Reports from 2025 and 2026 indicate a slight regression in gender-balanced projects behind the scenes, partly attributed to industry consolidations and changing political climates. A New Era of Visibility
“The tendency to feature younger female characters in films emphasizes the value of their youth and appearance at the expense of allowing females to age into positions of personal and professional power.” Women’s Media Center · 4 years ago Women Over 50: The Right to be Seen on Screen Reports from 2025 and 2026 indicate a slight
Jean Smart (74) remains a standout as Deborah Vance in Hacks , delivering a performance that explores loneliness and professional reinvention. " portraying characters as "passive problems
Despite these individual successes, research from the Geena Davis Institute highlights a persistent gap in broader representation: heroic roles for older men.
Many roles for older women still fall into the "narrative of decline," portraying characters as "passive problems," "senile," or "feeble" compared to more active, heroic roles for older men.