The number of films featuring female leads plummeted from 42% in 2024 to 29% in 2025 . For women over 45, the numbers are even lower; in 2025, not a single top-grossing film featured a woman of color aged 45+ in a leading role.
Mature women behind the camera face similar "ageing out" hurdles. de bella milf
In 2025, women accounted for only 23% of key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, editors) in the top 250 films—the same figure as in 2020. The number of films featuring female leads plummeted
Despite these gaps, women 50+ are a powerful economic force, making 80% of household purchase decisions . AARP reports that 79% of older adults want stories that reflect their real-life experiences. Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films In 2025, women accounted for only 23% of
Older women are often relegated to "invisible" or "secondary" roles such as mothers, grandmothers, or mentors. GDI reports that women over 50 are four times more likely than men to be portrayed as "senile" or "feeble".
Only 12% of 2025 feature films were written by women over 40. Experts from The Writers Lab argue that complex roles for older actresses cannot exist if the writers themselves are being excluded from the industry as they age.