The modern portrayal of mature women in cinema is defined by its refusal to simplify. Characters are no longer defined solely by their relationship to younger protagonists; they are the center of their own universes.

Furthermore, the "Procedural Prison" still exists. For every Hacks , there are a dozen crime procedurals ( NCIS , Law & Order ) where actresses over 50 play stern District Attorneys or medical examiners—serviceable roles, but rarely the lead.