The KPop Demon Hunters group HUNTR/X sing Golden.

Missed Movies in the Oscar’s Best Picture Category

After finally seeing all of the 2025 Best Picture nominees for this year’s Academy Awards, as usual, there were some stunning omissions. Even though I’m not really into vampires or Mary Shelley’s monster, I’m all-in on demons, apparently, and those that hunt them while singing.

The first time I heard about the animated Korean film, KPop Demon Hunters, was when, of all things, Bad Bunny did an SNL skit where he just couldn’t stop talking about them. I had no idea what was going on, what the skit was about and why, at the end, three singers came out to save the day. But after watching KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix, my wife and I absolutely loved the movie and were tapping our toes to the songs, particularly Golden, the catchy pop song that you’ve likely heard if you listen to music practically anywhere. It was performed by real-life professional singers who provided the voices for the fictional group HUNTR/X. Here they are singing at the BRIT awards last week.

The Demon hunters do what they do best (or second best, behind singing).

Yes, the movie was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song, but why it was left out of the Best Picture category is anybody’s guess. Oh wait, because it’s animated. Only three animated films have EVER been nominated; Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story 3 and Up. None have ever won. It’s a shame, because it’s a really good movie and as Bad Bunny says in the skit, “It’s actually not for kids; it’s for smart adults.”

Knowing me, I’m sure there was no way you could’ve predicted my next favorite, not-nominated film. The Age of Disclosure was a stunning documentary released last year, featuring almost three dozen governmental insiders talking about UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) and non-human intelligence. The New York Times wrote about how the movie was used to inform Congress — behind the scenes — about the reality of life as we don’t know it.

Governmental insiders and a journalist testify to Congress under oath in The Age of Disclosure.

Yes, I have written and spoken A LOT about this topic and likely many of you think I’m a tinfoil hat kook. But just in the past month alone, Barack Obama said aliens are real. then a few days later, the current president directed his minions to release the alien and extraterrestrial files. The movie is available on Prime and even if you’re not into what insiders call the most important story of human history, it’s entertaining and thought provoking at the very, very least.

Have you heard of Fackham Hall yet? The best way I can even begin to describe it is if Downton Abbey met Airplane and decided to see how far the endeavor would fly with Agatha Christie as the flight attendant. Say the name of the film quickly in a British accent and you’ll get the first of a million jokes (Feck ’em all). Please, I beg of you, watch this movie with Closed Captioning on.

“From the studio that watched the first two seasons of Downton Abbey …” it’s Fackham Hall.

Here’s the trailer to give you a taste. Crikey, was it funny, and the movie is even better. Popular British comedian Jimmy Carr co-wrote it and plays a hilarious vicar. It’s streaming for a very low (brow) price on Apple and Prime. And just try to catch all the sight gags; I’m sure I didn’t.

I didn’t even realize — until this very second — that my next favorite, not-nominated film was based on a Stephen King short story. I actually watched The Life of Chuck two full times, then re-wound certain parts just to make sure I knew what was going on. I’m pretty confident I know now, but wow, what a good movie!

Tom Hiddleston plays the title character, Charles Krantz, in The Life of Chuck.

The Life of Chuck doesn’t really fit into any normal genre, but don’t be thrown off by it being Stephen King’s creation; it DEFINITELY isn’t a horror flick, don’t worry! It’s tough to explain, maybe that’s why I liked it so much. It kind of starts at the end, then moves “backwards” toward the beginning. Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is sort of the anchor of the story, or is it Tom Hiddleston? It doesn’t really matter. And see if you’re like me who didn’t recognize Mark Hamill until waaaay into his performance. (HINT: Ferris Bueller’s middle-aged girlfriend, Mia Sara, plays his wife.)

I loved this film and may just watch it again before too long. It’s streaming practically everywhere.

So, a guy walks into a bar …

Apparently Will Arnett did a bunch of standup to prepare for his role in my next favorite missed hit, Is This Thing On? He and co-writer/director Bradley Cooper toured the clubs and didn’t always tell the customers what was going on. The movie follows a couple as their marriage falls apart and Arnett’s character embarks on a standup “career,” at first just to get free entry into a bar.

Will Arnett gives standup a try, but only to cover the cover charge in Is This Thing On?

Laura Dern plays his wife in this kinda gritty look at relationships, midlife crises, family and yes, comedy. Is this thing a comedy? Yeah, sorta. A romance? Yeah, sorta. A rom/com? Yeah, sorta. Dern and Arnett are both really good in the film based very loosely on a British comedian who also did the same thing, initially signing up for an open mic to avoid paying the cover charge. Look for it streaming on Prime.

My final favorite missed movie is Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney. You’d be forgiven if you confused Clooney with Kelly. He plays, get this, a famous movie actor searching for meaning after a successful lifetime career accompanied by the shallow emptiness of Hollywood.

Adam Sandler plays a strong supporting actor who supports Kelly. And, like in Is This Thing On?, Laura Dern is always a talent in most any movie she’s in.

George Clooney and Adam Sandler confront existential crises and each other in Jay Kelly.

The dramedy follows Jay Kelly beginning in Hollywood, then traveling through Europe with an ever-diminishing support team looking for his daughter, himself and his legacy. You’d also be forgiven if you just chalked this one up to celebrity self-indulgence, but it comes across as genuine and introspective. I love this film on many levels, but being a dad of two daughters myself, like Clooney is in the movie, it felt honest and soulful. Noah Baumbach directed it and co-wrote it with supporting actress Emily Mortimer.

You can stream Jay Kelly on Netflix.

Far be it from me to end things here. There are a few more movies that I enjoyed over the year, but that maybe didn’t quite rise to the pick-of-the-flicks. Since space on the interweb machine is vast and endless, I’ll drop a couple more that were better than most and worthy of streaming on any given weekend.

Runners up: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey & The Ballad of Wallis Island.

Margot Robbie and Colin Farrel star in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, a romantic fantasy that feels — in tone and theme — a lot like The Life of Chuck. Throughout the film, they travel through different doors, incongruously placed outside with nothing else around them. The doors are portals back into events of their past that could use a little emotional work from the main characters.

And when a broken up folk duo are asked to reunite and perform on a remote British island for a lucky millionaire, you have all you really need to understand The Ballad of Wallis Island. The dramedy is sweet and poignant with stars like Carey Mulligan and several other Brits who’ve been kicking around the independent movie scene for years.

I hope you enjoyed the list and found a movie or two to stream. Let me know, down below, if there’s anything you liked that both I and The Academy missed.

Hosted by my favorite talk show — now podcast — host, Conan O’Brien, the 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15th. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET. The event will also stream on Hulu.

 

Rodney Curtis is a recovering journalist and author of four books. Check out Rodney’s books here.