Madame Web and Sonic 3 Ineligible For Best Picture at the Oscars

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Summary

  • Sonic 3 and Madame Web did not meet the Academy’s Best Picture eligibility requirements.
  • Both films are ineligible but do qualify for other Oscars.
  • Sonic 3 and Madame Web are not serious Oscar contenders.

It turns out that Madame Web and Sonic 3 share a similarity during this year’s award season, all thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Over the festive season, I was thrilled to witness Sonic the Hedgehog 3 outshining many expectations with rave reviews and impressive box office earnings. Interestingly, it surpassed Disney’s The Lion King prequel, Mufasa, for two consecutive weekends in what felt like an upset to many. Contrastingly, this year, Madame Web’s premiere was met with significantly less favorable critic reception and financial success, ultimately flopping critically and financially. Remarkably, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saw a commonality between these two films despite their starkly different receptions.

As a film enthusiast, I was thrilled to learn that 323 movies were in contention for this year’s Oscars, according to The Wrap. However, I was surprised to discover that 116 of these films (approximately 36%) are not up for the Best Picture category. Titles like “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Madame Web” fall into this category, with the latter being the sole superhero movie from 2024 that doesn’t make the cut for the Academy’s top honor. Interestingly, even the critically-contested “Kraven the Hunter” is eligible. The Academy’s eligibility rule states that a film must be released in a qualifying number of theaters with a minimum run time to be considered for Best Picture.

To be eligible, feature films should premiere at a commercial cinema in one of six major American cities – Los Angeles County, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Miami, or Atlanta – between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The screening must continue for at least seven consecutive days in the same theater. Furthermore, these films should be longer than 40 minutes.

It’s uncertain what specific diversity and inclusion criteria Sonic 3 and Madame Web fell short on, since they fit all the previously mentioned requirements. Consequently, it’s possible that these films didn’t meet the Academy’s Representation and Inclusion Standards for Best Picture contenders. The Academy has been enforcing these standards for two years now, which aim to ensure that Best Picture candidates satisfy additional diversity and inclusion benchmarks. Neither Sonic 3 nor Madame Web were ever considered frontrunners for a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. Even so, studios have attempted to push films in the past, as demonstrated when Warner Bros. campaigned for Wonder Woman 1984 but failed to secure a Best Picture nomination. Many big-budget Hollywood productions have taken long shots at winning the top Oscar prize.

I must admit, I’ve been following the Oscars closely, and while they haven’t always snubbed blockbusters, it’s been a while since a film like Sonic 3 made it to the Best Picture nominees list. Despite the massive reception Sonic 3 received, movies like Top Gun: Maverick or Barbie have garnered more universal acclaim, making them stronger contenders for an Oscar. Even among dedicated Sonic 3 fans, I haven’t heard anyone describe it as “Oscar-worthy” in the Best Picture category.

Some people question the relevance of the Oscars these days, but excluding a movie like Madame Web from the nominations doesn’t necessarily mean that the Academy is out of touch with regular moviegoers. It might just be a matter of perception and the type of movies that are being produced today.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now playing in theaters and Madame Web is available on digital platforms.

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2025-01-08 05:03