With the gory physique horror The Substance and musicals Emilia Perez and Depraved competing for high Oscars, this marks the most important yr for each genres in over 50 years.
Horror movies have obtained extra Oscar nominations in 2025 than in any yr since 1974, when The Exorcist grew to become the primary horror film to be nominated for Finest Image. It stays probably the most profitable horror movie in Oscar historical past, profitable awards for Sound and Screenplay.
Each years, noticed horror movies earn 10 nominations general. In 1974, all 10 went to The Exorcist, with 5 in high classes.
This yr, Nosferatu has obtained 4 nominations, although none in main classes, whereas The Substance has secured 5, together with three in main fields: Finest Image, Finest Actress, and Finest Directing. This makes The Substance probably the most profitable horror movie on the Oscars since The Exorcist.
The Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), whose members vote for Oscar nominations and winners, has made a concerted effort in recent times to develop its membership in response to issues over an absence of range in nominations.
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The Exorcist was the primary horror movies to be nominated for Finest Image on the Oscars. Pic: Warner Bros/Hoya Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock
A youthful, extra globally numerous voting physique could also be driving horror’s elevated recognition on the Oscars.
“I think that attitude is eroding, simply because the voting body is expanding to include a greater number of younger voters, more global voters and people raised on more extreme horror films,” he added.
The Substance, certainly one of this yr’s most celebrated horror movies, has already dominated the awards season.
Lead actress Demi Moore has received a number of Finest Actress awards, together with on the Golden Globes, the Display Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, and the Critics Selection Awards, solidifying its momentum forward of the Oscars.
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The Substance is among the most profitable horror movies on the Oscars since The Exorcist. Pic: Mubi
“It’s in times of uncertainty that horror films begin to reflect our anxieties,” stated Dr. Steven Gerrard, a reader in movie at Leeds Beckett College with a particular curiosity in horror.
The final time a horror movie received an Oscar was in 2018 when Get Out received for Finest Screenplay.
“Get Out is really about race relations. It’s a blend of Frankenstein, The Island of Dr. Moreau and concerns around immigration policies,” stated Dr Gerrard.
Return of the musical?
Musicals have additionally reached a milestone this yr, receiving extra Oscar nominations than in any yr since 1969, when movies like Oliver! and Humorous Woman dominated the awards.
Musicals reached their peak on the Oscars in 1945, when synchronised sound was nonetheless comparatively new in cinema, having solely turn out to be widespread within the early Thirties.
Hollywood studios shortly recognised musicals as the proper solution to capitalise on this breakthrough, showcasing the total potential of sound in movie. The style thrived throughout the Second World Struggle, as audiences sought uplifting escapism.
This yr, Emilia Perez and Depraved have led the musical resurgence. Depraved has secured 10 nominations, together with three in high classes (Finest Image, Finest Actress, and Finest Supporting Actress).
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Cynthia Erivo and co-star Ariana Grande are up for Finest Actress and Finest Supporting Actress in Depraved. Pic: Common Photos
Emilia Perez has gone even additional, incomes 13 nominations, together with 4 in main classes (Finest Image, Finest Actress, Finest Supporting Actress, and Finest Directing). This ties it with Chicago and Mary Poppins because the second most-nominated musical, trailing solely La La Land.
Nonetheless, Emilia Perez has confronted criticism for its dealing with of key themes since its launch. In latest weeks, its star, Karla Sofia Gascon, the primary trans individual to be nominated in an performing class, has come underneath scrutiny for previous social media posts, elevating questions on whether or not the backlash may have an effect on the movie’s standing within the awards race.
In 2017, La La Land grew to become the most-nominated musical in Oscar historical past, incomes 14 nominations, together with 4 in main classes. Within the years that adopted, A Star Is Born (2019) obtained eight nominations, 4 in high classes, and received for Finest Unique Tune.
The primary adaptation of West Facet Story (1961) stays probably the most profitable musical in Oscar historical past, profitable 10 awards, together with three in main classes. Its second adaptation, launched in 2021, earned seven nominations, together with three in high classes, with Ariana DeBose profitable Finest Supporting Actress.
Chicago stays the most-nominated musical for high awards in latest historical past, receiving six in 2002 alongside 13 general and profitable six Oscars.
In contrast to horror, which hardly ever positive factors Oscar recognition outdoors of some standout movies, musicals are likely to fall out and in of trend.
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Rita Moreno (L) and Ariana DeBose (R) as Anita within the 1961 and 2021 variations of West Facet Story. Pics: United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock and twentieth Century Studios
“There’s less of a barrier to entry than with horror. Some people just don’t have the stomach for horror films, whereas with musicals, you might not love them, but most people are willing to give them a chance,” stated Mr Farley.
“There is a preconception that you have to have a very high skill ceiling to be in a musical. It’s a multi-discipline production. You have to be able to sing, you have to be able to dance as well as act. That’s not easy,” he added.
Whereas musicals have seen waves of success over the a long time, and horror has often damaged by way of, this yr marks a giant second for each genres on the Oscars. Whether or not this alerts a long-lasting revival for style movies or only a momentary resurgence stays to be seen.
Methodology
To analyse the illustration of horror and musical movies on the Oscars, we compiled two datasets: one for movies in these genres and one other for Oscar nominees and winners.
Utilizing The Film Database (TMDb) API, we retrieved an inventory of horror and musical movies by filtering for films tagged underneath these genres. This dataset lined movies launched between 1928 and 2024.
Individually, we constructed a database of Oscar nominees and winners from the primary Academy Awards to the current (1928-2025). Whereas we examined general nominations, references to “top” or “prestigious” awards on this evaluation particularly check with Finest Actor, Finest Actress, Finest Supporting Actor, Finest Supporting Actress, Finest Director, and Finest Image.
