Hollywood‘s latest report on inclusion metrics reveals persistent challenges in achieving equitable representation within the film industry. After nearly two decades of tracking these trends, Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s findings indicate that significant progress remains elusive.
Slow Progress in Women’s Representation
Dr. Smith commented on the findings, emphasizing, “While we’ve seen pockets of progress for women on screen, the pace of change has been slow. Year after year, many of the same patterns remain.” Her words underscore the incremental improvements that have occurred but also highlight a concerning lack of sustained momentum. The latest annual report, titled “Inequality in 1,900 Popular Films,” evaluates representation metrics for the top 100 grossing films of 2025, building on data collected since 2007.
Key Findings on Gender and Racial Representation
Despite women and girls making up just over 50% of the U.S. population, they represented only 33.6% of all speaking or named characters in 2025—a figure that has seen minimal change since 2007, when it stood at 29.9%. While there has been notable progress in lead or co-lead roles, with 38 films featuring women in such capacities, this is a decrease from the peak of 55 roles in 2024. Furthermore, of those 38 films, only 15 included a female lead or co-lead from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, and just 3 featured a female lead or co-lead aged 45 or older. Alarmingly, only 4 nonbinary characters were identified in the analysis.
LGBTQ+ and Disability Representation Stagnates
Representation for the LGBTQ+ community remained stagnant, with only 36 speaking or named characters, accounting for less than 1% of the total. Notably, there were no transgender characters present in the analyzed films. Additionally, the depiction of characters with disabilities also showed little progress, maintaining a low rate of 2.8% (121 characters).
Behind the Camera: Unchanging Landscape
The representation behind the camera paints an equally troubling picture. From the directors of 2025’s top-grossing films, women accounted for just 9 out of 111—reflecting a significant decrease from 2024’s record high of 16. Notable female directors this year included Nisha Ganatra and Chloé Zhao; however, overall, only 7% of directors across the years have been women. In terms of writers and producers, women filled 16% and 24.4% of their respective roles, statistics that have shown little change since 2007. The only area of marked improvement has been among women composers, who rose to 8.5% in 2025, up from zero in 2007.
Diversity Among Characters Represents a Fragile Gain
In terms of racial and ethnic diversity, 41.5% of all speaking or named characters came from underrepresented groups, achieving proportional representation for only the fourth time in 19 years. While the percentage of white characters decreased by 19.1%, only Asian characters saw a significant increase of 11.1%. However, systemic exclusion persists; 30 films lacked any Black characters, 46 were missing Hispanic/Latino characters, and 26 excluded Asian characters altogether.
The Call for Change
Dr. Smith articulated the urgency of the situation: “Nineteen years of data show that change is possible, but they also show how fragile that progress can be. This is not the first time this report has shown that meaningful gains are followed by a return to business as usual.” With the industry at a pivotal juncture, she highlighted that inclusion should not be sidelined as studios redefine their future. “The question is no longer whether the industry can change. It’s whether it will,” she concluded.
For the full report, visit the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative website.
[Pictured above (clockwise): “One of Them Days,” “KPop Demon Hunters,“ “Freakier Friday“ and “Hamnet“]
