LGBTQ+ representation in the most popular films, TV shows, games, and novels sits at a shocking 1%

Entertainment experts MrQ has analysed the most popular and best-selling film franchises, TV shows, video games, and novels to find out how LGBTQ+ inclusive they are, and what more needs to be done in the industry to improve representation.

Entertainment is one of the most influential industries in the world, reaching billions of people across the planet via film, TV, gaming, and books. With this comes responsibility for the sector to ensure all communities and groups are being represented fairly.

With an increasing focus on the need for more attention in communities such as LGBTQ+, how representative really are the most popular forms of entertainment that we all know and love?

Analysing the most popular films, TV series and games, and the best-selling novels, the research reveals how many LGBTQ+ characters there are compared to total characters, which streaming platforms are the most inclusive, and what the most popular and best rated LGBTQ+ forms of entertainment there are over the last decade.

The average % of LGBTQ+ characters in the most popular films, TV, novels and video games are:

When it comes to the most popular and successful films, TV shows, video games and novels of all time, LGBTQ+ representation is disappointingly low, with all types of entertainment having an average inclusion of below 2%.

Of the 40 forms of entertainment analysed, almost 50% (19) had an LGBTQ+ character, however, this drops to just 25% when it comes to the number with an LGBTQ+ protagonist.

The most inclusive popular film, TV show, video game and novel are:

The gaming sector is the most inclusive with 1.9% of its characters identifying as LGBTQ+, with Super Mario Galaxy taking the top spot with 17% of its characters sitting within the LGBTQ+ community. Research reveals that Super Mario’s Toads are agender. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 includes character Leo Baker who identifies as trans and non-binary, with the game having an overall LGBTQ+ representation of 5%, followed by Grand Theft Auto IV with 4%.

Film franchises we all know and love sit as the least inclusive with an average of 0.1% of its characters identifying as LGBTQ+. Whilst Marvel, Star Wars, James Bond, DC and X-Men, and Spider-Man all have a small handful of LGBTQ+ characters, the likes of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Fast and Furious and Jurassic Park have a 0% representation.

TV shows such including Rick and Morty, The Boys, Mr. Robot and The Walking Dead all lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity with at least four or more characters identifiying themselves within this community. Rick and Morty have 13 LGBTQ+ characters out of its total 486 casts, including Father Bob who identifies as gay, and Rick, whose voice has been clarified by his voice actor as pansexual. The immensely popular Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are the only two shows with 0% representation.

From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to Twilight, the highest selling novels are unfortunately the least inclusive, with the former having 0% LGBTQ+ inclusion, alongside The Da Vinci Code and Fifty Shades of Grey.