The analysis of the top 100 grossing films of 2020, released today by Dr. Martha Lauzen, reveal that only 29% of 2020’s top grossing films had female protagonists.
The percentage of female protagonists has dropped from 40% in 2019 to just 29% in 2020. The new data shows the lowest marks for films since 2017, when only 24% of top grossing films had female protagonists. “As protagonists in films, females took a step back in 2020, after two consecutive years of growth,” said Lauzen, founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, revealing the team’s findings.
For the purposes of the study, the term “protagonist” refers to characters from whose perspective the story is told. This year’s study analyzed over 1,700 characters from the top 100 domestic grossing films of 2020; over all the study has looked at approximately 1,000 films released between 2002 and 2020.
“This decline is reflected in the low number of female-driven films nominated for a best picture Oscar,” Lauzen noted. “Only 2 films on this year’s slate of nominees, “
A one-year dip doesn't mean much.
This IS NOT for the lack of female-led scripts out there. THESE SCRIPTS ARE OUT THERE!!! This 'sharp decline of Female Protagonists' is due to the lack of funding/producing female-led scripts by studios/financiers. takethelead RepresentationMatters
There were 6 films in 2020.
Ally Maine was the last successful protagonist. BYE buyARTPOPoniTunes streamARTPOP