Oscars: Five movies that could win best popular film

Despite a heavy outcry from the film community, the Oscars added a new category titled Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. Here are five movies that might win best popular film.

Change does not come easy, especially when the majority of the audience is against it. That’s the problem the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences currently faces after they announced the newest category at the Oscars, Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. 

In theory, adding the category makes sense because it will give more movies that are beloved by audiences a chance to be recognized by the Oscars. Ratings are down and there seems to be a disconnect between the Academy and mainstream audiences because of the films nominated for Best Picture.

Let’s use Moonlight as an example to explain the disconnect. Moonlight was regarded as one of the best films of 2016. Despite winning Best Picture, the film grossed a little over $20 million at the time of its win. The popular film category will look to reward blockbuster hits that might bring in more eyeballs for the broadcast.

More from Oscars

• Where is Navalny streaming? (Is it on Netflix or Hulu?)
• How many Academy Awards did Everything Everywhere All At Once win?
• Has Brendan Fraser ever won an Oscar (or ever been nominated?)
• Has Austin Butler ever won an Oscar (or ever been nominated?)
• Has Michelle Yeoh ever won an Oscar (or ever been nominated?)

However, a lot of the film community believes the addition of a best popular film category will hinder blockbusters that are both critically acclaimed and financially successful from being nominated for Best Picture. This year, the debate will be if Black Panther will be nominated for Best Picture, which is very possible, or in the best popular film category.

That being said, the category is official so let’s explore five movies that can win Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film.

A Quiet Place

The film may not have included a lot of sound, but A Quiet Place made wavelengths at the box office, grossing over $330 million worldwide. John Krasinski masterfully created a scary and heartfelt family movie despite there being roughly 90 lines of dialogue. Besides the best popular film category, A Quiet Place could be a dark horse to land a screenplay nomination.

Avengers: Infinity War

The highest grossing film of 2018 so-far is exactly the type of movie to win for best popular film. Avengers: Infinity War is the biggest and baddest superhero movie of all-time, grossing over $2 billion at the box office. With the majority of Marvel’s favorite superheroes like Iron Man and Captain America as well as an extraordinary villain in Thanos, Infinity War was beloved by both critics and fans alike.

Black Panther 

As I mentioned before, one of the biggest debates all year will be if Black Panther should be nominated for Best Picture or Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. Marvel has never had a movie nominated for Best Picture and many believed that Black Panther would be the first film to breakthrough with the Academy. If Black Panther does not receive a nomination for Best Picture, it will be the heavy favorite to win best popular film.

Deadpool 2

The foul-mouthed superhero might make an appearance at the next Oscars. Deadpool 2 is one of the most unusual superhero films in the industry because of its raunchy and sarcastic hero played by Ryan Reynolds. The first Deadpool was in the mix for Oscars nominations before it was snubbed by the Academy. Now, Deadpool 2 can make up for the snub thanks to the new category.

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Tom Cruise, Oscar winner. That phrase might become a reality next February if Mission Impossible: Fallout is nominated for and wins best popular film. The Mission Impossible series is like a fine wine because it seems to get better with age. The latest installment currently has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Cruise was previously nominated for Best Actor in Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire as well as a supporting nomination for Magnolia. Cruise’s iconic Ethan Hunt might be the character that leads him to Oscar gold.

What film will win Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film at the next Oscars? Let me know your predictions in the comments or tweet me @danny_giro!