: For women of color over 45, the situation is even more dire; a USC study found that not a single top-grossing film in 2025 featured a woman of color in this age bracket in a lead or co-lead role.
: In 2025, lead roles for women hit a seven-year low . Only 39 of the top 100 films featured female leads, down from 55 in 2024. Milftoon Grounded [v0.01]
: The number of women directing top 100 films fell for the second consecutive year in 2026, with only 11 women directing films on the 2025 Top 100 list—a drop of nearly half since 2023. 3. The Influence of Streaming and Independent Platforms : For women of color over 45, the
Streaming and independent cinema continue to offer more opportunities for mature talent than traditional blockbuster studios. : The number of women directing top 100
: Midlife women are still twice as likely as men to have storylines focused on physical aging (15% vs 7%). Common stereotypes include the "sad widow" and the "sexless crone". 2. Industry Statistics: A "Regression" in 2025–2026