Social science: White actors featured more than non-white actors on American film posters.

A study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications found that white actors are featured more frequently and prominently on American film posters compared to non-white actors, despite recent increases in representation. The study analyzed over 45,000 posters for English-speaking films produced in the USA between 1960 and 2021. While the percentage of white actors featured on posters decreased from over 90% in 1960 to 77% in 2020, the representation of Black, Asian, and Indian actors increased. However, non-white actors were more likely to be cast in minor roles or in films related to their ethnicity. The study also found that white actors were most represented across all genres, while Black actors were more likely to appear on crime film posters and Asian actors on action film posters. Overall, the findings suggest that white actors still tend to be featured more often and more prominently across a wider range of genres than non-white actors. [Extracted from the article]