Streaming vs. Theaters: Diversity in Film
- 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...
- 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.
- Despite overall gains, the report highlights that Latinx and Asian actors remain underrepresented in lead streaming roles, accounting for 6% and 2% respectively.
Streaming films are revolutionizing Hollywood. A new study finds streaming is driving increased diversity in the film industry, with actors of color taking the lead in 51% of top streaming releases in 2024, a stark contrast to theatrical films.While the shift is encouraging, the report highlights that Latinx and Asian actors are still underrepresented. Women are seeing gains in leading streaming roles,too. The UCLA study delved into 100 top English-language streaming films, analyzing demographics and budgets to capture these shifts. News Directory 3 is watching these trends closely. This research underscores a pivotal change. Discover what’s next for diversity’s evolving role in Hollywood.
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.