Gender-Balanced Films Prove More Profitable Than Male-Dominated Productions, IMDbPro Data Shows

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A new analysis from ReFrame and IMDbPro reveals that gender-balanced films continue to outperform male-dominated productions at the box office. The 2024 ReFrame Report on Gender and Hiring in Film examined hiring trends in the year’s top 100 films and found that despite slow progress in gender parity, films that meet ReFrame Stamp criteria for balanced hiring generate significantly higher profits.

Although only 30 of the top 100 films met ReFrame’s criteria, these movies made up half of the 10 highest-grossing films of 2024. On average, gender-balanced theatrical releases earned more than double their non-Stamped counterparts ($293.9 million vs. $117.8 million worldwide). Notable Stamped films included Inside Out 2, Wicked, and The Substance, which all achieved both commercial success and awards recognition.

However, the report also highlighted ongoing disparities in industry hiring:

• The number of women directors in the top 100 films dropped from 20 in 2023 to 14 in 2024, with no transgender or nonbinary directors represented.

• Women screenwriters also declined 23.3% from last year.

• High-budget films ($100M+) were less likely to be gender-inclusive compared to lower-budget productions.

• Key technical roles like Directors of Photography, Visual Effects Supervisors, and Composers continue to have less than 10% representation by women.

Despite these challenges, gender-balanced films are proving their worth in profitability and awards recognition. With continued advocacy and industry awareness, the push for greater inclusivity in Hollywood remains strong.