UK Blockbusters Favor “Chris” Leads and Talking Animals Over Older Women

A University of West London team analysed the 100 top UK releases from 2023-2025. Six titles featured a male lead named Chris, five featured a woman aged 60 +, and about twenty used a talking animal as protagonist. Polls showed 39 % of women felt older-female leads were under-represented, while 16 % would be more likely to watch such a film.

UK Study: Filmgoers Prefer Chrises To Women Over 60

Age Without Limits commissioned the study. Oscar-winner Emma Thompson, co-lead Harriet Bailiss and chief Carole Easton endorsed the findings. The report lists five older-woman-led films—*Allelujah* (Jennifer Saunders), *My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3* (Nia Vardalos), *Book Club: The Next Chapter* (Diane Keaton), *The Substance* (Demi Moore) and *Freakier Friday* (Jamie Lee Curtis)—and six “Chris” titles, including *The Super Mario Bros Movie* and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (Chris Pratt).

Variety Magazine

Male “Chris” leads account for 6 % of the top-100, older-female leads 5 %, while talking-animal leads appear in about 20 %—four times the odds of an older-female lead. Women 65 + speak 14 % less and appear three times less often than men same age. Polls show 39 % of women see a shortage of older-female leads and 16 % would be more likely to watch them.

UK Study: Filmgoers Prefer Chrises To Women Over 60

Thompson said women are half the population and age alongside men, yet get fewer lead roles. Easton called the situation “absolutely ludicrous,” noting up to one-fifth of UK cinema-goers are aged 55 + and spend hundreds of millions annually. Bailiss warned industry neglect of older women “actively participates in pushing older people to the margins of society.”

Express Tribune

The report provides no response from major studios or trade bodies, leaving a gap in industry dialogue. It also lacks data on whether recent award wins for older actresses will affect future casting.

The Guardian

• “Women are half the population, and we get older. So where are the stories about us? The older we get, the more interesting we are. I want to see more films center aging women, we are compelling, relatable, and overdue for center stage. Older women don’t need permission to exist on screen. They already exist in the world, cinema just needs to catch up.” — Emma Thompson, actress

UK Study: Filmgoers Prefer Chrises To Women Over 60

• “ Dr Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “It is absolutely ludicrous to think so few films have been made in recent years that have an older woman at the front and centre.” — Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better

Euronews

• “By failing to properly represent older people, and older women in particular, the film industry is actively participating in the pushing of older people to the margins of society,” — Harriet Bailiss, co-lead, Age Without Limits

The Guardian

• “Ageism is the most common form of discrimination but is still not taken seriously enough. Ageism limits work, health, relationships, ambition and confidence -and ultimately whose lives are seen as worth investing in. Ageism affects all of us but we can also all play our part to stamp it out. Questioning it and challenging it starts with each of us.” — Harriet Bailiss

Euronews

Michelle Yeoh’s 2023 Oscar win and upcoming nominations for Julianne Moore, Marion Bailey and Ellen Burstyn may signal shifting attitudes. Age Without Limits urges studios to commission more older-female-lead scripts before the next awards season.

Express Tribune