Story perspectives
Female Leads Hit Seven-Year Low in Top Films
2/4/2026
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Story summary
- A USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study finds 2025's female leads at a seven-year low.
- Only 39 of the top 100 films had a female lead or co-lead, down from 55 in 2024.
- No woman of color aged 45 or older had a leading role.
- Paramount and Warner Bros. were identified as worst distributors for female representation.
- Study warns Paramount-Warner Bros. merger could harm representation, while Netflix-Warner Bros. could boost diversity.