New Delhi:
As the dust settles following the 97th Oscar nominations, a stark pattern appears to be emerging: films that tackle sexual themes, boundary-pushing depictions of intimacy, and performances that bravely explored sexuality. .
Despite much recognition and praise for the actors involved, these films failed to secure nominations. This raises an essential question: Is the academy still afraid of sex?
The absence of sexually explicit films or those that deal with sex in bold and confrontational ways from this year’s Oscar nominations reflects a growing gap between artistic expression and Hollywood – especially the Academy. Many of the films that did not make the cut were, without a doubt, critically acclaimed, with standout performances that many pegged as “Oscar-worthy”.
Still, in a year where the Academy has prided itself on being more inclusive and progressive, some films – despite their honest, often raw explorations of human sexuality – were rejected.
Oscar movies couldn’t handle
For example, Baby girlIn which Nicole Kidman plays a corporate boss who explores her sexual desires through an affair with a much younger intern.
The film boldly engages with themes of sexual power dynamics, vulnerability and desire. The actress’s performance was praised but she did not make it to a nomination.
still from babygirl
Similarly, Weird Daniel Craig was portrayed as a lovelorn gay man whose physical expressions of lust are central to the film’s emotional core. He was also left out of the nominated list.
a still from the queue
then there is ChallengersThe much discussed film with Zendaya in the lead. An intoxicating mix of sexual gamesmanship, tension and desire, the film had all the ingredients to make it an Oscar contender.
Its electrifying score, boundary-pushing screenplay and Zendaya’s impressive performance should garner at least a nomination at the 97th Academy Awards. But in a season where blockbuster movies are preferred Wicked And Dune: Part 2 dominate the conversation, Challengers Fade into the background.
still from challengers
and what about NosferatuAn audacious Gothic tale that explored lust in defiance of death? It also did not earn the Best Picture nomination some had predicted it might.
like the movies last showgirl Starring Pamela Anderson as Shelly, a fading burlesque dancer trying to maintain her relevance in a youth-obsessed world, it also failed to make the cut.
One still from the last show girl
This film, like others this season, wrestles with themes of aging, desirability and the complexities of sexual identity in a world that devalues ​​women’s bodies as they grow older.
The exclusion of these films is puzzling, especially in light of the accolades (awards and nominations) many of these performances received throughout the season. Their omission shows that the Oscars, once again, are unwilling to fully engage with sexual narratives — especially ones that put sex front and center.
Steve McQueen was right, the Oscars are still ‘sex-phobic’
This issue is not new. In fact, this echoes comments made by Have some Shame Director Steve McQueen back in 2012. When Michael Fassbender’s acclaimed performance as a New York sex addict Have some Shame Failing to earn an Oscar nomination, the filmmaker blamed what he saw as an inherent fear of sex in American cinema.
he told associated Press“In America, they’re so afraid of sex, that’s why he wasn’t nominated. If you look at the Best Actor list, you’re saying, ‘Michael Fassbender isn’t on that list?’ It’s kind of crazy.
Steve McQueen and Michael Fassbender
Steve’s critique holds water even in 2025. The American film industry and its prestigious awards shows regress from portraying sex as a natural and integral part of the human experience.
While Hollywood readily embraces violence, conflict, and even extreme gore, it hesitates when it comes to portraying sex and sexual desire in an authentic, raw, and uncompromising way.
at an age where oppenheimer — a historical drama about nuclear war — earned for its depiction of sex, it’s worth questioning why more intimate, explicitly sexual films that confront human vulnerability head-on are still in the Oscar race. I struggle to find my place.
Oscar blind spot: choosing violence over sex
At the heart of the issue is a longstanding resistance in Hollywood to embrace the multifaceted nature of human sexuality. While movies in the past have portrayed sex with nuance and honesty – think graduation, eyes wide closed Or basic Instinct – There is a growing sense that the modern Oscar cast finds such portrayals distasteful or unnecessary.
And yet, films that engage with these themes – often written and directed by women – are providing a much-needed counterpoint to an industry that has spent decades downplaying sexual power dynamics, particularly With respect to women.
The emergence of films like Maria And nightbitchwhich explore themes of aging, power, and the modification of women’s bodies, are part of a broader movement that examines the consequences of societal expectations around sex.
still from maria
Yet, despite critical praise and powerful performances, these films have been overlooked by the Oscars.
When sex is left on the cutting room floor
Perhaps this year’s Oscars misses the most ChallengersA film that dares to be funny, sexy and unapologetically emotional.
Challengers earned for its writing, direction, and Zendaya’s performance – but it wasn’t enough to receive the recognition it deserved.
still from challengers
But here’s the thing: Challengers Was fun and it’s almost a kiss of death in the Oscar race now. The Academy has become so fixated on “important” films that it’s ignoring the middle ground – the place where adult dramas that focused on real human desires and emotions used to thrive.
If the Oscars don’t have room for sex, what do they have?
So, the question is: If the Oscars don’t have room for these movies, what kind of movies are they willing to recognize? The Oscars have made room for big spectacles and pricey, self-serious indie films, but mid-budget adult drama is fast becoming a relic of the past.
The Oscars should be a reflection of the diverse ways in which stories can be told — sex included — but until the industry is willing to embrace sexuality in all its forms, it will fail to reflect the real, lived experiences of its audiences. Remains out of touch with.
If the Oscars continue to shy away from films that portray sex honestly, we must ask: What is left for them to celebrate? The movies that were left out this year speak to a larger issue: Hollywood, and by extension the Oscars, has become too big to do much when it comes to its treatment of sex. Until that changes, the Oscars will remain in the uncomfortable position of choosing artifice over authenticity.
