A new analysis of the top-grossing UK films from 2023 to 2025 has revealed that movies are more likely to feature a lead actor named Chris or a talking animal than a woman over the age of 60. The study, conducted by the Centre for Aging Better as part of the Age Without Limits campaign, examined the 100 highest-earning films for each of the three years.
According to the research, six films had a lead actor named Chris, while only five centred on a woman over 60. Additionally, films were four times more likely to include a talking animal as a lead character than an actress in that age group. The findings highlight a persistent lack of representation for older women in cinema.
Actress Emma Thompson, a supporter of the campaign, commented: “Women are half the population and we get older. So where are the stories about us? The older we get, the more interesting we are. I want to see more films centre aging women; we are compelling, relatable, and overdue for centre stage.”
The five films starring an older woman in the top 100 list were: Allelujah (2023) with Jennifer Saunders, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023) with Nia Vardalos, Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023) with Diane Keaton, The Substance (2024) with Demi Moore, and Freakier Friday (2025) with Jamie Lee Curtis. In contrast, films featuring a Chris included The Super Mario Bros Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and The Garfield Movie (all starring Chris Pratt), as well as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Chris Pine), Transformers One (Chris Hemsworth), and The Zone of Interest (Christian Friedel).
