Streaming Films Play Key Role in Hollywood Diversity, Study Finds

‌ Updated June 18, 2025

Streaming films are a ‌bright ⁢spot for diversity in Hollywood, according to a new study.Part 2 of UCLA’s 2025 Hollywood Diversity Report, released Wednesday, indicates that women and people of color⁣ have increased thier presence in key entertainment industry jobs. The report also ‍reveals that most of the top 20 streaming-only films of 2024 featured diverse casts.

The study found that ​actors of color held 51% of lead roles in top streaming releases in 2024, a rise from 45% the previous year. In contrast, ‌they accounted for ⁤just 25.2% ⁣of lead roles in top theatrical films, a decrease from 29.2% in 2023. The U.S. ‌population is 44.3% people of color.

Despite overall gains, the report highlights that Latinx and Asian actors remain​ underrepresented ⁣in lead ‌streaming roles, accounting for⁣ 6% and 2% respectively. ⁢U.S. Census‍ data shows ‌that 19.5% of the population ‌identifies as Hispanic or⁢ Latino, ‍and 6.4% as Asian.

Women, though, saw an increase, representing 61% of lead ‌streaming film roles in 2024, up from 51% in 2023. Actors with known ​disabilities also gained ground, though they remain underrepresented, the study said.

The UCLA study examined ⁢100 top English-language streaming films released in 2024 and 175 film deals. Researchers analyzed demographics of actors, writers, ​and directors, as well as‍ movie genre ⁢and budget.

Jade ​Abston,the report’s co-author,said diverse​ storytellers ​and ⁣actors engage audiences across⁣ demographics. “Our data shows that diverse storytellers and actors draw in ⁤and engage⁢ people from every demographic,” Abston, a doctoral candidate in cinema media studies, said. “They’re not just watching‌ it — they’re sharing it with their social media followers and talking about it online.”

A⁣ key difference between streaming and theatrical films lies in budget. The study found that 65.5% of top streaming releases in 2024 had budgets under $20 million, while 65.3% of theatrical films had budgets exceeding that amount. In fact, 26%⁤ of theatrical films had ‍budgets of $100 million or ⁣more, compared to just ‌4.4% of streaming films.

The report also noted an increase in the proportion ⁢of people of color‌ in⁢ directing and ⁤writing roles for ‍streaming ⁤films in 2024. Thirty ‌percent of top⁢ streaming films had writers of color, and 41% were directed by people of color. However,women saw a slight decrease,with 28% of directors and 37% of writers being women,compared ‍to 31% ⁣and 41% in 2023.

What’s next

The report suggests that continued investment in diverse talent, both in front of and behind the camera, is crucial for sustained progress in Hollywood’s streaming sector. Further studies ⁢will ​likely examine the long-term impact of these trends on the industry as a whole.