Audiences prefer diverse casts and storytelling in their movies. According to YPulse’s media consumption survey, 80% of 13-39-year-olds want the entertainment that they watch to feature diverse casts and individuals. UCLA’s annual Hollywood Diversity Report found that the top-earning box office films in 2020 (Bad Boys for Life, Birds of Prey, and Onward) all had casts “made up of between 41%-50% minorities.” While these films were released prior to the pandemic, a similar trend was found for films released on streaming services: The highest rated films among 18-49-year-olds (Onward, Spenser Confidential, and Hamilton) had casts “containing between 21% to 50% minority actors.” Still, award shows like the Oscars have yet to recognize diverse talent both behind and in front of the camera, and Gen Z and Millennials want more representation in Hollywood. (Variety)
