Oscars 2025: What is Oscar bait and what makes a film one?

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As the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards have been revealed, expect to hear the term 'Oscar bait' a lot more in the weeks ahead.   But what is Oscarbaiting as is it a dirty word or a simple label to reflect the achievements of some filmmakers?

Transcript

00:00It's that time of the year again, Oscar season.

00:03The nominees for the 97th Academy Awards are set to be announced,

00:08or have been announced depending whenever you see this video,

00:11and no doubt you're already hearing across social media calls ringing out,

00:17Oscar bait, Oscar bait, Oscar what?

00:22Well, Oscar bait refers to films that apparently are crafted specifically to grab the Academy's attention.

00:29Basically designed with winning an Oscar in mind.

00:32And while that sounds like a good thing, not everybody sees it that way.

00:37From historical dramas to biographical films, you've probably heard people toss around the term

00:41Oscar bait every year when the nominations are announced.

00:45But what does it actually mean?

00:48Well, Oscar bait is a movie that features heavy performances,

00:52maybe historical figures, and emotional depth.

00:56The King's Speech, Lincoln, The Theory of Everything,

00:59these are films that are often cited as Oscar bait, allegedly, according to our lawyers.

01:06Some critics say it's all allegedly because of our lawyers.

01:10Part of a strategy, studios are not just making films for the story,

01:14because they know there'll be major contenders during awards season.

01:18It's a fine line though, some see Oscar bait as a compliment,

01:21the ultimate recognition of a film's craft, while others, they view it as a put-down.

01:26It's like a film that's being a try-hard in school,

01:28or to quote The Simpsons, just a big meh to dismiss it completely.

01:33But do these films deserve to be called Oscar bait?

01:36Is it really just an attempt at glory?

01:39Or is it a way to highlight a filmmaker's true artistic vision?

01:43Some argue that by focusing too much on awards, studios might lose sight of the raw creativity.

01:49Instead of making a film just because it's a good story,

01:52there's this added pressure to play the game and create something that's Oscar worthy.

01:57But then on the other hand, these films were made with a passion, effort and skill,

02:01so is just merely dismissing them as Oscar bait quite belittling towards

02:07someone's or some people's artistic endeavours?

02:10Don't get me wrong though, it doesn't mean that if a film is Oscar bait, that it's not good.

02:15Many critics and viewers agree that some Oscar bait films,

02:19like The Theory of Everything or The King's Speech, are still artistic triumphs.

02:23At the end of the day, the distinction between Oscar bait and a great film,

02:27well, it's up to us and our perspective.

02:29But let's be real.

02:31Pretty boring not talking about Oscar bait around Oscar seasons,

02:35it's become part of the fun, right?

02:37It's not just about the film itself anymore, it's about how it's viewed,

02:40marketed and of course what kind of buzz it generates around this time of year.

02:45So as we gear up for the 97th Academy Awards,

02:48you can bet that the term Oscar bait will be used a lot.

02:51Whether a compliment or whether a jab, well, it's a label that's here to stay.

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