How does it hurt to be a musical and still be able to win?

After a long awaited wait, Evil
is finally making its big screen debut and its Oscar chances are already being discussed. The musical is such a huge spectacle that it is being divided into two parts and has Universal on its side. Last year, the studio won big at this year’s Oscars when Oppenheimer it took home Best Picture and six other awards, including Best Director for Christopher Nolan. It has the opportunity to do so again in 2025, although it’s safe to say that Evil and Oppenheimer They are two very different films.

Historically, there have been many musicals that have received Best Picture nominations, but have not always been successful in winning the category. That could change this year, especially with Evil joining Netflix Emilia Pérezalso a musical, as a candidate for Best Film. EvilThe reviews and audience scores have been glowing (the Rotten Tomatoes scores are 92% and 99%, respectively, which is incredible), and while that alone isn’t enough to propel him to the Oscars, it certainly helps your awards campaign and chances. Although the Best Picture category favored dramas, Evilthe potential victory could be historic.

Wicked’s Best Picture Win Could Break Chicago’s 21-Year Oscar Streak

Not since Chicago There’s a musical that won Best Picture at the Oscars. That was in 2003. Other films have been nominated over the past 20+ years – Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge!, La La Terraamong several – but they were all beaten by other films (usually dramas/dramedies like Green Book, A beautiful mind, CODE). At the moment, Evilthe chances are high and shares many similarities with Chicago. Both musicals focus on the relationship between their female protagoniststhe show is riveting, the songs are memorable, and the adaptations are based on beloved stage musicals.

The year Chicago won the Best Film award, faced competition from The pianist, New York gangsand The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – and still took home the top prize. It also marked director Rob Marshall’s first nomination and win for Best Picture. And although he would get more Oscar nominations with films like In the forest and Nine (also musical), Chicago it was Marshall’s first and last Best Picture award. Evil director Jon M. Chu follows a similar trajectory.

Chu directed big films like Crazy rich Asians and the musical In the heightsbut Evil It would be his first film to reach the Oscars. While the director may not be as well-known among Academy voters as some of the more renowned filmmakers, we may be seeing Chicagohistory repeats itself with Evilwhich will also have great competition from companies such as Conclave and anora. At this point your chances of being nominated are practically guaranteed but with the discussion surrounding your casting, visuals and general production, Evil can defy gravity.

Wicked’s best picture chances could be hurt because it’s a musical

But that doesn’t mean your chances of at least being nominated are wasted.

Evil being a traditional musical could hurt its Best Picture chances. It can be seen as a film accessible only to a specific audience and may not be taken very seriously by Academy voters. A musical hasn’t won Best Picture in more than two decades — and only ten musicals have won Best Picture — suggesting a move away from extravagance. The industry has changed globally since ChicagoBest Film Win: Streamers like Netflix entered the awards fray, the public goes to the cinema much lessand a non-English language film won in the category.

Although musicals are not for everyone, Evil It premiered more than 21 years ago and was a smash hit long before it was made into a film. The film will certainly receive Golden Globe nominations, which could support its journey towards the Oscars. What Evil screened to approximately 900 Academy voters – a large turnout – is a good thing. This means there is interest in the film. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo being up for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, and the film being a clear choice to be nominated, Evilof A Best Picture win doesn’t seem so far out of reach.