John Malkovich has little patience for the Oscar campaign these days. The actor says Oscar campaigns now stretch for months to draw audiences into theaters, unlike in previous years. He recalled a time when films could make money without relying on Oscar campaigns.
John Malkovich says Oscar campaigns now stretch on for months to draw audiences into theaters
At the BFI London Film Festival, John Malkovich reflected on awards as Martin McDonagh’s tragicomedy Wild Horse Nine, featuring his performance screened at the festival.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Malkovich acknowledged the “onslaught” of attention surrounding awards even though it doesn’t suit his personality.
He said, “[I feel] probably different [about awards consideration] than I did [when In the Line of Fire came out] because the movie business existed [and] it maintained, undeservedly in my opinion, a very high position in the culture. And when I say undeserved, [I] mean there weren’t that many Chinatowns or Godfathers or Godfather IIs.”
He added that award nominations now seem to be the way to draw people to theaters, with the campaigns stretching for months.
Malkovich recalled being nominated for Places in the Heart and going to his first Oscars in 1985. While in the car, he asked his manager, Phyllis, whether he could go in through a side door; she replied, “‘Honey, it’s the Oscars. There is no side door!”
He said, “So that’s my native personality in the face of that onslaught, but also, I’m a grown-up. It’s a part of the business now.”
Malkovich recalled that his earlier films made money even before Oscar nominations, but now that seems the only way.
He said, “Now, [winning an Oscar] seems to be the only way you get people to actually go to a theater.”
The star also acknowledged that things change and said he prefers to accept the change.
Wild Horse Nine stars Malkovich and Sam Rockwell and is set to release on November 6, 2026.
