Heightened Scrutiny (2025)

From guest contributor Li Lai - originally posted on Medium and Mediaversity Reviews.

2025 has just about wrapped, so we’re taking this time to celebrate the most inclusive films that came out this year. For folks new to our publication, a quick rundown: We score movies based on metrics for gender parity and racial diversity, taking into account the representation of LGBTQ people, adults over 60, disabilities, religions, and body diversity. (See our full methodologyhere.)

Our top picks are by no means exhaustive, and great films we didn’t get a chance to review, such as Ponyboi, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Bob Trevino Likes It, would probably be on this list. Additionally, we only include movies that are in theaters or streaming to keep things accessible for our readers. But that means that several indie films, which disappeared after brief theatrical runs (Cree film Meadowlarks (movie) and trans documentary Heightened Scrutiny (movie), for example) weren’t eligible. These smaller films champion fresh voices, and it’s unfortunate that streaming platforms aren’t making them widely available.

It’s a symptom of Hollywood’s broader and disheartening shift away from inclusive storytelling. But even with movies gettingwhiterandstraighter, stories that reflect reality are out there. Filmmakers and actors are still putting in the work, day after day, to get different perspectives on screen. That’s why—more than ever—we’re still here to celebrate Mediaversity’s Top 10 Most Diverse Films of the year.