Streaming Titles Are Following the Theatrical Trend of Less Diversity, Finds UCLA Hollywood Report
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- UCLA's Hollywood Diversity Report found leads of color in streaming films dropped from 51% to 36% year-over-year, with streaming films helmed by BIPOC directors falling to 23.6%.
- "KPop Demon Hunters" stayed on Netflix's Top 10 list for 52 consecutive weeks and topped household ratings across all audience demographics, especially women of color, though UCLA noted a missed opportunity in not initially releasing it theatrically.
- Ana-Christina Ramón, UCLA report co-founder and Entertainment and Media Research Initiative director, said "the path is closing for people of color and women to premiere their film on a major streamer."
- Streaming films directed by women declined to 23.6%, marking the third consecutive year of decrease in that category.
- Netflix dominated the top streaming-only films of 2025 with "Happy Gilmore 2," "Back in Action," "Madea's Destination Wedding," and "Nonnas," while Amazon contributed "Heads of State" and "You're Cordially Invited."
- UCLA researchers warned that major streamers may lose profitability and audience engagement by rolling back BIPOC representation, while ad-supported platforms like Tubi are increasingly giving diverse filmmakers opportunities as original streaming film output shrinks.
Why it matters: The 15-point drop in leads of color (51% to 36%) directly contradicts earlier UCLA findings that audiences prefer films with diverse casts — yet the same report shows "KPop Demon Hunters" topped household ratings across every demographic for 52 straight weeks. Major streamers are retreating from a strategy their own data shows works, and Tubi is filling the void with multicultural audiences.
