"There has been virtually no progress in the volume of senior representation in the top-grossing films in the past year," Smith says in the report, adding, "As Hollywood embraces representation of other diverse groups, it's imperative for aging Americans to be included in the industry's focus on inclusion."

Out of the 100 films analyzed by USC Annenberg, 57 films had a leading or supporting senior character. But before you stand up and cheer, think about this: 44 percent of those films depicted older characters in demeaning ways and with ageist comments, such as "old and decrepit," "grumpy old rat," or "crazy old man."

Not only that, but most of the films with ageist comments—56 percent—also denigrated seniors' health, mental well-being, memory and hearing.

Not only is it unfair—retirees are also depicted as being "out of it" when it comes to technology—the opposite is true.

Humana has found that a whopping 89 percent of aging Americans use computer technology, including the internet, on a weekly basis. On screen, just 41 percent of senior characters engaged with technology.

And stereotypes like that can take a toll on seniors' sense of optimism—something that can then impact their health.

The report says that while 87 percent of seniors who identify as optimistic reported their health as good or excellent, only 44 percent who identified as least optimistic did so. In addition, 97 percent of the most optimistic seniors said that staying physically active was a key motivator for maintaining good health; that also contradicts depictions of seniors in popular films.

Movies often show seniors as stay-at-home types, with just 26 percent of onscreen older people traveling; in reality, 63 percent of seniors are active travelers, going somewhere at least once a year.

That disconnect too can be detrimental, since, according to Dr. Yolangel Hernandez-Suarez, vice president and chief medical officer, care delivery at Humana, it can affect how seniors see themselves.

She is quoted in the report saying, "As aging Americans continue to see these inaccurate depictions of themselves onscreen, their view of life past the age of 60 may begin to feel scary or ominous. Our research shows that staying optimistic is vital to the perceived physical and mental health of seniors, and films may be negatively impacting their health by portraying seniors in demeaning or inaccurate ways."