There’s a quiet truth in the Emmy race for Outstanding TV Movie, and it goes directly against everything Oscar-trained experts have come to expect. At the Academy Awards, the safest path to a Best Picture nomination is a prestigious drama. Comedy and other genres flourish in the film category at the Emmy Awards.
Part of it is just supply. Serious awards-bound movies that might once have been released as standalone TV movies are now almost always released as limited series with longer runways and bigger campaign budgets. What’s left of the movie space is skewed toward streaming crowd-pleasers, and TV voters, perhaps free of the movie-geek guilt that haunts Oscar season, are more likely to recognize (and reward) pictures that are genuinely fun to watch. Previous winners in this category include the live-action/animated hybrid “Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers,” the musical biopic “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” the comedy “Quiz Lady,” and last year’s action-thriller winner “Rebel Ridge.”
When considering this cycle’s most talked-about nominees, at the top of the list is Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” the film adaptation of the best-selling novel starring legendary actress Sally Field as a woman who befriends an octopus. But what’s interesting is what’s around it. Prime Video’s Deep Cover is a lively action comedy that stars Orlando Bloom right next to Netflix’s Vacation, based on Emily Henry’s beach-read blockbuster, Unabashed Romance. HBO Max’s late-season drop “Miss You, Love You,” starring Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells, leans into the same warmth. At the same time, Hulu’s comedy-action film “Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice,” co-starring Vince Vaughn and James Marsden, rounded out a top five built primarily on charm.
Provided by Netflix
This pattern becomes even more apparent when looking outward across the field. Hulu’s “Swipe,” Bumble’s origin story starring Lily James, and Netflix’s love story “Ruth and Boaz” feature relatable and emotionally readable hooks that appeal to a wide audience. Prime Video’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War,” starring John Krasinski, shows how action and suspense genre material can comfortably slide into a conversation that could break down the Oscars. Prime Video’s slate rounds out a diverse Friday night movie night, including the fantasy sequel “Good Omens 3” and the John Cena-starring action comedy “Heads of State.” Even Disney+ is hoping that “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie,” the Jonas brothers’ version of holiday fun, will be well-received.
None of this interferes with your work. Rather, it reflects a healthier relationship with populism than the one the film academy has managed throughout its existence. Television has always understood that good entertainment is a product of craftsmanship, and the film category has effectively institutionalized that belief. A sophisticated romantic comedy or a sharply drawn thriller shouldn’t be punished for being fun. In fact, you will be rewarded for making a successful landing.
Campaigners, on the other hand, don’t want to go too far. These days, it’s rare for a TV movie to garner additional nominations outside of the category. 2022’s “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” will be the last, with a major cast including a screenplay by and starring Daniel Radcliffe.
In a category increasingly defined by comfort viewing and genre authenticity, crowd pleasers don’t have to be candidates for compromise. That could be a top contender.
Emmy nomination voting will continue until June 22nd.
