From thrillers like “Babygirl” and “Love Lies Bleeding” to genre-bending horror films like “The Substance” and inspirational sports dramas like “The Fire Inside,” women directed some of the most audacious and acclaimed movies of 2024. However, new research highlights that female filmmakers remain the exception rather than the rule.
According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, women accounted for just 16% of directors on the 250 highest-grossing domestic releases. This figure is unchanged from 2023. Among the top 100 grossing films, women directed only 11%, a drop of three percentage points from the prior year.
Key Findings from the Celluloid Ceiling Report
The report, authored by Martha Lauzen, examined 3,300 credits to assess women’s employment in the film industry. The findings reveal a persistent lack of progress, even amid high-profile successes by female filmmakers.
“The stunning successes enjoyed by high-profile women in recent years—including Greta Gerwig, Jane Campion, and Chloé Zhao—have not translated into opportunities for greater numbers of women. Visibility for a few has not generated employment for many,” Lauzen noted.
While women directors made strides in some independent and streaming projects, the report emphasizes that major studio slates still heavily favor male filmmakers. Films such as Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside and Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour weren’t widely released in theaters, skewing box office figures. Many critically acclaimed films by women, including Rose Glass’s Love Lies Bleeding and Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera, were distributed by indie labels with limited financial returns.
Gains and Declines in Key Roles
Women made progress in several key behind-the-scenes roles in 2024:
- Cinematographers: Women accounted for 12% of cinematographers on the top 250 films, a 5% increase.
- Screenwriters: Women made up 20% of writers, up by 3%.
- Producers: Women comprised 27% of producers, a modest 1% increase.
However, declines were recorded in other roles:
- Composers: Women composed the scores for just 9% of top films, a 5% drop.
- Editors: Women made up 20% of editors, down by 1%.
- Executive Producers: Women comprised 22% of executive producers, a decline of two percentage points.
Moreover, gender imbalance remains stark. Seventy percent of films employed 10 or more men in key roles, while only 8% had 10 or more women. Films with female directors were far more likely to employ other women in key positions. For instance:
- On films with at least one female director, women accounted for 52% of writers, 27% of editors, and 34% of cinematographers.
- By contrast, films with male directors saw women filling just 12% of writing roles, 17% of editing roles, and 5% of cinematography roles.
Industry Challenges and Persistent Barriers
“These numbers are astounding,” Lauzen remarked. “We could blame the current environment rocked by contraction and consolidation, but Hollywood writ large has dragged its feet on this issue for decades.”
The report alludes to ongoing challenges in the industry, including corporate mergers, budget cutbacks, and shifting business models, which have contributed to a tumultuous period for filmmaking. Despite these obstacles, recent years have seen women helm major successes like Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Oscar-winning films such as Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland and Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog.
A Call for Change
The Celluloid Ceiling Report underscores the need for systemic change to address gender disparities in Hollywood. While individual achievements by women directors are celebrated, they have yet to catalyze broader industry transformation. To build on these successes, Lauzen emphasizes the importance of creating sustained opportunities for women across all aspects of filmmaking.
As Hollywood navigates its evolving landscape, the call for gender equity remains urgent. Until structural barriers are dismantled, the representation of women behind the camera will continue to lag far behind their contributions to cinema.
