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Older adults want to see themselves and their lives represented on television and movie screens and believe that the industry falls short of accurately portraying the experience of aging,

according to a new report from AARP. The findings, based on a survey of 1,010 Americans age 50 and older, highlight some of the reasons AARP launched its annual Movies for Grownups Awards in

2002 to spotlight deserving 50-plus actors and encourage more movies made for and starring people over 50. This year’s awards ceremony will be televised Feb. 23 on PBS and will recognize

important screen performances by older adults. Older actors are rarely featured in diverse and dynamic roles. Among those surveyed, only 17 percent say they often see older actors being

physically active, and fewer still (11 percent) often see them learning something new. Just 22 percent say they often see older adults on-screen having busy careers. It makes good business

sense to portray older adults more realistically. The 50-plus age group spends over $10 billion a year on Hollywood entertainment, with 61 million attending movies and over 84 million

subscribing to streaming services in the last year. Three out of four people in the AARP survey (73 percent) say they are more likely to watch movies or shows that include characters who are

like them. It’s not just an issue of being represented on screen. Four out of five surveyed believe that male actors (80 percent), female actors (84 percent), and directors, writers, and

producers (83 percent) age 50 and older bring unique perspectives and talents that are currently being underrepresented in movies or TV. JOIN OUR FIGHT AGAINST AGE DISCRIMINATION Sign up to

become an AARP activist on issues important to people 50 and older, including age discrimination.​ “The 50-plus audience wants to see themselves on the screen,” says Heather Nawrocki, vice

president of AARP’s Movies for Grownups program. They also want Hollywood to tap into the unique perspectives and talents that 50-plus actors, writers and producers bring to their work, she

says. “That’s why the work that AARP does to fight ageism in Hollywood through the Movies for Grownups Awards is so important,” Nawrocki says. INDUSTRY CHANGE IS NEEDED Most older adults

feel there hasn’t been much progress in the past five years when it comes to the entertainment industry. More than half of survey respondents say the portrayal of older adults on screen has

remained unchanged in that time. Just 28 percent believe it has improved. Other findings include: