SUMMARY
Considering the quality, quantity, and diversity of films distributed under the Paramount Global banner, GLAAD has given Paramount Global an INSUFFICIENT grade.
Paramount Pictures continues to include LGBTQ characters in the Scream franchise, with an expanded role for lesbian character Mindy in the sixth iteration of the film. However, its only other theatrical release was a brief “blink and you’ll miss it” moment in comedy 80 for Brady.
Much of Paramount+’s inclusive fare was adaptations of already existing properties to varying success. A highlight is continuing the Monster High movies, where nonbinary character Frankie Stein continues to set an example for causal inclusion in kids and family films. Continuations from TV shows A Really Haunted Loud House and Teen Wolf: The Movie left more to be desired as these films either cut down or cut out LGBTQ characters from the original television material.
There are so many brands within Paramount Global that have incredible LGBTQ stories. GLAAD highly suggests that when adapting these properties into film, that the LGBTQ content takes precedence.
HISTORY
The Famous Players Film Company, founded in 1912, merged with the Lasky Company and Paramount to form Paramount Pictures in 1916. The Viacom Network acquired Paramount in 1994 and launched its streaming service in 2014 as CBS All Access, introducing original programming in 2016. CBS re-merged into ViacomCBS in 2019, which is now Paramount Global, and the company expanded its library of content to include Paramount Pictures, officially relaunching its streaming service as Paramount+ in 2021. Although current Paramount films stream on Paramount+, the company became the first major studio to sign a multi-picture deal with Netflix in 2018.
In the mid-nineties and early aughts, Paramount began releasing LGBTQ-inclusive films, starting with In and Out (1997), which remains in the top 10 highest grossing LGBTQ films alongside The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Other inclusive films from that time period include Home for the Holidays (1995), Clueless (1995), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Brain Candy (1996), Kiss Me Guido (1997), Election (1999), The Next Best Thing (2000), and The Hours (2002). In a groundbreaking step in the right direction towards intersectional representation, Paramount released Star Trek: Beyond in 2016, which featured Hikaru Sulu with his husband and daughter. Paramount’s recent LGBTQ-inclusive films include GLAAD Media Award nominees Rocketman (2019), Scream (2022) and Three Months (2022), as well as Like a Boss (2020), On the Come Up (2022), Babylon (2022), and Honor Society (2022).
This sequel continues to follow the kids of Monster High as they face new challenges. The main trio of characters are Clawdeen Wolf, Daculaura, and Frankie Stein. Frankie is nonbinary, casually introducing themselves with they/them pronouns. Frankie’s gender identity is never commented on, it simply exists in this world. 