Cinema is moving beyond the "shrew" or "feeble" stereotypes of the past.
: In 2025, the number of girls and women in leading or co-leading roles hit a seven-year low ; only 39 of the top 100 films featured a female lead. Intersectionality Gap : Not a single top-grossing film in 2025 featured a woman of color aged 45 or older in a leading or co-leading role. Persistent Ageism
. While 2024–2025 saw a "renaissance" for veteran actresses in prestige roles, underlying data shows a regression in the overall volume of opportunities for women over 40. 1. The On-Screen "Renaissance" (2025–2026)