It’s Action Month here at ScreenAge Wasteland, which got me thinking: could an action movie actually win Best Picture this year?
It’s not like it hasn’t been done before—depending on how loosely you define an “action movie.” If you consider Everything Everywhere All at Once an action movie, you only have to go back three years!
Before that, I suppose Argo could be considered “action,” at least, that’s one subgenre listed on Google. The Hurt Locker could be too. And of course, there’s Gladiator.
But pure action films haven’t gotten the most love from The Academy, so what odds are we looking at in 2025?
There’s one obvious answer, and a few lurkers depending once again on your definition of “action.”
One Battle After Another
It turns out, I already have an action movie predicted for the Best Picture race! The latest effort from director Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another has been reported by people who have seen it as more of an action movie than anything else. With starpower like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean, Penn, Regina Hall, Benecio del Toro and more, there’s a strong argument for the film reaching the Best Picture ranks. As for a win, that could be more of a struggle, with early reviews already appearing a bit mixed on the film. But if any true-blue action movie has a shot, this is it.
F1
If there’s one guy who knows something about getting a true action blockbuster into the Best Picture race, it’s Joseph Kosinski, who took the Top Gun franchise to new heights and maneuvered the high-powered sequel Top Gun: Maverick into the race just 10 years ago. He’s traded in jet planes for formula cars, but early reviews indicate this is bound to another full-throttle ride that will wow audiences. If that holds true for more critics and audiences as the film goes wide later this month, it could have a similar effect to Maverick and qualify for the race. Can it win? Doubtful, but making the cut is no small victory.
Avatar: Fire and Ash and Wicked: For Good
Don’t scoff at me. I’ve had both of these Best Picture sequels in my top 10 from the jump and while neither would be primarily considered action movies, they do have enough action to put them in the mix. If you allow these to be considered action movies, then they have as good a shot as any film this year to punch a ticket to the big dance. I could even see them having an outside shot at a win, but it will take an incredible effort.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
If you want to believe that The Academy really loves Tom Cruise and just wants to honor him (again), then I guess you could see this movie slipping in the race. That’s incredibly unlikely though based on the reception to the film—it doesn’t have anywhere near the box office prowess or word-of-mouth passion to push it forward like Maverick.
Below-the-line
I’m not going to try and parse out too much about which action films are going to compete the hardest in VFX or set design, sight unseen, but this is where we typically see films like Superman and Fantastic Four: First Steps enter the mix. Jurassic World Rebirth could certainly get in depending on the competition and the particular excellence of its dinosaur designs. Maybe even something like Predator: Badlands could get in on the fun.
That’s all for this Poll Position. Until next time, screenagers.
