For years, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards have served as a reliable predictor for the Academy Awards, and specifically the Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay categories. Those winners of the WGA awards often gain a crucial boost when leading up to the Oscars, which this year takes place on Sunday, March 2nd in Los Angeles, California.
The influence of the WGA awards comes from its voting body, which consists of industry professionals who participate in the Oscars’ screenplay categories. This overlap means that WGA winners frequently gain momentum heading into the Oscars. Relying on this trend has been successful in predicting winners of the following Oscars; in 2023, the film Everything Everywhere All at Once received an award from the WGA, and a week later, won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture. Similarly, Promising Young Woman (2020) and Jojo Rabbit (2019) both secured WGA wins before going on to claim the Oscar in their respective categories.
Last Saturday, on February 15th, the Writers Guild of America Awards took place, setting the stage for exciting predictions for the upcoming Academy Awards. Winning Best Original Screenplay was Anora, written by Justin Kuritzkes, and has been nominated for 6 Oscars. Because of their awards won, they have solidified their position as a frontrunner in the category, but still face competition from other nominations in their categories.
In contrast, fan favorite Wicked (screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox) lost its category for Adapted Screenplay to Nickel Boys (screenplay by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes). Wicked, part one of a long awaited adaptation of the hit Broadway musical that is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, set many records when being released, including the highest-grossing movie based on a Broadway musical. It performed well for the public, but given that it did not win its category at the WGA awards, many industry analysts and fans alike will be watching closely to see if the WGA Awards once again predict the Academy’s final choices.
As the Oscars approach, the WGA Awards remain a key indicator of what’s to come. Their influence on the Academy’s choices makes them an important part of the race, and this year’s surprises have only heightened the anticipation. Only less than a week left to see if the WGA’s results align with the Academy’s final decisions.
