The 2024 LDC U.S. Latinos in Media Report produced by the Latino Donor Collaborative, reveals that although Latinos make up “19.5% of the U.S. population—and 25% of the youth demographic”—their representation in English-language film and TV remains far below their population share. Despite Latinos contributing “24% of box office ticket sales, 29% of mobile TV consumption, and 24% of streaming subscriptions, they occupy fewer than 10% of leading roles” in scripted television and films.
Behind the camera, representation is even more limited: Latino directors helm just “7.9% of streamed scripted episodes” and only “7% of theatrical releases” . Yet Hollywood continues producing mainly Spanish-language content aimed at Latinos, overlooking that “84% are fluent English speakers and prefer mainstream” content.
Even with these disparities, Latino-led projects consistently perform strongly. The report spotlights hits like Wednesday, Lincoln Lawyer, and Only Murders in the Building as top-tier, high-revenue examples. A McKinsey analysis estimates that bridging the Latino representation gap could unlock “$12–$18 billion” in annual media industry revenue.
At a time when media companies are wrestling with revenue drops and changing audience behaviors, the report makes clear: prioritizing Latino talent isn’t just progressive—it’s smart business. To access the full dataset and case studies, visit the Latino Donor Collaborative’s website.
Article Sources:
https://latinodonorcollaborative.org/reports/2024-ldc-u-s-latinos-in-media-report-full-year-update/