Takeaways:
- Women accounted for just 13.4% of top-grossing film directors in 2024, a minimal increase from 2023.
- Directors from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups constituted 24.1%, maintaining progress but far from parity.
- Women of color, though critically acclaimed, remain significantly underrepresented.
Hollywood’s Inclusion Plateau: A Study Overview
A new report by USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reveals stagnation in Hollywood’s progress toward diversity behind the camera. The study, analyzing 2024’s top-grossing films, highlights minimal changes for women and people of color in directorial roles, emphasizing persistent inequities despite years of advocacy.
In 2024, only 13.4% of directors were women, a slight increase from 2023’s 12.1%. While this marks progress from 2007’s 2.7%, the pace of change remains slow.
A Look at the Numbers
- Women Directors: Despite incremental improvements, women continue to face significant barriers in securing multiple opportunities behind the camera. Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, emphasized the need for sustained action: “Hollywood cannot be satisfied with the change that has occurred when there is still work to be done.”
- Underrepresented Groups: Directors from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups made up 24.1% of top-grossing films in 2024, slightly up from 22.4% in 2023. This figure represents significant growth from 2007’s 12.5%, but it falls short of the 2021 peak of 28.6%.
- Women of Color: Only 5.3% of directors were women of color in 2024, and major studios have yet to release even 10 films by women of color in the past 18 years. Universal and Walt Disney Studios lead in this category, with seven and six films, respectively, since 2007.
Critical Acclaim vs. Opportunity
The study also examined critical reception of films directed by women and people of color over 18 years. Findings include:
- Films directed by men received slightly higher critics’ scores in 2024, but no consistent difference was found across the 18-year period.
- Women of color achieved the highest median and average critics’ scores compared to white women, men, and underrepresented men.
“These findings indicate that women of color bring exceptional skills and talents to filmmaking, yet they remain the least represented behind the camera,” said Smith. “This disparity underscores that hiring decisions are not primarily based on talent or qualifications.”
Why This Matters
Hollywood’s slow progress has far-reaching implications for representation in storytelling. When diverse voices are absent, so are the narratives that reflect the richness of global experiences. The study’s findings reinforce the urgent need for systemic change, from hiring practices to studio commitments.
Looking Ahead
While there has been incremental progress, the data makes it clear that Hollywood must do more to bridge the gap. As the industry recovers from the disruptions of the past few years, prioritizing diversity and inclusion is not just a moral imperative but also a creative and commercial one.
