Hollywood's biggest movies became less white in 2025, but the shift did little to improve Latino representation, while women lost significant ground in leading roles, according to a sweeping new USC study examining nearly two decades of inclusion in popular films.
The latest report from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative analyzed the 100 highest-grossing theatrical films of 2025 as part of a larger study encompassing 1,900 movies released between 2007 and 2025. Researchers examined every speaking or named character for gender and race or ethnicity, as well as representation of LGBTQ+ people and characters with disabilities. They also studied who was working behind the camera.
