Diversity Gap: Top Sci-Fi & Fantasy Films Are Overwhelmingly White, Male

Diversity in Sci-Fi 2

If you have noticed a serious lack of diversity in the highest-grossing sci-fi and fantasy films, you weren’t imagining it.

Without any supporting evidence, Hollywood has decided that while the majority of the population should be able to imagine themselves in characters that are white, straight, able-bodied male protagonists — white, straight, able-bodied men are too limited to use their imaginations as well.

Lee & Low Books , which has previously done diversity gap studies of the Tony Awards, the Emmy Awards, the children’s book industry, The New York Times Top 10 Bestseller List, US politics, and the Academy Awards, reviewed the top 100 domestic grossing sci-fi and fantasy films and the results are depressing.

Diversity Gap in Sci-Fi Films Infographic by Lee & Low Books; designed by Ben Mautner

Diversity Gap in Sci-Fi Films Infographic by Lee & Low Books; designed by Ben Mautner

They developed this infographic and conducted a fascinating interview with Marissa Lee , co-founder of Racebending.com and Imran Siddiquee , Director of Communications at the Representation Project. Check it out at leeandlow.com .

Among the top 100 domestic grossing films:

  • only 8% of films star a protagonist of color
  • of the 8 protagonists of color, all are men; 6 are played by Will Smith and 1 is a cartoon character (Aladdin)
  • 0% of protagonists are women of color
  • 0% of protagonists are LGBTQ
  • 1% of protagonists are people with a disability

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