The 97th Academy Awards features a diverse array of nominees in 23 categories, with significant buzz surrounding the Best Picture race. This year’s contenders have generally underperformed at the box office compared to last year’s hits, Barbie and Oppenheimer. Notable box office successes among nominees include Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two and Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, grossing $715 million and $710 million, respectively. However, several films like Anora and The Brutalist faced disappointing earnings, despite multiple Oscar nominations. Overall, the Academy seems to emphasize quality over commercial success in its nominations this year.
New Delhi:
The 97th Academy Awards is gearing up to present a thrilling lineup of nominees across 23 categories, with much excitement building around the highly coveted Best Picture category.
This year, the race for the prestigious Oscar looks significantly different, as many of the competitors have not achieved the same box office success as last year’s standout films, Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Both films crossed the $1 billion mark globally in 2024, making them clear frontrunners. This time, the top contenders for Best Picture include Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two and Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, which have both grossed around $710 million worldwide.
Here’s a summary of how the top 10 Oscar nominees for Best Picture fared at the box office:
Anora – 6 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $15 million
Worldwide: $32 million
Anora, despite receiving critical acclaim and six Oscar nominations, has struggled commercially, earning only $15 million in the domestic market and $32 million worldwide.
The Brutalist – 10 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $6 million
Despite its 10 nominations, The Brutalist has underperformed at the box office, raking in just $6 million in the domestic arena.
A Complete Unknown – 8 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $59 million
Worldwide: $61 million
A Complete Unknown has fared better at the box office with $59 million domestically and $61 million globally.
Conclave – 8 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $32 million
Worldwide: $76 million
With eight nominations, Conclave has shown moderate success, earning $32 million domestically and $76 million worldwide.
Dune: Part Two – 5 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $283 million
Worldwide: $715 million
The sequel to Dune, featuring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, has performed remarkably well, grossing $283 million domestically and an impressive $715 million globally. While it hasn’t reached the heights of last year’s blockbusters, it remains among the most successful films of the nominees.
Emilia Perez – 13 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $15.4 million
Worldwide: $30.7 million
Emilia Perez has secured a notable 13 nominations, yet its box office sales are modest with $15 million domestically and approximately $30 million worldwide.
I’m Still Here – 3 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $162,000
I’m Still Here has emerged as one of the least successful films in terms of box office, earning a mere $162,000 domestically. Nevertheless, it has received recognition with three Oscar nominations.
Nickel Boys – 2 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $1.1 million
With just two Oscar nominations, Nickel Boys has had a disappointing box office showing, garnering only $1.1 million at the domestic box office.
The Substance – 5 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $17 million
Worldwide: $45 million
The Substance has garnered five nominations but has only achieved modest earnings of $17 million domestically and $45 million worldwide.
Wicked – 10 Oscar Nominations
Domestic: $466 million
Worldwide: $710 million
Featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked has thrived at the box office, earning $466 million domestically and $710 million globally. While it hasn’t quite matched last year’s global hits, it remains one of the more successful nominees in terms of box office returns.
Overall, the box office performances of many Best Picture nominees showcase mixed results, highlighting the Academy’s focus on quality over commercial success. While films like Dune: Part Two and Wicked have proven to be substantial hits, others like I’m Still Here and Nickel Boys may not have achieved the same commercial acclaim but still garnered recognition from the Academy.