Despite 'Barbie,' Hollywood Still Short of Heroines, Report Says

Europe 1 with AFP 4:41 p.m., March 7, 2024

The resounding success of "Barbie" masks a grim reality: the share of Hollywood films starring a woman has declined, according to a report published Thursday.

Only a third of the feature films produced last year by the American industry centered on a heroine, according to the Hollywood Diversity Report, revealed a few days before the Oscars which will take place on Sunday.

And this, despite the domination of “Barbie”, Greta Gerwig’s feminist satire with Margot Robbie in the lead.

The film established itself as the world box office champion, with 1.4 billion dollars in revenue.

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"Even as 'Barbie' broke records, the industry showed that it continued to undervalue female-centered and female-led films," said the report, produced by UCLA University.

“Women have lost ground in terms of representation, whether for lead roles, screenwriters and all actors,” observe the researchers.

The share of films with a female lead character increased steadily over the decade to 2019, the report said.

That year, 44% of films produced in Hollywood followed the adventures of a heroine.

“Warning signal for Hollywood”

But this proportion has been declining since then: in 2023, only 32% of Hollywood films had a woman as the main character.

“This is a wake-up call for Hollywood,” said Ana-Christina Ramon, co-founder of the project and director of UCLA’s Entertainment and Media Research Initiative.

"Studios need to invest in women and their stories. Women creators and viewers of cinema are an integral part of the industry's growth."

This annual report is in its 12th edition.

It established that films with more diverse casts, including a greater proportion of non-white actors, tend to perform better at the box office.

Major franchise sequels whose actors are at least half ethnic minorities attract more viewers than previous installments, says the report, which cites the successes of "Creed III", "Scream VI" and "Scream VI". John Wick 4".

During the release weekend of such films in the United States, ethnic minority audiences made up at least six out of ten tickets purchased, according to the report.

“When the film industry gives them what they want, people of color show up, year after year,” recalled Ana-Christina Ramon.