ReFrame and IMDbPro have announced that 29 out of the 100 most popular films of 2023 have received the ReFrame “stamp” for gender-balanced productions. Some of these titles include “Barbie,” “Anyone But You,” “Flamin’ Hot,” “May December,” “Nyad,” “Past Lives,” “Saltburn” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
The newly released report came with other key findings. 19 out of the top 100 films this past year were directed by women and one was directed by a non-binary person, an increase from 14 women directors in 2022. Of said films, nine were directed by women of color; only two were directed by women of color in 2022. Furthermore, 17 women were hired as visual effects supervisors, a significant increase from 8 in 2022. While seven films hired women cinematographers in 2022, there were only three in 2023, making director of photography the most male-occupied role. Following this, first assistant directors were 91% male and composers 90% male.
Additionally, the report found a 21.74% decrease in lead roles for women, from 46 lead roles in 2022 to 36 in 2023. Lastly, 29 of the analyzed films were released exclusively to streaming services and 11 of them, or 37.9%, received the stamp. 71 analyzed films had a theatrical release and 18, or 25.35%, received the stamp.
ReFrame and IMDb also acknowledged films outside the top 100 most popular movies that met the standards to receive their stamp. Some of these include “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Bottoms,” “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” “Cocaine Bear,” “Theater Camp” and “The Color Purple.”
Per the official report, “The ReFrame Stamp is awarded to features that hire women or individuals of other underrepresented gender identities/expressions (including those who are trans, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming) in at least 50% of key roles roles, including writer, director, producer, lead, co-leads, cinematographer, production designer, costume designer, editor, composer, music supervisor, VFX supervisor, line producer, unit production manager, 1st assistant director, stunt coordinator and intimacy coordinator. Additional points are awarded to productions that hire qualifying candidates of color in these key positions, and to those with overall gender parity in their crews.”
ReFrame and IMDb’s full report can be found here.