Study: Women Directed 9 of Top 100 Domestic Box-Office Films in 2025

Among the top 100 movies at the domestic box office in 2025, just nine were directed by women, a drop to 8.1 percent from 13.4 percent in 2024, according to a study by Stacy L. Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at the University of Southern California. The report found 102 men occupied the other directors’ chairs.

Films by women included Emma Tammi’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Nisha Ganatra’s Freakier Friday; the study said films by women received critic ratings similar to those by men, with women of color receiving the highest praise. Nearly a quarter of directors were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, a share virtually unchanged from 2024.

The report noted that only three women — Anne Fletcher, Lana Wachowski and Greta Gerwig — have released more than two top hits since 2007, while some male directors, including Tyler Perry and Steven Spielberg, have been prolific. Smith’s report attributed the decline chiefly to production studios rather than a lack of talent, writing that “when it comes to directors, hiring decisions are not made solely on the basis of performance.” It urged studios to hire qualified directors, use clear criteria and invest in pipeline programs; the Annenberg Initiative has also offered a $25,000 scholarship and mentorships to support a female director of color.

The study highlighted differences across platforms — more than half of U.S.

Key Topics

Culture, Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Stacy L. Smith, Female Directors, Universal Pictures, Sundance Film Festival