Summary
- Sonic 3 and Madame Web did not meet the Academy's Best Picture eligibility requirements.
- Both films are ineligible but do qualify for other Oscars.
- Sonic 3 and Madame Web are not serious Oscar contenders.
Madame Web and Sonic 3 have one thing in common this awards season thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opened over the holiday season to mostly positive reviews and box office success, beating Disney's The Lion King prequel, Mufasa, for two straight weekends in what many called an upset. Earlier this year, Madame Web debuted to decidedly less positive reviews and box office fortunes, tanking with critics and bombing financially. The response to these films couldn't have been more different, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences deemed both movies similar in at least one way.

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The Academy announced that 323 feature films were eligible for the Oscars at this year's ceremony (via The Wrap). However, 116 of the feature films included in that group (36%) are not eligible for consideration in the Best Picture category. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Madame Web are among the titles that do not qualify for the Best Picture Oscar, with the latter being the only superhero movie of 2024 that is ineligible for the Academy's top award. Yes, even the critically panned Kraven the Hunter is eligible. The Academy's rule for eligibility reads as follows:
Feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in at least one of six U.S. metropolitan areas: Los Angeles County; the City of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia, between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue. Feature films must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.
It's unclear what qualifications Sonic 3 and Madame Web failed to meet, as both films undoubtedly meet the above requirements. Therefore, Sonic 3 and Madame Web may not have met the Academy's Representation and Inclusion Standards. This is the second year the Academy has enforced these new rules, which "require Best Picture candidates to meet additional benchmarks for diversity and inclusion." Neither Sonic 3 nor Madame Web were ever considered serious contenders to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, much less win. Of course, that hasn't stopped studios from trying in the past, as noted when Warner Bros. unsuccessfully campaigned for Wonder Woman 1984 to earn a Best Picture nomination. There are, of course, many other instances of Hollywood blockbusters taking a long-shot bid for the top Oscar prize.
The Oscars haven't always shunned blockbusters, especially since the Academy expanded the number of nominees to 10. However, as well-received as Sonic 3 was, it wasn't as universally acclaimed as blockbusters such as Top Gun: Maverick or Barbie. Even most Sonic 3 fans wouldn't characterize it as "Oscar-worthy," at least for Best Picture. While some wonder if the Oscars are still relevant, few would say excluding Madame Web means the Academy is out of touch with the average moviegoer.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now playing in theaters and Madame Web is available on digital platforms.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
- Release Date
- December 20, 2024
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sets up a new threat for Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails by introducing Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow presents such a big danger to planet Earth, that the heroes have to team up with Dr. Robotnik.
- Cast
- Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Keanu Reeves
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Writers
- Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
- Prequel(s)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Franchise(s)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Production Company
- Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Marza Animation Planet, Blur Studio
- Based On
- Sonic the Hedgehog Games

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