Content analysis reveals persistent male dominance and female underrepresentation in top-rated Netflix original films, highlighting gaps in streaming diversity pledges.
Key Points
To examine gender disparity and the visibility of women in top-rated Netflix original films from 2025 to assess compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments.
Conducted mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative content analyses on Netflix original films released between January 1 and December 1, 2025.
Sampled top-rated titles with IMDb scores of 7.5 or higher (N=4) to evaluate creative production roles, narrative focus, and Bechdel Test compliance.
Men dominated the key creative and leadership positions, including lead actors, writers, directors, and producers.
Narrative focus was male-driven in 75% of the evaluated films (3 of 4).
Three out of four evaluated films (75%) failed to pass the Bechdel Test.