The Blind Side and Feminism

The movie adaptation of the real life story of Michael Oher and his rise from being a homeless middle-schooler to famous football star is one of the highest grossing movies of 2009. Bringing in over 208 million dollars, the surprising fact about this film is that it is the first movie ever with a female lead (Sandra Bullock) to bring in over 200 million dollars. Up to this point Julia Roberts' Erin Brokovich held the record with just over 120 million in ticket sales. It's almost shocking that films with woman leads cannot be blockbusters. John Lee Hancock the director of the film stated that when Julia Roberts was not cast for the role Fox studios suggested that he re-write the script into a father-son story. It didn't matter to them that the movie was based on the real life story of Leanne Touhe, the woman who raised Michael Oher. The studio recognized the limited success of films with woman leads.

The lack of "blockbuster" films with female actresses in the starring role is surprising mostly because female celebrities maintain virtually equal status in celebrity culture (if not more so) as males. That is to say that Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson are equally as famous as George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Jake Gyllenhall. There is no noticeable difference in their celebrity status but as an institution hollywood studios indicate the limited selling power of women. I don't necessarily think that this indicates some centralized sexism by Hollywood to keep women out of starring roles but rather Hollywood is a keen student of history. If no movie up to this point has made over 200 million dollars with a female lead it makes sense that movie studios would be reluctant to star women as their main role. But with the success of films like the Blind Side, the transition towards more equal time as the star is going to become available for women.