No one takes the Golden Globes seriously. So when the awards show nominated Deadpool for Best Musical or Comedy Film, it was seen as fun nod for fans with no real weight. But the film has been lauded by multiple critics groups, it’s been nominated for a Writers Guild Award and won a Critics’ Choice Award. Today, Deadpool was one of 10 films nominated by the prestigious and influential Producers Guild of America.
This all means Deadpool has a real shot at getting a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
There are a few reasons to say that. First, look at the other films selected by the PGA that Deadpool is up against: Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures, La La Land, Lion, Manchester by the Sea, and Moonlight. All much more traditional “awards movies.” It even got in over favorites Jackie and Silence. Then there’s the fact many of the people who vote on the Oscars are part of these guilds. Their opinions don’t change in the next few weeks. Traditionally, they vote on similar movies for everything.
Deadpool is also a very easily accessible film right now. It’s on HBO, Blu-ray—if you want to see it you can. Most of the other films are either still in theaters, or only available to Academy members via screener, which maybe they have or maybe they don’t.
In 2009, the Academy Awards upped the potential nominees for Best Picture from five to 10. The reason? People were disappointed that The Dark Knight, a critical and financial success released the previous year, wasn’t nominated for Best Picture, thereby drawing in viewers with a big blockbuster, populous hit. Everyone figured from then on, they’d get six or seven more traditional movies, then three or four bigger, more popular movies, to get audiences watching the show. That has not happened. But maybe Deadpool will be the one.
It certainly fits the bill. The film is offbeat, well-written and acted, and a massive hit. I’m not even that big a fan of it but I recognize that it’s a film with some real creative merit. Apparently, in a year many consider to be weak for awards films, that kind of audacity is standing out.
Oscar nominations aren’t due until January 13 and they’ll be revealed on January 24. This is all still up in the air but everyone voting has been keeping tabs on all the awards nominations and is reading the news stories. Deadpool is legitimately being considered an equal of these other films. It’s not a lock by any means, but it has a real shot.