Decline in Female-Led Hollywood Films Expected by 2025
According to a recent study, Hollywood films directed by women are projected to see a significant decline in 2025, nearly halving from their peak in 2023. This report comes from ReFrame, a joint initiative of the Sundance Institute and Women in Film, aimed at promoting gender-balanced filmmaking.
By 2025, the report suggests that women will occupy fewer leadership positions within the industry. The findings indicate that of the top 100 movies analyzed, only 26 were eligible for the ReFrame stamp. This stamp signifies that the films meet specific criteria for hiring women, non-binary, and transgender individuals in critical roles, both on-screen and off. From 2020 to 2024, around 30 films were identified as gender-balanced.
The situation appears worse for women directors. While 20 films directed by women appeared in the IMDb top 100 in 2023, this figure is anticipated to drop to just 11 by 2025, marking the lowest point since 2019. Furthermore, the number of major roles for female actors in 2024 was 51, which will fall to 39 by 2025. Disturbingly, only seven of these roles will go to women of color, a decline not seen since 2018. Interestingly, the role of producer will remain steady, with 55 of the top 100 films in 2025 featuring at least one female producer, a number close to 2019’s figure of 56.
Kirsten Shafer, CEO of Women in Film, emphasized that the research highlights a troubling trend: as the industry shifts away from female-led projects, opportunities for women may diminish.
“Together, we have the power to change that. By making intentional hiring choices based on the ReFrame Stamp standards, those in positions of power can help create a more equitable industry, step by step,” she noted.
ReFrame founders Kathy Schulman and Keri Putnam mentioned that their initiative is designed to pave the way for women, non-binary, and trans individuals to fill vital leadership roles.
“This was intended as a floor, not a ceiling, for inclusive practices. It’s concerning that even this basic standard is still driven mainly by a minority. Instead of making progress, we seem to be moving backward,” they said.
The report does highlight a couple of notable female-led projects, including Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet and Maggie Kang’s KPop Demon Hunter, which achieved significant recognition with multiple Oscar nominations. Additionally, a new adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia, directed by Greta Gerwig of Barbie fame, is set to release in November this year.
