Progress for women in Hollywood has hit a surprising roadblock. According to the latest ReFrame Analysis, which uses IMDbPro data to track hiring, only 26 of the 100 most popular films for 2024 earned the ReFrame Stamp for gender-balanced production. This 13-point drop marks the first significant decline in gender-equity hiring in six years, signaling a shift in studio priorities across the industry.

The numbers show mixed results for representation in key creative roles. The study, a collaborative effort between WIF (formerly Women In Film) and the Sundance Institute, found that 18 women directed films in the top 100, an increase from 14 in the 2023 report. Lead roles for women also took a hit, falling from 53 in the previous report to just 43. Despite the overall decline, Amazon MGM Studios' Challengers and Sony Pictures’ It Ends With Us were among the high-profile titles that met the criteria for the stamp.

The report also highlighted a total lack of representation for transgender and nonbinary individuals in lead or directing roles among the top 100 films. Andria Wilson Luby, the Director of ReFrame, noted that the industry appears to be moving backward after years of steady gains. While Universal Pictures' Twisters successfully earned the stamp, the broader data suggests that the push for inclusion in major studio projects is losing its momentum.