5 Unexpected Oscar Nominations
The 90th Annual Academy Awards nominations have been released, and many of the expected top contenders made the list. To some surprise, even after big guild wins, Guillermo del Toro’s latest film, The Shape of Water, leads the pack with 13 nominations. Dunkirk and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri also received multiple nominations. And still, several unexpected films slipped in among the favorites.
It's unusual for genre films to be nominated for Oscars, but several made the cut this year. Big budget superhero films, comedies and even horror films were all included among the usual dramatic Oscar fare. To get ready for the 2018 Oscars, we’ve compiled of the biggest surprise nominations. Let’s look at the list of unexpected Oscar contenders for 2018.
Get Out – Best Picture
Get Out was Jordan Peele’s directing debut and an unexpected box office hit. The film melds horror elements with a socially relevant message, all while telling an original story. Even with praise from critics and a groundswell of awards support, it's a surprise to see Get Out nominated for multiple Oscars, including nominations for Original Screenplay and Daniel Kaluuya for Actor in a Leading Role.
It’s incredible that a horror film got nominated for Best Picture, but Get Out is more than deserving. The way Get Out portrayed racism and cultural appropriation is poignant and effective, and it's important that the Academy recognizes the film. Hopefully we’ll see more genre films get nominated in the future. For now, we’re delighted that Get Out is in the running for Best Picture.
Logan – Adapted Screenplay
The Oscar trophy can be seen as the ultimate prize in filmmaking, but being nominated is an honor. For Logan, it’s remarkable that the film was even recognized by the Academy. James Mangold's film broke the superhero movie mold to deliver an incredible cinematic experience. Logan was a perfect send-off for Hugh Jackman's X-Men character, and is one of the year's best movies overall.
It’s extremely rare for superhero films to be nominated for Oscars, especially when it comes to writing. By receiving an Adapted Screenplay Nomination, Logan proves that superhero films can be much more than big budget blockbusters. The film is fantastic, but given the Academy’s usual taste in films, it’s still surprising that Logan was nominated this year. Hopefully, this is a sign that great films, regardless of genre, will be recognized by the Academy in the future.
Baby Driver – Film Editing
Nobody knew what to expect from Edgar Wright’s film Baby Driver, but it blew audiences away. The film grossed $226 million worldwide, and is Wright’s most successful film to date. A throwback to 70’s action films, with exhilarating car chases, Baby Driver was a delight from start to finish. And yet few people expected it to be nominated for an Oscar.
It’s true that Film Editing isn’t the most coveted award, but it is an outstanding achievement. Editing played a huge part in Baby Driver's actions scenes, complimenting Wright’s unique directing style. This nomination is huge for Edgar Wright, but it’s also a feather in the cap of everyone who worked on the film.
The Boss Baby – Animated Feature Film
The Boss Baby was a box office juggernaut even though it was not received well by critics or audiences. The family-friendly film starring Alec Baldwin grossed almost $500 million worldwide, which is incredible given its 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
When the Oscar nominations were announced, people were shocked that The Boss Baby was being considered for Best Animated Picture, especially since The Lego Batman Movie was left out. Nobody seems to know why things happened this year, but for now the internet is still astounded that The Boss Baby is an Oscar Nominated film.
The Big Sick – Best Original Screenplay
The Big Sick was one of the most critically celebrated films of 2017, with an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The original film, written by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon is incredible, but it’s not exactly the type of film the Academy recognizes. The film is based on Nanjiani and Gordon’s real-life romance and chronicles the hardships they faced early in their relationship.
For the most part, The Bick Sick is a low-budget comedy, but it does tackle some heavy social issues. It was one of the best films of 2017; however, it’s still surprising that it was nominated for Original Screenplay. It’s a great honor for everyone who worked on the film, but especially for Nanjiani and Gordon who shared their story with the world.
Catch The 90th Annual Academy Awards March 4th at 8PM/ET on ABC.
All of the Best Picture nominees will be back on the big screen at our Best Picture Showcase. Tickets to the special event are on sale now!