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A new study by film analyst Stephen Follows has highlighted the dramatic rise of ‘woke’ narratives in mainstream movies – and the backlash that has followed as a result
Snow White (2023) was criticized by some for being too woke(Image: Disney)
An expert film analyst has unearthed the evolving storyline of political and social themes in movies, spotlighting a marked uptick in what’s often dubbed “woke” content in today’s blockbusters.
Stephen Follows dug into the archives examining over 51,000 movies from 1940 to our times and charted a marked escalation in storylines dedicated to social justice, direct political commentary, and intentional diversity in casting choices, with this trend really taking off in the early 2000s.
Frequently dishing out cinema statistics over on Substack, Follows tapped into the power of AI to sift through upwards of 20,000 movie plot synopses, incorporating viewer feedback and topic-specific metadata into his thorough examination.
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Little Mermaid was praised for its diversity but knocked for being ‘woke'(Image: Disney)
He pinpointed a notable leap in storylines centering on inclusivity, civil rights movements, and identity-centric plots. His data turned up some eye-opening insights, like the surge in LGBTQ+ visibility that started making waves in the 1970s, returned around the turn of the millennium, and has experienced soaring representation in recent years, reports the Express.
Moreover, films overtly engaging with notions of societal change and equity saw their share double post-1970s era, going from capturing 5% to now over 10% of all cinematic offerings.
This discernible shift towards more culturally aware cinema has ignited fiery discussions within both the filmmaking community and among cinephiles, especially when some box-office hits draw flak for perceived forceful messaging or clear-cut political agendas.
Examples like the 2016 all-female Ghostbusters reboot and the 2023 reimagining of The Little Mermaid have garnered acclaim for their diverse casting but also faced criticism from pockets of fans.
According to data from Follows, although representation and inclusivity are gaining emphasis in many production houses, these advancements often come coupled with overt narratives surrounding gender, race, identity, and consent, leading to a split audience reaction.
Take for example films such as Lightyear, which introduced an LGBT storyline, and Snow White, offering a contemporary twist on the classic fable, both rousing divisive sentiments and yielding variable box office numbers.
Follows’ analysis refrains from passing judgment but highlights that the contemporary movie-goer is increasingly conscious of the embedded themes and messages in films.
In his findings, Follows states: “Political messaging in film has become less subtle over time,” underscoring that previously nuanced subjects are now presented in a strikingly “clear and central” fashion.
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