Streaming Films Are Far More Diverse Than Theatrical Features, Study Finds

deadline.com:

When it comes to diversity in film, streaming far outpaced theatrical releases last year, according to a new report from UCLA, which found that diversity has taken “a step back in theatrical films but strides forward in streaming.” The report found that women and people of color fared far better in the streamers than in theatrical releases in every job category surveyed, which included directors, writers, lead actors and overall casts.

And despite recent progress, the report’s authors say that in 2022, diversity in many key jobs on theatrical releases saw a “backslide to 2019 levels.” Even so, the percentage of women directors of theatrical films has nearly tripled since 2011 – from 4.6% to 14.6% last year – though they remain underrepresented by a factor of more than 3-to-1.

Women writers and cast members have also gained ground in theatrical films. Last year, 27% of writers and 41% of cast members were women, compared to 17% and 40%, respectively, in 2019.

And on streaming films, women’s 49% share of leads has almost reached parity with men. But with the exception of one Asian female film writer, the report found that “women of color were nonexistent among writers for top theatrical films in 2022,” and that White female writers “also lagged far behind their White male counterparts.” UCLA’s 63-page “Hollywood Diversity Report,” now in its 10th year, surveyed the top theatrical films – specifically the 89 English-language theatrical films that ranked among the top 200 theatrical releases for 2022, based on global box office receipts – and the top 100 English-language films released originally on streaming services in 2022, as determined by U.S.