New study reveals women-led films fell close to 30% In 2023

Barbie may have rescued the box office in 2023, but she could not tip the balance for representation of women in films.

Even as state legislatures consider restricting or eliminating DEI initiatives at public institutions, the percentage of women, women of color and women 45+ in films released in North America in 2023 plummeted to lows not seen in almost a decade. That’s according to the results of a study released this morning by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. In fact, those percentages are the worst since 2014, despite Barbie.

Read the full report here.