Oscar-nominated films with a woman in the starring role are more profitable than their male-led counterparts.
Female-led films earn higher box office returns - despite usually lower production budgets, according to BBC analysis.
On average, every dollar invested in a female-led film earns back $2.12 (£1.53). For male-led films this figure is $1.59 (£1.15).
Just 28 per cent of films nominated for an Oscar since 2013 have had an actress taking top billing.
"Women are not bad box office, on or behind screen," says Kate Kinninmont, head of Women in Film and Television UK.
Oscar-nominated films with a clearly definable female lead were 33 per cent more profitable than male-led films, when comparing US box office and production budget.
This data, collated from Internet Movie Database, excluded documentaries and short films. The study looked at 155 films for which data was available, dating back to 2013. Distribution and promotional costs were not factored into the analysis.
The results don't just apply to the US box office but figures from the States were used rather than those taken globally as more complete data for US figures is available on IMDB.
The female star boost isn't just an Oscars phenomenon.
Last year was a bumper one for female protagonists, and the first time since the 1950s the top three highest-grossing US films all had female leads: Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Beauty and the Beast and Wonder Woman.
And it appears these are part of a larger trend.
Among 2017's 100 top-grossing US films, those with a female lead earned back more on their budgets - led by The Last Jedi starring Daisy Ridley, which made $618.3 million (£442.7 million).
This is partly driven by box office returns that are 7 per cent higher on average than their male-led counterparts, but to a greater extent because the majority of female-led films have significantly lower budgets, reports BBC.
The average production budget shrinks by 20 per cent when a woman has the starring role.
