Disability
The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative began assessing the depictions of characters with disabilities in the 100 top-grossing films of 2015. Only 2.4% of all speaking characters were shown with a disability. The following studies include information on characters with disabilities. In 2019, the Initiative released its first study on the prevalence and portrayal of mental health conditions in media.
Inequality in 1,700 Popular Films
Annual report on top-grossing film. Includes data on employment patterns of women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.
View previous reports: 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
Inclusion in Netflix Series and Films: 2018–2021
The Initiative analyzed Netflix’s U.S. original live-action films (249) and series (297) from 2018 to 2021. The study examined on-screen inclusion across gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and disability. Behind the camera, gender and race/ethnicity of key personnel were assessed.
View the most recent executive summary and full report on films and series from 2023.
View the initial executive summary and full report on films and series from 2018-19.
Mental Health Conditions Across 300 Popular Films: A Research Update from 2016 to 2022
The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has released three studies on the portrayal of mental health conditions in storytelling, in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Jay Shetty, and The David & Lura Lovell Foundation. The studies examine the prevalence and context of mental health conditions in entertainment. Using a purposefully broad definition, the prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, suicide, autism spectrum disorders, and other conditions was evaluated. Additionally, the elements surrounding these depictions were investigated to understand whether mental health conditions are dehumanized, stigmatized, and/or trivialized in popular media.
