Can Black Panther spring a superhero surprise at this year’s Oscars?

SAM | 8th February 2019

Excitement for the 91st Academy Awards is undoubtedly hotting up, with a clearer picture emerging everyday regarding what we can expect from the upcoming ceremony.

Confirmation that it is set to be the first
Oscars to go without a host
since 1989
is undoubtedly an intriguing development and yet another
reason why so many people from across the world will be following the action
from the show when it takes place on February 24th.

Of course, another key issue generating plenty of interest are the nominations, with many speculating as to which film will ultimately win the biggest prize of all.

A tough category

The Academy Award for Best Picture is always
hotly contested, and this year’s is set to be no different. There is huge
attention around the nominated films, with excitement even reaching the point
where sites like Betfair are offering movie fans the chance to bet
on the Oscars Best Picture award
.

In recent years we have seen illustrious winners
including The Shape of Water and Moonlight – although the latter’s success was
of course slightly overshadowed by a bout of envelope-based confusion. This
year’s nominations certainly feature some similarly compelling choices, but one
film’s inclusion arguably catches the eye above all others.

Marvel Studios enjoyed its 10th anniversary last year and it is undoubtedly celebrating in style with Black Panther being up for the Best Picture award.

A success in every way

The film was undoubtedly a huge commercial hit –
making more than $1
billion at the global box office
– but it also proved popular with
critics too. Perhaps most importantly, Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster with Chadwick
Boseman in the starring role really struck a chord in a cultural sense, with
many viewing it as a watershed moment for the film industry as a whole.

It is the first superhero film to get this kind of attention, with Christopher Nolan’s much-loved and highly regarded Batman sequel The Dark Knight not achieving this level of recognition. However, does Black Panther genuinely have a chance of success on February 24th?

It is undoubtedly up against stiff competition with Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody enjoying plenty of success already in awards season and the likes of Roma, Vice and The Favourite all attracting plenty of attention. However, Marvel’s hit has also not been ignored at recent events, with the film notably winning the Cast in a Motion Picture prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the end of January.

One to watch?

This year’s Oscars ceremony is going to be a
fascinating watch for so many reasons, but the Best Picture category is
certainly one aspect of the event that has got people talking.

Black Panther has already achieved so much across the
past year and its Oscar nomination has seen it venture into territory where
superhero blockbusters have never been before. It is difficult to say at this
point if the film has what it takes to go on and win, but – considering the
last 12 months – an Oscar may well prove to be the icing on a very impressive
cake.