Minorities and representation in TV and film in the United States - statistics & facts
Movies and television shows can transport audiences to different time zones, places, and imaginary worlds - through the stories they tell and the characters they portray. But do they also reflect the diversity of the audience they cater to? This question has been raised more frequently than ever in recent years, with calls for appropriate inclusion and representation becoming louder every year. While on-screen and behind-the-scenes diversity has come a long way, data on the distribution of employees in the U.S. motion picture and video industries shows that women and minority groups continue to be distinctly underrepresented in the TV and movie industry. Moreover, several media companies, including Disney, Amazon, and Paramount are currently moving away from their DEI initiatives after Donald Trump’s pressure to end such programs.
However, with surveys showing that more consumers think that minorities in TV and film are shown in a negative way than in a positive one, there is still work to be done when it comes to issues surrounding gender, race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ portrayals on the big and small screens. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how the removal of DEI initiatives will impact diversity in Hollywood and on TV alike.
Diversity in Hollywood
Hollywood has made slow but steady steps toward diversity – looking at key employment areas, it is undeniable that women, people of color, and other minority groups have made meaningful progress. For example, women essentially reached proportionate representation among movie leads in 2024. Yet, while 2021 was the year with the highest share of female directors in the history of Hollywood, women remain underrepresented behind the camera. A similar scenario can be observed among Black, Asian, Hispanic, and other ethnic minorities who in total accounted for only up to one-third of characters in top-grossing films in 2024. When it comes to celebrating cinematic contributions of diverse creatives, award shows also have a long way to go. The Academy Awards has made progress in honoring minority groups 10 years after the #OscarsSoWhite movement, with Karla SofÃa Gascón, the first openly transgender actress being nominated. However, around one in four American respondents to an early 2025 survey revealed that the awards show still has a diversity problem.Being seen on the (small) screen
Among streaming platforms and TV networks, Netflix and Disney’s ABC were the only two with a share of over 50 percent of non-white lead actors within their most popular TV shows. Interestingly, fueled by the streaming revolution, over two in three new TV series premiering in 2024 were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) inclusive in their main casts. Video streaming providers in general employ a higher percentage of women in behind-the-scenes roles than broadcast networks.However, with surveys showing that more consumers think that minorities in TV and film are shown in a negative way than in a positive one, there is still work to be done when it comes to issues surrounding gender, race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ portrayals on the big and small screens. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how the removal of DEI initiatives will impact diversity in Hollywood and on TV alike.
