Below are some key findings from a comprehensive report from Reframe, the gender equity coalition founded by WIF and Sundance Institute.
- 19 films in the Top 100 most popular films of 2023. The were directed by women, and 1 by a non-binary director, an increase from 14 women directors in 2022.
- 9 of these films were directed by women of color, an increase from only 2/100 films in 2022.
- There was notable growth for women in the Visual Effects Supervisor role, with 17 films hiring a woman over 8 in 2022.
- Women cinematographers experienced a sharp drop-off in hiring on top films in 2023 - three films on the list hired a woman as Director of Photography, a decrease from seven films in 2022. This role is the most male-occupied at 97% male hires in 2023, followed by 1st Assistant Directors (91% male) and Composers (90% male).
- ReFrame’s report notes a 21.74% drop in lead roles for women, from 46 in 2022 to 36 in 2023. Similarly, research released by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative on February 20, 2024 found that the percentage of girls and women as protagonists (30%) in the 100 top-grossing movies of 2023 was substantially lower than the percentage in 2022 (44%).
- 29 of the analyzed films were exclusively released to streaming services, and 11 of these earned the Stamp (37.9%). 71 films with theatrical releases were analyzed, and 18 of those earned the Stamp (25.35%).