Has Netflix’s Long Journey to Win Best Picture Finally Arrived With ‘Emilia Pérez?’
“Emilia Perez“ ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The article examines Netflix’s ongoing pursuit of the elusive Best Picture Oscar. Jacques Audiard’s crime musical “Emilia Pérez” stands out as a strong contender, thanks to its critical acclaim, impressive cast, and groundbreaking representation. The film’s chances are bolstered by its selection as France’s official submission for the International Feature category.
Is the Netflix Oscar drought finally about to end?
Netflix has been pursuing the Academy Award for Best Picture for years, coming close several times without securing a win. However, 2024 could finally be the year that changes, and it’s all thanks to Jacques Audiard’s critically praised crime musical, Emilia Pérez.
Premiering at Cannes to widespread acclaim, Emilia Pérez boasts a star-studded cast that includes Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz. The movie’s riveting narrative, impressive performances, and meaningful representation helped it earn a shared Best Actress award for the four lead stars. Many Oscar watchers are now comparing Emilia Pérez to Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the first non-English language film to take home Best Picture back in 2020. With France selecting Emilia Pérez as its entry for the International Feature category, Netflix is clearly banking on its awards potential.
Netflix has often been in the running for the Academy’s highest honor but has yet to win the coveted Best Picture Oscar. Films like Roma (2018), The Power of the Dog (2021), and All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) came tantalizingly close, proving Netflix’s success in drawing Academy attention.
Despite its ability to secure numerous nominations, Netflix has struggled to clinch top awards. Alfonso Cuarón (Roma) and Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) both won Best Director, but Netflix’s biggest win in a major category remains Laura Dern’s Best Supporting Actress award for Marriage Story (2019).
So, what has kept Netflix from winning Best Picture so far?
It still comes down to the quality of the films and how well they resonate with voters—regardless of the extensive campaigning that is done. Past contenders like Roma and Mank were ambitious auteur-driven projects that, while remarkable, resulted in mixed reactions from industry voters. Additionally, the preferential voting system for Best Picture tends to favor consensus favorites, which hasn’t played in Netflix’s favor.
“Emilia Perez“ ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Netflix’s closest shots at Best Picture were with Roma and The Power of the Dog, both highly nominated but ultimately losing out. The distinction of being the first streaming platform to secure the Best Picture Oscar was taken by Apple in 2022 with CODA, and that competitive dynamic has only sharpened Netflix’s determination. On the television side, the streaming wars showed a similar progression—Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale was the first streaming show to win Best Drama Emmy in 2017, and Netflix later achieved a historic sweep with The Crown in 2021.
This awards season, Netflix is spreading its efforts across multiple projects. Alongside Emilia Pérez, the streamer is also banking on Malcolm Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, which is garnering buzz for supporting actress Danielle Deadwyler. Additionally, Pablo Larraín’s Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, is another contender aiming for Oscar recognition.
However, Netflix’s journey to win an Oscar won’t be without fierce competition. Sean Baker’s Anora, featuring Mikey Madison in a breakout role, and Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, are also gaining momentum, making this year’s race particularly unpredictable.
Netflix’s Oscar campaign comes at a time of transition for the company. Early in 2024, film chairman Scott Stuber stepped down to start his own media venture, following significant upheaval across the entertainment industry, including strikes and production disruptions. With limited options, Emilia Pérez, acquired by Netflix at Cannes, has emerged as the platform’s most promising hope for awards success.
Zoe Saldana in “Emilia Perez” ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
The question now is whether Netflix has finally cracked the formula. Perhaps this year, Emilia Pérez will be the film that ends its long Oscar drought.
Current Oscars Tracking (Oct. 28, 2024)
Best Picture
• “Anora”
• “Blitz”
• “The Brutalist”
• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Conclave”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Gladiator II”
• “The Room Next Door”
• “Wicked”
Director
• Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”
• Edward Berger, “Conclave”
• Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
• Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II”
• Denis Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Two”
Actor
• Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
• Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
• Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
• Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
• Paul Mescal, “Gladiator II”
Actress
• Angelina Jolie, “Maria”
• Karla Sofía Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
• Mikey Madison, “Anora”
• Saoirse Ronan, “The Outrun”
• Tilda Swinton, “The Room Next Door”
Supporting Actor
• Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
• Clarence Maclin, “Sing Sing”
• Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
• Stanley Tucci, “Conclave”
• Denzel Washington, “Gladiator II”
Supporting Actress
• Danielle Deadwyler, “The Piano Lesson”
• Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
• Saoirse Ronan, “Blitz”
• Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”
• Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
Original Screenplay
• “Anora”
• “The Brutalist”
• “A Real Pain”
• “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
• “September 5”
Adapted Screenplay
• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Conclave”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “The Room Next Door”
• “Sing Sing”
Animated Feature
• “Inside Out 2”
• “Memoir of a Snail”
• “Piece by Piece”
• “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
• “The Wild Robot”
Production Design
• “Blitz”
• “The Brutalist”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Gladiator II”
• “Wicked”
Cinematography
• “The Brutalist”
• “Conclave”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Gladiator II”
• “Nosferatu”
Costume Design
• “Blitz”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Gladiator II”
• “Nosferatu”
• “Wicked”
Film Editing
• “Anora”
• “Conclave”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Gladiator II”
Makeup and Hairstyling
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Saturday Night”
• “The Substance”
• “Wicked”
Sound
• “Blitz”
• “The Brutalist”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Gladiator II”
Visual Effects
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Gladiator II”
• “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
• “Mufasa: The Lion King”
• “Wicked”
Original Score
• “The Brutalist”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Gladiator II”
• “The Room Next Door”
• “The Wild Robot”
Original Song
• “Winter Coat” from “Blitz”
• “Mi Camino” from “Emilia Pérez”
• “Beyond” from “Moana 2”
• “The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
• “Harper and Will Go West” from “Will & Harper”
Documentary Feature
• “Black Box Diaries”
• “Dahomey”
• “Daughters”
• “No Other Land”
• “Sugarcane”
International Feature
• “Dahomey” from Senegal
• “Emilia Pérez” from France
• “Grand Tour” from Portugal
• “I’m Still Here” from Brazil
• “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from Germany
Animated Short
• “Above Ground”
• “An Almost Christmas Story”
• “A Guest From Elsewhere”
• “Maybe Elephants”
• “Remember Us”
Documentary Short
• “Chasing Roo”
• “Denial”
• “The Final Copy of Ilon Specht”
• “Julia’s Stepping Stones”
• “Wings of Dust”
Live Action Short
• “Anuja”
• “Bogotá Story”
• “Motherland”
• “1Up”
• “Say Hi After You Die”
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