31% of Oscar nominees acknowledge climate change this year

This year, a record number of Oscar-nominated films acknowledge climate change. Good Energy, a story consultancy, found that 31% of eligible nominees mentioned climate change. This is the highest percentage ever.

To be eligible, films must be set on Earth in the recent past, present, or future. To acknowledge climate change, the story must show it, and a character must recognize it.

Films Passing the Climate Test

Good Energy identified five films that met these criteria:

• Arco
• Bugonia
• Jurassic World Rebirth
• The Lost Bus
• Sirat

Two of these films involve wildfires made worse by climate change. If one wins an Oscar, presenters or winners might mention climate change. Good Energy believes this is important because it helps break the "climate silence" — our reluctance to talk about the issue. Filmmakers would address it in their stories and by speaking about it publicly.

Good Energy notes that "climate isn't a genre." Our single climate reality can inspire many different stories. The five films that passed the test show this variety.

• Arco tells the story of a time traveler from a sustainable community. He falls into a suburban area about to be destroyed by wildfires.
• Sirat follows "desert ravers" in a world heading towards climate dystopia.
• The Lost Bus shows a bus driver and a teacher surviving five hours of climate-fueled wildfires.

These three films have clear and strong connections to climate change.

However, the climate connections in Bugonia and Jurassic World Rebirth are less clear. In Bugonia, viewers only learn at the end that Emma Stone's character is an alien leader. These aliens came to Earth to teach humans an environmental lesson.

Jurassic World Rebirth briefly mentions climate change. But in this film, the problem is that the climate hasn't changed enough. Dinosaurs are moving to the equator because the north is still too cold. Climate change is not the main point of these two films.

Other Noteworthy Films from 2025

Oscar-nominated films are only a small part of all films made each year. Good Energy's report for 2026 praised the environmental messages in Avatar: Fire and Ash, Hamnet, and Train Dreams. It also noted brief mentions of climate change in One Battle After Another.

One film from 2025 that directly addressed climate change but wasn't nominated was The Prime Minister. This documentary about Jacinda Ardern's time as New Zealand's Prime Minister is an inspiring look at climate action.

Some films made brief references to climate change, but these were often lost in the main story:

• 40 Acres: Climate change contributed to the food-scarce dystopia.
• Life of Chuck: Climate change is one of many disasters ending the world.
• Mickey 17: It's implied that climate change led to the decision to leave Earth.
• Thunderbolts: This Marvel film offers a sarcastic nod to climate change.

Other films missed chances to include climate change, even when it would have fit naturally:

• Eddington: A film about COVID and culture wars never mentions climate change.
• House of Dynamite: Global nuclear watchdogs don't consider climate change.
• Is This Thing On? and Materialists: Films about life and love in New York City don't mention Hurricane Sandy.
• Sorry, Baby: Climate change is not part of this smart woman's view of the world.

Is Hollywood Changing?

Good Energy has conducted four "climate reality checks" over the years. Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, an associate professor at Rice University, originally led this research.

• A study of 250 popular films from 2013 to 2022 found that only 9.6% passed the test.
• For the 2024 Academy Awards, 23% of nominees passed, a big improvement.
• But in 2025, only 10% of eligible films passed, a drop back to the average.

This year's 31% is a significant increase.

The Future of Climate Films in 2026

For 2026, the film schedule doesn't suggest a major shift. Many upcoming blockbusters, like Project Hail Mary (dying sun), Disclosure Day (aliens), and Avengers: Doomsday, will not be eligible for Good Energy's review. Other Oscar contenders, such as Nolan's The Odyssey and new Star Wars and Dune films, also won't qualify.

While there's a chance more than 31% of eligible Oscar winners could pass the climate reality check in 2027, it's also possible the number will fall back to 2025's 10%. The upcoming film schedule shows more aliens, zombies, and horror, with little extended focus on climate change.

It's been over 20 years since The Day After Tomorrow tackled climate change. Many hope to see another major film address the issue directly and in depth, without relying on time travel or aliens. However, current forecasts for climate fiction don't predict this.

Deep Dive & References

Breaking the Climate Silence: Predictors of Discussing Global Warming with Family and Friends - Yale Climate Connections Good Energy Climate Reality Check: 250 Films - Good Energy Good Energy Climate Reality Check: Oscars 2024 - Good Energy Good Energy Climate Reality Check: Oscars 2025 - Good Energy