In just four short weeks,Star Wars: The Force Awakenshas shatteredbox officerecords left and right, breakingAvatar’s six year record to become the highest grossing domestic film of all time. While we’ll have to wait and see if this blockbuster will get any Oscar nominations this week, directorJ.J. Abramschimed in about the possibility of his beloved movie being recognized by the Academy. Here’s what the director had to say during the TCA winter tour, courtesy ofComic Book Movie.
“There are certain people that I know deserve it definitely and it would be wonderful if they got it. I feel like the gift of working on that film is such that I don’t need any further validation than the movie being out there and people liking the movie. There are people that I will be disappointed if they don’t get nominated because I think that the work they did was really exemplary.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakenshas now earned $1.56 billion, which is the fourth-highest global gross ever, behindJurassic World($1.669 billion),Titanic($2.186 billion) andAvatar($2.788 billion). Another reason the numbers are so impressive is its theatrical rollout is nowhere near the biggest in history.The Twilight Saga: Eclipsestill hold the record for the widest release ever, debuting in 4,468 theaters back in 2010.Star Wars: The Force Awakenshas the 33rd widest opening ever, debuting in 4,134 theaters, a theater count lower than other 2015 blockbusters such asThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2(4,175) andMinions(4,301). DirectorJ.J. Abramswouldn’t specifically mention which cast and/or crew members deserve recognition.
“If I mention eight people, the ninth person would be like, ‘Thanks.’ But honestly, it feels obvious to me who deserves that kind of recognition. They might not even care. This may be something that they’re like, ‘Oh please.’ I feel like I saw how hard some of these artists worked and I feel they are deserving, but they probably don’t.”
While the Academy generally doesn’t often recognize big-budget blockbusters, that could change this year, withMad Max: Fury Roadconsidered a front runner forBest Picture. The awards season picture will be a bit more clear tonight when NBC airs theGolden Globes. Do you thinkStar Wars: The Force Awakensdeserves to be nominated for Best Picture at theOscars?
