A recent study on the Hollywood industry proved that the percentage of women representation in the top box office earners has been decreasing. The study claimed that female roles have decreased considerably in 2023 when compared to 2022 and it is quite a notable figure. Although there have been no major reasons stated, the industry will surely work on the deficit of female representation.
Along with the deficit of female representation in the industry, Hollywood has also suffered a major blow in its box office collection over the years. 2022 saw a total of over $10 billion in overall revenue but 2023 could only collect a bit over $8 billion, with their difference being almost $2 billion. Now it is a major blunder as it potentially points towards a lack of content from Hollywood.
Hollywood Gender Gap Widens: Women Representation in Movies Plummets
A recent study by It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World paints a troubling picture. The organization, known for tracking film industry trends, revealed a notable decline in female representation in top-grossing movies of 2023. This troubling trend overlaps with a noticeable drop in box-office revenue compared to 2022, raising concerns about a potential link between the two.
The study analyzed the top 100 grossing films from 2002 to 2023 and the results were stark. In 2023, women comprised 35% of the total roles when compared to 2022’s 37%. This represents a notable decrease compared to 2022, which saw more promising female directors, female writers, and leads in the top box-office earners. This decline is particularly concerning as it comes after years of fair progress in Hollywood.
The decline in female representation coincides with a worrying drop in box office revenue for the top earners of 2023. Indeed, the top 10 films of 2023 collectively grossed nearly $2 billion less than the top 10s of 2022. While several factors could contribute to this decline, the correlation between the shrinking spotlight for women and the shrinking box office is impossible to ignore.
Hollywood Box Office Slumps: Top Films of 2023 Fall Short of 2022
The box office records at Hollywood are in for 2023, and the final record numbers show that they are a financial $2 billion less compared to their highest-grossing movies from the previous year. This incredible nose-dive has industry analysts asking just what might be the cause of it. The reason for this sudden downfall could be any or many.
The top 10 earners in 2022 gave a total of $10,214,562,943, as calculated, while the top earners for 2023 mustered only $8,264,618,726. In one year, around $2 billion upkeep in the box office earnings was missed, and the difference is obviously huge. Although it might not seem like a major upset in the grand scheme of things, it certainly affects the century-old industry and its trusted performers.
The top 10 films of 2022 are Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Domination, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Batman, Thor: Love and Thunder, Water Gate Bridge, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
The top 10 films of 2023 are Barbie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Oppenheimer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Wonka, The Little Mermaid, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, and Elemental.
A single year’s poor box office showing doesn’t necessarily portend a longer-term trend. But still, the failure of this box office should be a clarion call for Hollywood. It should observe and be vigilant over the situation very closely so that it changes its game to ensure its financial health for years to come is in place.
