A recent study examining Hollywood’s top films of 2024 has uncovered a concerning trend of declining diversity in the industry, despite clear evidence of audience demand for representation. The 2025 edition of the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, unveiled last Thursday, has revealed that the proportion of people of color in key entertainment roles has decreased compared to their white counterparts from 2023 to 2024. This shift comes as a surprise, considering that movies with diverse casts have shown to perform better at the box office.
Ana-Christina Ramón, co-founder of the report and director of UCLA’s Entertainment and Media Research Initiative, expressed disappointment at the latest findings. She stated, “Last year, we celebrated some historic highs for people of color in the industry. But 2024 saw a widespread reversal, as film studios retreated from racial and ethnic diversity in front of and behind the camera.”
The comprehensive UCLA study analyzed 104 of the top English-language theatrical releases from 2024 to delve into the demographics of actors, writers, directors, and even moviegoers. Researchers tracked global and domestic box office numbers, as well as film genres, to paint a detailed picture of the industry landscape.
One of the most significant discoveries of the study was the correlation between diversity and box office success. Films with more racially diverse casts tended to perform better at the global box office compared to those with less diverse casts. Movies where 41-50% of cast members were people of color, such as “Wicked,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” stood out with the highest median global box office earnings. These films were also released in a more extensive array of international markets, highlighting the global appeal of diversity.
Additionally, the study revealed that moviegoers of color play a crucial role in sustaining the industry. People of color were responsible for the majority of domestic opening-weekend ticket purchases for seven of the top 10 films and 12 of the top 20 films released in theaters in 2024. Jade Abston, one of the study’s co-authors, emphasized the financial importance of diversity, stating, “Diversity travels. When a film lacks diverse faces and perspectives, it’s just not as appealing here and abroad.”
Despite the clear benefits of diversity, the study pointed out the ongoing underrepresentation of people of color as film leads, directors, writers, and total actors in Hollywood productions. The report highlighted that actors of color accounted for only 25.2% of lead roles in the top theatrical films of 2024, down from 29.2% in the previous year. This discrepancy is stark considering that people of color make up 44.3% of the U.S. population.
Furthermore, the study noted a decline in the number of films directed by people of color in 2024 compared to 2023. Directors of color were behind only 20.2% of films in 2024, a drop from 22.9% in the previous year. These findings come at a time of industry contraction, where Hollywood productions and jobs have decreased, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have been rolled back in response to changing political climates.
Darnell Hunt, co-founder of the report and executive vice chancellor and provost at UCLA, highlighted the industry’s shift away from profitable diversity initiatives. He stated, “The studios seemed to have opted for what they considered safe, disregarding the clear financial benefits of diversity that our data has shown.”
Amidst these concerning trends, there were some positive notes in the study. After two years of decline, women accounted for 47.6% of lead performers in 2024, moving closer to gender parity compared to 2023 where only 32.1% of leads were women. Similarly, female directors represented 15.4% of films in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year’s 14.7%.
As the industry grapples with these findings, it is essential for stakeholders to recognize the financial and cultural significance of diversity in Hollywood to ensure a more inclusive and prosperous future for the entertainment sector.