Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie and Ella Jay Basco in 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' (2020).
Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie and Ella Jay Basco in 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' (2020).
Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie and Ella Jay Basco in 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' (2020).
Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie and Ella Jay Basco in 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' (2020).

Women directed a record number of top-grossing films in 2020, study finds


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

For all the trials the film industry had to endure last year, there was at least one good thing about 2020: it marked a record high for the number of movies directed by women that made it to the top 100 highest-grossing of the year.

A study by the Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University found that women made up 16 per cent of the filmmakers behind the 100 highest-grossing films of 2020. While it may still seem low, the number is a leap compared to the 12 per cent of 2019 and 4 per cent of 2018.

According to entertainment news outlet Variety, the study found that women comprised 21 per cent of all the directors, writers, cinematographers, producers, executive producers and editors who worked on the 100 highest-grossing films.

"The good news is that we've now seen two consecutive years of growth for women who direct," said Dr Martha Lauzen, who spearheaded the study. She noted that while the rising number was encouraging, there is still a glaring disparity in some areas.

"This breaks a recent historical pattern in which the numbers trend up one year and down the next. The bad news is that fully 80 per cent of top films still do not have a woman at the helm."

It is worth noting that the pandemic delayed the release of several highly anticipated films by female filmmakers, such as Cate Shortland's Black Widow and Chloe Zhao's Eternals. It also saw a number of production companies redirect releases to streaming platforms, such as Niki Caro's Mulan, which was made exclusive on Disney+ in several countries. Regionally, however, the film did roll out in cinemas.

Here’s a look at some of 2020’s most successful films by female filmmakers:

‘Birds of Prey’

Margot Robbie reprised her role as the charming but slightly unstable hit girl Harley Quinn in this follow up to Suicide Squad.

The film, directed by Dead Pigs filmmaker Cathy Yan, fared much better with fans and critics than its predecessor. Despite Suicide Squad's stellar cast, including the likes of Will Smith and Jared Leto, the film was skewered for its sub-par writing, illogical plot and Leto's caricatured portrayal of the Joker. The film came in sixth in the 100 top films of the year, raking in more than $200 million at the box office.

‘Wonder Woman 1984’

The second instalment of the Wonder Woman series may not have been received as well as the first, but it is still one of the top films of 2020.

The sequel follows Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) as she is forced out of her quiet life curating ancient artefacts at the Smithsonian Museum to face villains Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig). The film made $118 million at the box office and came in as the 20th top-grossing film of last year. However, it also faced backlash on social media for its racist depictions of Egypt.

‘The Turning’

A supernatural horror film, directed by The Runaways filmmaker Floria Sigismondi, The Turning is based on the 1898 ghost story The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

The film tells the story of a nanny who is assigned to take care of two young orphans in a gothic mansion in Maine. The film was blasted by critics for its muddled adaptation of the James classic. However, the film made more than $18 million at the box office, placing it as the 30th most successful film of 2020.

‘Emma’

Based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel of the same name, Emma may not be the most faithful adaptation of the classic but the film benefits from the visual sensibilities of filmmaker Autumn de Wilde, wh was featured in Heaven Adores You.

A series of stunning, pastel-hued tableaux, Emma does well to bring a new wave of appreciation to the Austen classic. While the pandemic dealt a critical blow to several blockbusters of 2020, it also gave room for relatively smaller films to shine and make the top 100. The film, which was made with a budget of $10 million, made a worldwide total of $26 million at the box office, ranking as the 40th top film of 2020.

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’

While French filmmaker Celine Sciamma’s historical drama premiered in 2019, it wasn’t until early 2020 that it was released around the world, thus putting it in the list of highest-grossing 2020 films.

The film, set in the late 18th century, tells the story of a romance between a French aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait. The film made more than $10 million at the box office and ranked as the 63rd top film of 2020.

‘The Rhythm Section’

An action thriller directed by Reed Morano, The Rhythm Section follows a young woman who seeks revenge for the death of her family, who were killed in a plane crash brought on by a terrorist attack.

The film marks the third feature for Morano, who became the first woman in history to win both an Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award in the same year, for directing the pilot episode of The Handmaid's Tale.

The Rhythm Section was met with mixed reviews from critics and made just over $6 million at the box office, putting it as the 55th highest grossing film of 2020.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6

Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm

Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km

Price: Dh375,000 

On sale: now 

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Porsche Macan T: The Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo 

Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm 

Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm 

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto 

Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec 

Top speed: 232kph 

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km 

On sale: May or June 

Price: From Dh259,900  

THE DETAILS

Kaala

Dir: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar  

Rating: 1.5/5 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Slow loris biog

From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore

Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets

Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation

Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night

Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981

Profession: Driver

Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)

Favourite drink: chai karak

Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”

if you go

The flights

Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes

The package

Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January

The info

Visit www.gokorea.co.uk

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors. 

Youth YouTuber Programme

The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:

- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots

- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing

- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience

SERIES INFO

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series

All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Test series

1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March

Play starts at 9.30am

T20 series

1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March

TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube

While you're here
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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Meydan racecard:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three-day coronation

Royal purification

The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.

The crown

Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.

The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.

The audience

On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.

The procession

The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.

Meet the people

On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.

LUKA CHUPPI

Director: Laxman Utekar

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon​​​​​​​, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana

Rating: 3/5