In 2024, female protagonists reached parity with males, appearing in 42% of the top 100 films. However, only 8 of those 100 films featured a woman aged 45 or older in a leading role.
While 2024 marked a historic peak for female representation in cinema, the industry has experienced a significant regression in 2025 and early 2026. Mature women (over 40) continue to face acute challenges, including extreme narrative stereotypes and a "vanishing act" as they age, despite significant critical and streaming success for films that center their experiences. maya devine milf fight
In 2025, female lead roles dropped sharply to 37%. The share of top-grossing films told primarily from a female perspective fell from 42% in 2024 to just 29% in 2025. In 2024, female protagonists reached parity with males,