LGBTQ+ Representation in Cinema

Conclusion

Nearly 4.1% of the US population is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and over 17.5% of films released in the United States in 2016 feature an LGBTQ+ character. While this statistic makes it seem like representation is right where it needs to be that isn't the case. Cinema still has a ways to go before it can be considered to accurately represent the LGBTQ+ community. The number of films that have actually passed the "Vito Russo Test" is very low. Some major studios only released one film that passes the test, so there's clearly still an issue with the qualitative representation of the LGBTQ+ community. Universal Pictures has released the most films among major independent studios and with films like Legend (2015) it shows that it can distribute films with LGBTQ+ representation without negatively doing so. A24 had the most successful LGBTQ+ inclusive release with Moonlight (2016). Moonlight was an important film for the LGBTQ+ community as it was the most successful LGBTQ+ themed film ever released receiving critical praise and doing very well in the box office. 

Films will continue to be added to the data set from before 2011, so a better understanding of historical LGBTQ+ representation in cinema can be analyzed as well as and at the end of every year box office data for that year will be added. By doing this the direction and history of LGBTQ+ representation in major Hollywood and Indie cinema can be analyzed and discussed further. Case studies on topics relating to LGBTQ+ content and portrayal will continue to be conducted on films that pass the Vito Russo Test, receive critical praise, and are successful in the box office.