Women’s Media Center releases SUPERPOWERING WOMEN in Science Fiction and Superhero Film – a study of films from 2009-2018

WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER RELEASES NEW STUDY OF THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND SUPERHERO FILMS FROM 2009 - 2018   

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THAT SCI-FI/SUPERHERO FILMS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY BY, ABOUT, AND FOR MEN OR BOYS

New York–July 17, 2019—A new study by the WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTER shows that 97 percent of science fiction and superhero films have been directed by men over the last 10 years.

The SUPERPOWERING WOMEN in Science Fiction and Superhero Film: a Study of Films from 2009-2018 is the second in a series of studies from WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER in collaboration with BBC America highlighting the importance of representation.

The situation in front of the camera is not much better, with 55 percent of films having a male solo lead, compared to 14 percent of films having a female solo lead, according to the research. 31 percent of films had male/female co-leads.

“At this time of enormous, sweeping, social change, it’s important that television and film provide an abundance of roles and role models for diverse girls and young women,” said Julie Burton, President and CEO of the WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER. We know that representation matters, and impressive box office numbers show that women filmmakers make great films and women and girls lead the charge to watch them. Despite that, our analysis shows we still have a long way to go for sci-fi and superhero films to reflect the views and visions of women and girls.”

There has been a slight uptick in opportunities for women, particularly in front of the camera — an indication that demands by media and gender advocates, filmmakers, journalists, and audiences, has begun to make a difference. Behind the camera, change is excruciatingly slow — five sci-fi/superhero films were directed by a woman in the last five years, compared to just one between 2009 and 2013, and the number of female writers of sci-fi/superhero films fell from 8 percent to 7 percent — but there are glimmers of hope even there.

Impressive box office numbers for films starring and/or directed by women — such as Wonder Woman, the updated Star Wars franchise, Black Panther, Captain Marvel — are adding momentum to a lasting change where women filmmakers are invested in and the stories and voices of women and girls are heard. Wonder Woman – which was released in 2017 and was the first big-budget superhero film directed by a woman – Patty Jenkins -- made over $412 million in the box office. On the horizon is The New Gods, the first superhero film directed by an African American woman – Ava DuVernay – and Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), the first superhero film directed by an Asian American woman – Cathy Yan.  Julie Burton, noted, “This ese women-directed Superhero films are is historic, inclusive, representative and something we want to see a lot more of.” 

On the sci-fi front, the first big-budget sci-fi film directed by a woman of color was A Wrinkle in Time released in 2018 and directed by Ava DuVernay. It made over $100 million in the box office. 

The report highlights to what extent women have been missing from behind the camera and women and girls from in front of the camera. Key findings from this latest report show: 

Behind the camera:

• Only 3 percent of sci-fi/superhero film directors were women during the 10-year period.
• 5 of the 6 films directed by women over the last 10 years were released in the last 4 years of the report.
• 88 percent of the most influential behind-the-scenes roles (directing, producing, writing and editing) were held by men, with just 12 percent going to women.

In front of the camera:

• 14 percent of sci-fi/superhero films released between 2009 and 2018 had female solo leads, compared to 55 percent with male solo leads and 31 percent of films with male/female co-leads.
• In the last five years, there has been some improvement, with 53 percent of films having female solo or co-leads, compared to 36 percent between 2009 and 2013.
• Despite improvements, in the last five years, 83 percent of sci-fi/superhero films have had male leads, with 47 percent of the films having male solo leads.
• In 2018, two major motion pictures in the sci-fi genre were directed by and starred women and girls of color: A Wrinkle in Time, directed by DuVernay and starring Storm Reid, and The Darkest Minds, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and starring Amandla Stenberg. This represents a significant change from 10 years ago.

Women and girls of color:

The SUPERPOWERING WOMEN in Science Fiction and Superhero Film: a Study of Films from 2009-2018 is the second in a series of studies from WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER and BBC America highlighting the importance of representation. It follows SUPERPOWERING GIRLS: Female Representation in the Sci-Fi/Superhero Genre – which showed that youth from every demographic expressed a desire for more female heroes in the science fiction and superhero genre, with girls and youth of color especially wanting more sci-fi/superheroes who look like them.  The study also confirmed that representation onscreen can positively affect a child’s confidence, sense of opportunity for the future, and overall self-image.

HOW THE RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED

This analysis was conducted by Women’s Media Center using data primarily from the websites of Box Office MoJo and iMDb on science fiction and superhero films that received wide release (1,000+ theaters) domestically from January 2009 to December 2018.

Full report: SUPERPOWERING WOMEN in Science Fiction and Superhero Films: a study of films from 2009-2018

Infographic: SUPERPOWERING WOMEN in Science Fiction and Superhero Films: a study of films from 2009-2018

NOTES TO EDITORS

Founded in 2005 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem, the WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER is an inclusive and feminist organization that works to ensure women’s realities are covered and women’s voices are heard.  The Women’s Media Center Awards honor champions for women in media. We do this by researching and monitoring media; creating and modeling original online, print and podcast content; training women and girls to be effective in media; and promoting women experts in all fields. Women’s Media Center on social – Twitter  - Facebook - Instagram

For additional information contact:

Cristal Williams Chancellor at MediaRelations@womensmediacenter.com and 

Katie.Lanegran@amcnetworks.com