The economic argument is now unassailable. The Woman King grossed nearly $100 million domestically. Everything Everywhere All at Once grossed over $140 million on a $25 million budget. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, featuring a powerhouse cast of women in their 50s and 60s, was a global smash.

These women have moved beyond "grandmother" tropes to lead complex, high-stakes narratives: