Mature women on screen continue to face reductive characterization. UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2026 Theatrical Film
Women aged 60 and older are dramatically underrepresented, accounting for only 2% of all major female characters in 2025's top-grossing films, compared to 8% for men in the same age bracket.
Female characters begin to disappear in substantial numbers after age 40. Major female roles plummeted from 42% for women in their 30s to just 15% for those in their 40s on broadcast television.
The percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists dropped from 42% in 2024 to 29% in 2025 . 2. Qualitative Portrayals and Stereotypes