Despite 2024 reaching a historic high for women in film, 2025 and early 2026 have seen leading roles for women drop to approximately 39%, levels not seen since 2018.
Mature women are increasingly "taking matters into their own hands" by producing their own art and shaping the conversation around aging.
Research shows that older viewers stop watching content that portrays midlife characters as "frail or frumpy," leading studios to embrace "richer, more realistic portrayals" of women with agency and financial power.
