Percentage of women directing top grossing U.S. films increases in 2020: study

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The percentages of women directing top grossing U.S. films increased in 2020, reaching recent historic highs, said a new study published on Saturday.

Women comprised 16 percent of directors working on the top 100 grossing U.S. films in 2020, up from 12 percent in 2019 and 4 percent in 2018. Women also accounted for 18 percent of directors on the top 250 films, up from 13 percent in 2019 and 8 percent in 2018, according to the latest study titled "The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women on the Top U.S. Films of 2020" from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University.

The annual report revealed that the overall percentages of women working in key behind-the-scenes roles remained relatively stable as their representation on the top 100 and 250 domestic grossing films inched upward. Women comprised 21 percent of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 100 grossing films in 2020, up from 20 percent in 2019. Women working in these roles on the top 250 grossing films experienced a slight increase from 21 percent in 2019 to 23 percent in 2020.

The study also found that by role, women accounted for 17 percent of writers, 21 percent of executive producers, 30 percent of producers, 22 percent of editors, 5 percent of composers, and 6 percent of cinematographers working on the top 250 grossing films of 2020.

Researchers at the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University have tracked women's employment on top grossing U.S. films for the last 23 years.