A U.K. study comparing the 100 highest-grossing films from 2023 to 2025 found that successful movies were more likely to include an actor named Chris or a talking animal than an older woman. Six films starred a male Chris, and three starred Chris Pratt. Emma Thompson said older women already exist and cinema needs to catch up, asking where stories about women are, and stating older women do not need permission to exist on screen. The study also reported that female characters over age 50 were cited with about 14% less dialogue than older men. Only five films featured a lead woman over 60.
"A Monday study published by the U.K.-based Center for Ageing Better found that successful movies in recent years have been more likely to feature an actor named “Chris”—or a talking animal—than an older woman. The study was conducted by comparing the 100 highest grossing films in the country from 2023 to 2025, of which six starred a male Chris, and of which three starred Chris Pratt."
"Emma Thompson-who holds our honorary title of being the best in general-said while old women “already exist in the world, cinema just needs to catch up.” “Women are half the population and we get older. So where are the stories about us?” she said, adding: “Older women don't need permission to exist on screen.”"
"Per the CAB study, female characters over the age of 50 were also cited to have about 14% less dialogue than older men. The study also found that just five movies featured a lead woman that was over 60: Jennifer Saunders in Allelujah, Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Diane Keaton in Book Club: The Next Chapter, Demi Moore in The Substance, and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freakier Friday."
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