Menopause: The plot Hollywood ignores

A report from the Geena Davis Institute says “menopause is nearly invisible” in films. In a study of 225 top-grossing U.S. movies from 2009 to 2024 that prominently featured a woman older than 40, only 6% mentioned menopause and those were usually “side comments.” When menopause is shown, it is often used as a punchline for anger or mood swings, something the institute called “meno-rage.” The report, called “Missing in action: Writing a new narrative for women in midlife on the big screen,” recommends that films should treat menopause as a natural, multifaceted life stage instead of a joke. The report cited a national survey showing that two-third of Americans believe more realistic menopause stories are important.