The Oscars Are Changing – And So Is the Film Industry

Contact: Kelly Craine, 254-297-9065
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WACO, Texas (March 9, 2025) – The 2026 Academy Awards nominations suggest that Hollywood’s most prestigious awards may be reflecting a film industry in transition – one shaped by changing audience tastes, the growing influence of streaming platforms and an expanding definition of what counts as an “Oscar-worthy” film.

One of the most noticeable shifts this year is the presence of genre films among the top nominees. Traditionally dominated by historical epics, dramatic biopics and prestige dramas, the Best Picture category now includes several films that fall outside those conventional boundaries.

Two horror films – Frankenstein and Sinners – are among the nominees, alongside the science fiction film Bugonia and the action-sports film F1, which together represent nearly half of the Best Picture slate.

More nominees, more exciting field

For Baylor University’s James Kendrick, Ph.D., professor of film and digital media and a noted expert on horror and cult films, that level of representation for genre films is one of this year’s most interesting Oscar trends, and one difficult to imagine a decade ago.

The change may partially stem from the Academy’s decision several years ago to expand the Best Picture category beyond five nominees. While there was concern that the larger field risked diluting the category with weaker films, it opened the door for movies that previously would have been overlooked, Kendrick said.

Effect of streaming on Academy choices

Another major force shaping the awards landscape is the continued rise of streaming platforms.

Companies like Netflix, Amazon and Apple have spent the past decade investing heavily in original film production, often partnering with acclaimed directors to build prestige and attract awards recognition. That strategy has paid off in a major way, Kendrick said.

This year, Netflix productions received 18 nominations – another sign that streaming companies remain deeply embedded in the awards ecosystem.

Much of their success stems from collaborations with some of the industry’s most celebrated filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuarón. As a result, the perception of streaming-produced films has changed dramatically.

“It’s not uncommon now to think of a Netflix-produced film as something prestigious,” Kendrick said. “A decade ago, that idea would have caused no small amount of consternation – if not derisive laughter.”

The future of the Oscars… and film making

Despite the growing influence of streaming and changing viewing habits, the Oscars still carry enormous cultural weight. For many moviegoers, the Academy Awards remain the primary signal of which films represent the year’s most significant achievements, even though the awards tend to follow cultural trends rather than create them.

“The Oscars continue to shape film culture, but mostly on the backend,” Kendrick said. “Oscar nominations usually follow trends that are already happening in film culture. The Academy reinforces what’s important – it doesn’t really lead.”

Looking ahead, the 2026 nominations may hint at an industry becoming more open, experimental and globally connected. The wide range of genres, production models and storytelling styles represented in the nominations suggests a film landscape that is evolving to represent movie lovers’ tastes.

“The breadth of Best Picture nominees suggests that the film industry is currently wide open,” Kendrick said. “Lack of stability caused by changes in distribution and exhibition, the dominance of streaming and the global dispersion of film production can be scary, but it can also open up new possibilities.”

For audiences and filmmakers alike, that uncertainty may ultimately lead to greater diversity in storytelling and a broader definition of what cinematic excellence looks like.

“That’s my optimistic take,” Kendrick said.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.

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The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments in the sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences, as well as 11 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. The College’s undergraduate Unified Core Curriculum, which routinely receives top grades in national assessments, emphasizes a liberal education characterized by critical thinking, communication, civic engagement and Christian commitment. Arts & Sciences faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences website.