On March 25, 2026, the ReFrame initiative, in collaboration with IMDbPro, released the findings of its annual report analyzing gender representation in the film industry. The report revealed a concerning rollback in gender-balanced hiring practices across the top films of 2025, marking the first significant decline after five years of progress. Notably, only 26 of the IMDbPro 100 most popular films received the ReFrame Stamp for gender-balanced production—representing a sharp 13% decrease from previous years.

2. Declining Representation

The ReFrame Report highlights a troubling trend: after a plateau where approximately 30% of films were recognized as gender-balanced from 2020 to 2024, 2025 saw a significant retrenchment. The number of women directors on the IMDbPro Top 100 list dropped from 14 in 2024 to just 11, while lead roles for women fell by 23.5%, from 51 to 39. Alarmingly, there were no transgender or nonbinary individuals represented in lead roles or as directors in this year's top films.

Kirsten Schaffer, CEO of Women In Film (WIF), emphasized the urgency of addressing this decline: "This report's findings point to a significant divestment in women-led projects—creating a narrowing pipeline of opportunities for women and gender-diverse people across the industry."

3. Awards and Recognition

Despite the decline in gender representation, films that received the ReFrame Stamp continued to garner critical acclaim. At the 98th Academy Awards, Stamped films received 14 nominations, with three wins. Notably, *Hamnet*, directed by Chloé Zhao, received eight nominations, including Best Picture, and Zhao made history as the only woman of color nominated twice for Best Director.

The animated features *Elio* and *KPop Demon Hunters* were also celebrated, with *KPop Demon Hunters* winning both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

4. Key Findings from the Report

The 2025 ReFrame Report surfaced several critical insights:

Budget and Gender Balance: Films with production budgets over $100 million maintained their gender balance, with 26% of these films receiving the Stamp.

Correlation Between Director Gender and Inclusion: A striking 82% of films directed by women received the ReFrame Stamp, compared to only 19% of films directed by men.

Ethnic Diversity Concerns: The number of women of color in lead roles fell to its lowest in eight years, with only seven represented in 2025.

Writers and Producers: The number of films with women credited as writers increased to 27, while the count for women producers reached its highest since 2019, with 55 films recognizing women in these roles.

Continued Challenges: Roles such as Composers and Directors of Photography remain the least inclusive, with no year since 2017 exceeding ten women, nonbinary, or trans individuals in these key positions.

5. Company Report Card

The report included a "report card" for major studios regarding their adherence to gender-balanced hiring practices. Only Netflix earned the ReFrame Stamp for at least 50% of their releases. Notably, Amazon's MGM Studios was credited with two films that applied for the ReFrame Stamp, indicating room for improvement as they strive for gender equity in their productions.

6. Moving Forward

The ReFrame initiative's founders, Cathy Schulman and Keri Putnam, echoed the urgency of addressing these declines, stating, "Instead of raising the bar, we're now seeing productions falling below it. This is not progress. This is a reversal."

As the industry reflects on these findings, the pathway to gender equity remains critical. With collective efforts and intentional hiring practices, stakeholders can work toward reversing this alarming trend.

The ReFrame Report serves as a clarion call for the film industry, urging decision-makers to recommit to gender equity and inclusion in storytelling. The future landscape of cinema depends on it.

Original press release