Shoppers and filmgoers alike are noticing a quieter screen for LGBTQ+ stories , a new GLAAD report finds representation in major studio films fell to its lowest level in three years, with zero recorded transgender characters in 2025. Here's what that means for audiences, filmmakers and the industry.

Essential takeaways

  • Sharp decline: Only 20.4% of 225 films from the biggest distributors featured LGBTQ+ characters, the lowest rate since 2022.
  • Trans absence: No transgender characters were identified in the sample of 2025 theatrical releases, a striking omission amid rising anti-trans public debate.
  • Horror leads: The horror genre remains relatively inclusive, with several queer-led titles outperforming budgets at the box office.
  • Mid‑budget wins: A handful of mid-range films showed strong, positive representation and critical reception.
  • TV growth but churn: TV and streaming added nearly 489 LGBTQ+ characters across 2024–25, yet 41% are expected to vanish due to cancellations or narrative exits.

A blip or a trend? The figures that made editors sit up

Startlingly plain: when analysts checked 225 films from the ten biggest distributors, fewer than a quarter included LGBTQ+ characters. According to GLAAD’s report, that 20.4% figure marks a fall from previous years and sits at the lowest point in three cycles. The absence of any transgender characters in theatrical releases this year jumped out as especially worrying, both statistically and emotionally for viewers looking to see themselves on screen.

GLAAD’s research comes amid a broader conversation: news outlets and advocacy groups have flagged rising anti-trans rhetoric and laws in several countries. The group argues that when mainstream cinema sidelines certain identities, it matters , not just artistically, but politically and culturally.

Why studios might be skimping on queer stories

There’s no single villain here; economics, risk aversion and slate strategies all play a part. Big studios often prioritise tentpole franchises and international-friendly plots, which some executives believe are harder to sell with explicitly queer leads. Meanwhile, mid‑budget films , the kind that once carried nuanced representation , are rarer on release schedules.

Industry commentators, including reporting from The Guardian and Axios, point out a generational risk: younger audiences, notably Gen Z, are more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ and are a growing share of cinema-goers. Ignore that cohort and studios may undercut future box office potential.

Where representation still works: horror, indie and mid‑budget wins

Not all genres are equally guilty. Horror has emerged as one of the more inclusive spaces, with queer characters popping up in titles that also delivered solid returns. GLAAD highlighted examples where small to mid-budget horror films not only featured LGBTQ+ protagonists but earned more than double their production costs.

Independent and mid-budget pictures, when given a chance, frequently produce the most authentic queer storytelling. Films singled out in the report , from crowd-pleasing period pieces to smaller contemporary dramas , show that representation can be both critically acclaimed and commercially viable.

TV and streaming: more characters, but vanishing arcs

If cinema feels stingy, television and streaming platforms have been busier. The report notes nearly 489 LGBTQ+ characters across TV in 2024–25, a rise in raw numbers. But there’s a caveat: cancelations, series finales and character deaths mean about 41% of those figures are transient.

That churn matters because sustained visibility builds cultural familiarity. When queer characters are introduced only to be promptly removed, audiences lose long-term engagement and the community loses varied storylines that normalise experience.

What viewers and creators can do next

For audiences: vote with your feet and your wallet , support cinema and streaming projects that centre LGBTQ+ lives, and look to festivals and indie distributors that champion diverse makers. For filmmakers and producers: invest in writers and showrunners from within the community, and consider mid‑budget models where authentic stories can flourish without franchise pressure. For studios: remember that representation isn’t a niche expense , it’s a route to relevance with Gen Z and beyond.

The sector faces a simple choice: double down on exclusion and risk alienating a generation, or lean into inclusive storytelling that resonates culturally and commercially.

It's a small change in programming that could make a big difference to who feels seen at the cinema.

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