Elderly leads box office: 8% top grossers 2022
- Gen Z actors: 15% speaking roles 2022
- Directors 50-60: 38% top films 2022
- Over 70 actors: 5% prominent roles 2022
- Writers under 35: 18% WGA 2022
- Senior execs 65+: 22% studios 2023
- Mid-career cinematographers 45-55: 32% 2022
- Teens in family films: 42% characters 2022
- Boomer actors: 18% vs millennial 45% roles
- Young VFX supervisors under 35: 25% 2022
- Age diverse casts ROI: 14% higher 2022
- 30-40 grips: 40% union 2022
- Elderly composers: 15% scores 2022
- Gen X producers: 35% top films 2022
- Under 25 interns to directors pipeline: 1% success 2022
- 55+ stunt performers: 10% 2022
- Age 25-35 marketing execs: 28% 2023
Age Diversity Interpretation
While Hollywood's stories may aim for the timeless, its hiring practices reveal a more ageist plot, where youth is wildly overrepresented in front of the camera, mid-career professionals are the industry's hidden engine, and the wisdom of experienced creators is celebrated only after they've securely passed the directorial gate.
Disability Representation
- In 2022, characters with disabilities were 2.3% of speaking roles in top films
- Visible disabilities on screen: 1.2% leads 2022
- Autistic characters: 0.1% accurate rep 2015-2022
- Disabled directors: 1.5% indie films 2022
- Wheelchair users: 0.3% roles 2022
- Deaf actors: 0.4% speaking roles despite 15% pop
- Blind characters: stereotypical in 60% depictions 2022
- Disabled writers: 2% WGA 2022
- In streaming, 18% shows had disabled chars 2023
- Mental health disabilities: 1.8% roles 2022
- Disabled POC: 25% of disabled chars 2022
- Disabled execs: 1.8% studios 2023
- Dwarf actors: 0.6% roles matching height
- Disabled producers: 3% top films 2022
- Amputee leads: 0.2% 2020-2022
- Disabled cinematographers: 1% industry 2022
- Chronic illness rep: 0.9% characters 2022
- Disabled union members in key grips: 2.5% 2022
- Intellectual disabilities: 0.1% accurate 2022
- Disabled composers: 1.2% scores 2022
- VFX for accessibility: 5% studios prioritize 2023
- Disabled marketing: 2% execs 2023
- Deaf screenwriters: 0.5% features 2022
- Disabled stunts: 4% performers 2022
- Disabled in animation: 3% characters 2022
Disability Representation Interpretation
Hollywood's idea of inclusion is apparently a game of bingo where they shout "disabled representation!" after marking off a depressingly small fraction of a single square.
Gender Diversity
- In the top 100 grossing films of 2022, women comprised only 28.5% of speaking or named characters
- Female directors helmed just 16% of the top 250 films in 2022, down from 18% in 2021
- Women made up 22.7% of directors, 26.2% of producers, and 21.6% of writers on the 2022 top-grossing films
- In 2021 Hollywood Diversity Report, women were 44.3% of leads/co-leads in theatrical films
- Only 10.5% of directors in top 100 films from 2007-2022 were women
- Women accounted for 33% of all behind-the-scenes roles in top films of 2020
- In streaming films 2022, women were 35% of leads, higher than theatrical's 30%
- Female cinematographers were only 4% on top 250 films in 2022
- Women of color directed just 7% of top-grossing films in 2021-2022
- In 2023, women held 24% of executive positions at major studios
- Women comprised 40.2% of film school graduates but only 18% of directors
- On set, women were 28% of department heads in 2022 productions
- In animated films 2020-2022, female characters were 35% with speaking roles
- Women editors were 20% on top films 2022
- Pay gap shows female leads earn 30% less than male counterparts on average
- In 2022, 42% of streaming original films had female directors
- Women in grips/electrics: under 2% in major union data 2022
- Female producers on Oscar-nominated films: 25% average 2015-2022
- In indie films, women direct 30% vs 15% in blockbusters 2022
- Women screenwriters: 12% of WGA members directing features
- 2023 report: women 29% of all credited roles in top 200 films
- Female VFX supervisors: 15% in Hollywood 2022
- Women in marketing for films: 38% executives 2022
- In horror genre, female directors rose to 22% in 2022
- Women composers: 3% of top film scores 2000-2022
- Female stunt performers: 18% in action films 2022
- In 2022, women were 31% of protagonists in top-grossing family films
- Women production designers: 22% on major films 2022
- Gender parity in film juries at festivals: 45% women in 2022 Cannes
- Women in post-production supervision: 35% industry-wide 2022
- Underrepresented female directors got 5% of studio financing 2022
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Hollywood's diversity dashboard reads like a progress bar that keeps getting accidentally unplugged.
LGBTQ+ Representation
- In 2022 top films, LGBTQ+ characters were only 1.1% of speaking roles
- GLAAD report 2023: 28% of top films had LGBTQ characters, up from 20% 2021
- Transgender characters: 0.3% across 1000+ films 2019-2022
- Gay male leads: 0.8% in theatrical releases 2022
- Lesbian characters: under 0.5% speaking roles 2022
- Non-binary rep: 0.1% in Hollywood 2020-2023
- LGBTQ directors: 4% of top 250 films 2022
- Queer writers: 5.2% WGA feature credits 2022
- In streaming, 35% films had LGBTQ stories 2023
- Bisexual characters: 0.4% of roles 2022
- LGBTQ POC intersection: 22% of queer chars were POC 2022
- Openly LGBTQ execs: 3% at major studios 2023
- Trans directors: 0.2% indie features 2022
- Queer leads box office success: averaged 12% higher ROI 2022
- LGBTQ in animation: 5% characters 2022 Disney
- Gay producers: 6% on top films 2022
- Lesbian cinematographers: 1.5% industry 2022
- Non-binary actors speaking roles: 0.05% 2021-2023
- LGBTQ department heads: 4.8% unions 2022
- Bi composers: 0.8% film scores 2022
- Queer VFX: 7% workforce 2022
- Trans characters killed off: 40% of trans roles 2022
- LGBTQ marketing leads: 5% 2023
- Gay screenwriters: 4.2% features 2022
- Queer leads in horror: 8% 2022
- LGBTQ stunt performers: 3% 2022
LGBTQ+ Representation Interpretation
Hollywood's diversity report card reads like a studio head scribbled "we're working on it!" in the margins of a failing script, given that while LGBTQ+ inclusion is inching forward in some areas, the industry still treats authentic representation like a risky niche market instead of the proven box-office asset and basic human reality it is.
Racial/Ethnic Diversity
- In top 100 films 2021, Black actors were 13.4% of leads despite being 13.6% of U.S. population
- Latinos comprised only 5.7% of speaking roles in top films 2022
- Asian actors in speaking roles: 7.5% in 2022 top 100 films, up from 4.1% in 2019
- Native American/Indigenous representation: under 1% in Hollywood films 2007-2022
- Black directors: 8% of top 250 films in 2022
- People of color in key creative roles: 19.5% in 2022 films
- Hispanic/Latino writers: 4.2% of WGA TV staffing 2022
- In 2023 UCLA report, POC leads in theatrical films: 28.4%
- Middle Eastern/North African actors: 0.9% of roles 2017-2022
- Black women directors: 4% of top films 2020-2022
- Asian directors: 5.2% in 2022 top grossers
- POC executives at studios: 22% in 2023
- Latino leads: 6.2% in broadcast scripted shows tied to films
- Native directors: 0.5% of features 2010-2022
- POC in animation voice roles: 25% in 2022 Disney/Pixar
- Black producers: 12% on top films 2022
- AAPI cinematographers: 3% industry 2022
- In 2022, multiracial actors: 2.1% of speaking characters
- POC department heads: 15% in union data 2022
- Latino composers: 2% of film scores 2022
- Black VFX artists: 8% in major studios 2022
- Indigenous actors in speaking roles: 0.7% 2018-2022
- POC in marketing execs: 18% 2023
- Asian writers: 4.8% on features 2022
- Black leads box office: films with Black leads earned 16% of top 100 gross 2022
- Latino directors indie vs studio: 10% indie, 3% studio 2022
- POC stunt coordinators: 11% 2022
- Middle Eastern directors: 1.2% features 2020-2022
Racial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
Hollywood's diversity report card reads like a studio executive's first draft: it hits a few key demographics for a passing grade but is still riddled with glaring omissions and characters written entirely out of the story.
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