Only two science fiction films have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards

During the 97 years of the Academy Awards, some genres have always been the underdogs, regardless of how the general public felt about them at any point in history. When it comes to science fiction, for example, only two entrants to the genre have managed to take home the Oscar for Best Picture, and both are newer than you might expect. In fact, there wasn’t a single Best Picture winner of all time until Guillermo del Toro’s romantic sci-fi horror The Shape of Water in 2017. However, del Toro’s story is one woman (Sally Hawkins) who manages ) Falls in Love with a Mermaid (Doug Jones) ticks all the boxes needed at the time, winning Best Picture over the likes of “Call Me By Your Name” and “Get.” Out, Dunkirk, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Darkest Hour, The Post, Lady Bird, and Phantom Thread.

This was also the victory that seemingly broke the seal of the sci-fi genre at the Oscars. Just five years later, directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert continued to clean up the Oscars with their hit, Best Picture-winning sci-fi thriller Everything Everywhere at Once. Daniels’ bizarre tale of alternate dimensions and a dream about washing clothes with someone was a hit throughout the 2022 awards season, culminating with stars Michelle Yeoh, Ki-Hui Kwan, and Jamie Lee Curtis all winning Oscars, confirming that sci-fi is finally getting some well-deserved recognition. (which is long overdue) from the academy. This brings us to the present, where, at the time of writing, another sci-fi picture finds itself in contention to win some shiny gold statues.

How about the likes of “The Godfather Part II” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” being the only sequels in history to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. (It is considered one of the best films ever)could “Dune: Part Two” join the ranks of the rare hero and another contender to the sci-fi genre that garners some well-deserved praise? Not since Peter Jackson’s first departure from Middle-earth has such an iconic saga been so popular with critics and audiences alike, making it a film worthy of the Academy’s attention.

Combined with stellar performances from the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Austin Butler (all of whom deserve to be considered in the Oscar conversation), Denis Villeneuve’s direction in the sci-fi column alone is worthy of Academy attention. actually, “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two” star Josh Brolin even threatened to stop acting If Villeneuve doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for his efforts in “Dune” Part 2 (and it looks like he’s just kidding). Having finished with a triumph, Dune: Part 2 certainly deserves to become one of the rare sci-fi films to take home the Best Picture award on Oscar night. The Academy likely prevented Hans Zimmer’s score for the “Dune” sequel from getting any nominations But there’s no reason to disdain Villeneuve and the rest of the film.

Who knows – with any luck, 2025 will be the year we add a third Best Picture-winning sci-fi film to the list.