: Only 1 in 4 films pass this test, which requires a female character over 50 to be essential to the plot and not reduced to an ageist stereotype.
: Streaming services are leading the charge; women creators reached a historic high of 36% on streaming programs in 2024-25, compared to just 20% on broadcast television.
The landscape for mature women in entertainment is a complex mix of historic underrepresentation and a modern, post-#MeToo shift toward authentic storytelling. While 2024 saw a record high for female leads overall, women over 50 still face significant "invisibility," often making up less than a quarter of major characters. 1. Key Statistics & Trends (2024–2026)
: Only about 25.3% of film characters over age 50 are female.