Netflix movie and TV quality has been debated for years. The platform has become a production company, creating an average of 25 movies a year. Before the pandemic, theaters dominated the movie industry when people ventured out to see films. However, times have changed, and now streaming platforms have become the main place people go to enjoy their movies.
But, this new development isn’t necessarily all positive. The release of movies on streaming platforms has had a huge effect in the world of awards (Golden Globes, Oscars, etc.).
As stated by The New York Times, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences once required a theatrical release to be nominated for the Academy (The Oscars).
When the pandemic shut down all theaters, it changed not just Regal or AMC but the entire movie industry. During that 2-3 year time period, movies were being pushed out through streaming platforms such as HBO, AppleTV, and Netflix. This forced the academy to change its rules to accommodate the new world of movies.
Many famous actors and directors from the traditional theater-released movie industry began pushing back on this motion way back in 2018. Iconic Director Steven Spielberg expressed the threat he felt Netflix movies posed to the movie industry. He stated that the streaming films are given “token qualifications, in a couple of theaters for less than a week.”
There are minimal rules for Netflix films. The Academy doesn’t necessarily allow streaming platforms to bypass the theatrical release, but it is certainly easier. Companies like Apple TV, HBO and Peacock are able to release their films on their respective platforms for a shot at an Oscar.
Though nothing has been officially stated, it is pretty clear that the inclusion of movies from streaming platforms within the award academies isn’t going away; instead, they are only becoming more prominent.
Netflix films earned nominations in several major categories at this year’s Oscar Ceremony, which aired on Sunday, March 10, 2024:
- Maestro is nominated for Best Picture
- Society of the Snow is nominated for Best International Feature and Hair and Makeup
- Jodie Foster of NYAD took Margot Robbie’s spot in the race for Best Actress
- Colman Domingo from Rustin is nominated for Best Actor
- May December is nominated for Original Screenplay
And more! See the full Netflix Oscar Nominations list here.
With all these nominations, you would think that their probability of winning would increase. However, Netflix left LA with only one award. Wes Anderson won his first Oscar for his comedic short “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Many critics and journalists, including myself, believe that this win for Wes Anderson was a “token win” as Spielberg mentioned. I argue this win was the Academy’s way of apologizing for overlooking his past 8 nominations for films such as “Moonrise Kingdom” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” that left with nothing.
Wes’ short film is incredibly creative and he completely deserved this Oscar win as he has waited forever. Many fans have also taken to social media to celebrate this win for him stating things like “I’m so happy for him!” and “Absolutely hilarious that Wes Anderson didn’t show up to accept his first ever #Oscar, but I am so happy about this win.”
With a short live action film winning the only Netflix nominated award last week, I can’t help but wonder what this means for next year. I predict that the Academy will consider more Netflix films, but I doubt they will ever be taken as seriously as a Warner Bros production or an A24 film.
