The Wild Robot Stands Alone at the Oscars: Cinema Ignores Climate Change Once Again

As the 2025 Academy Awards approach, the film industry’s biggest night promises to celebrate exceptional talent and cinematic achievements. While Hollywood gears up for this grand event, there is a significant issue emerging in this year’s list of Oscar nominees: the absence of climate change as an issue in most of the nominated films. Out of the 30 films nominated across various categories, only one film—The Wild Robot—directly addresses the climate crisis. This stark omission raises a larger concern about Hollywood’s responsibility in tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

The Academy Awards: A Night to Celebrate Cinematic Excellence

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, serve as the ultimate recognition of excellence in cinema, celebrating the best films, performances, and innovations in the film industry. Nominations for Best Picture are among the most highly anticipated, with each nominee representing the peak of artistic and technical achievement. The 2025 nominees include a wide range of films, from powerful dramas to cutting-edge animated features, produced by major studios like A24, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Among the nominees for Best Picture, films like The Brutalist (A24), Emilia Perez (Netflix), I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics), and Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios) reflect Hollywood’s liking for exploring a broad spectrum of human experiences. Actors like Adrien Brody, Ralph Fiennes, and actresses like Mikey Madison, and Cynthia Erivo are also nominated.

However, as diverse and compelling as these films may be, there is one glaring issue: the near-total absence of any focus on the climate crisis.

The Wild Robot: A Rare Film That Confronts Climate Change

In stark contrast to the majority of this year’s Oscar nominees, The Wild Robot stands out not only for its storytelling but also for its commitment to addressing climate change. The animated feature, based on the beloved children’s book by Peter Brown, tells the story of a robot named Roz who is stranded on an island and must adapt to an ever-changing natural environment. As Roz learns to survive, she witnesses the impact of environmental changes on the ecosystem, illustrating the urgent need to address climate change.

The Wild Robot is the only nominee among the 30 films in the 2025 Oscars to pass the “Climate Change Reality Check” test, developed by environmental consultancy Good Energy. This test examines whether a film acknowledges the existence of climate change and features at least one character who is aware of the crisis. While many films may hint at environmental issues or feature dystopian settings, The Wild Robot is the rare example that integrates the climate crisis into its narrative, making it both a standout and a call for greater climate awareness in film.

The Need for More Climate Change Stories

The absence of climate change in most Oscar-nominated films highlights a significant gap in Hollywood’s storytelling. While films often tackle important social, political, and cultural issues, environmental themes remain underrepresented. This is particularly troubling given that the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly visible, from devastating wildfires in Australia and California to melting glaciers in the Arctic.

In a world where the devastating effects of climate change are increasingly felt—through wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and droughts—one might expect more films to address this global emergency.

Lessons for Cinema: Using Film to Shape the Future

As the 2025 Oscars draw near, The Wild Robot serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of what is possible when filmmakers tackle climate change head-on. But it should not be the only film that addresses this global issue. The Oscars, and Hollywood as a whole, must begin to prioritize climate change in their storytelling, not only because it is a pressing concern but also because films have the power to shape public attitudes and spark meaningful change.

As we watch the Oscars unfold on March 2, let’s remember that the true power of cinema lies not just in entertainment, but in its ability to change the world. It’s time for more films like The Wild Robot—films that can help us envision a better, more sustainable future.

References:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp3ke6lzko

https://www.thewildrobotmovie.com

https://www.oscars.org/oscars

https://www.goodenergystories.com

Banner Image: Photo by The Wild Robot