The success of films like "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), "Mamma Mia!" (2008), and "Book Club" (2018) demonstrated that mature women could carry films and attract large audiences. These movies often featured complex, dynamic female characters, tackling themes like identity, relationships, and personal growth.

Historically, cinema relegated older women to two narrow tropes: the "passive problem" (burdened by illness) or the "shrew". Recent films are finally dismantling this .

A generation of powerhouses is redefining what a long-term career looks like in the industry: