February 7, 2025, 8:52 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Every year, Netflix also has its eyes on the Oscars. And this year, “Emilia Pérez” could be a real winner. But now, a serious scandal is overshadowing the ambitions of everyone involved.
Netflix’s main focus is on maximizing streaming hours and selling subscriptions. To achieve this, numerous new films and series are made available every month, including many exclusive titles. However, profits and revenue aren’t the only targets; the streaming service also aims to garner the prestige associated with major award ceremonies. That’s why selected film projects also get involved in the movie business every year, which hopefully then go into the race for the Oscars. Thanks to Emilia Pérez, things were looking very good in 2025 – until now. A scandal now threatens to undermine everything from the streaming service’s perspective.
Overview
This is What “Emilia Pérez” is About
Emilia Pérez is the new work by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard. It is about a Mexican cartel boss who wants to retire and start a new life – as a woman. After undergoing surgery, the former gangster reemerges as the eponymous Emilia. Yet, the past looms ominously.
Emilia Pérez is not a film produced specifically for Netflix – in Germany, it was shown in cinemas via the Neue Visionen film distribution company. However, the streaming provider is exclusively responsible for distribution in the USA and the UK.
At first glance, the work looks like a movie that should do particularly well at the Oscars: Zeitgeisty, a musical with lavishly staged numbers and committed performances, is on show. The international press is quite impressed overall, with average ratings of a good 71 points on Metacritic and 73 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience ratings on the latter site tell a completely different story.
“Emilia Pérez” Is Very Controversial
Of more than 5,000 viewer ratings received, only 18 percent are positive – a disastrously poor result. Among them are comments like: “I felt such second-hand embarrassment, I’m not sure it will ever subside.” Apparently, many moviegoers are severely disappointed by the musical, and this sentiment is also confirmed when looking at other portals and publications.
On Letterboxd, movie fans most frequently awarded only a measly half of five possible stars. Many complain that the musical interludes are poor. The film also only shows Mexico in a very stereotypical way, and the actors all recite their dialog with bad accents.
There is also criticism from the LGBTQIA+ community. They accuse the film of portraying being trans in a distorted way. The fact that the title character seems to want nothing more to do with all the sins of her past after her gender reassignment and that the intervention is, therefore, presented as a panacea is also a source of annoyance.
Despite all the criticism, Emilia Pérez leads the 2025 Oscar season with 13 nominations. That’s more than The Brutalist with ten, for example, which critics and fans alike agree is an outstanding film. The mere fact that these two films are vying for the coveted Oscars casts the awards ceremony in a negative light. That’s why Filmstarts is talking about a “masterpiece fighting against garbage.”
Karla Sofía Gascón Plunges Netflix into the Awards Crisis
Karla Sofía Gascón is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and that alone is historic: this is the first time in history that a trans person has been nominated for an acting Oscar. Accordingly, the win could also be a real milestone. Until recently, the odds were actually quite favorable.
But then old Twitter posts (now called X) from Gascón’s past resurfaced – and they are quite something. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, among others, Gascón made provocative statements about Islam and George Floyd. The uproar quickly ensued, and the timing could hardly have been worse. However, in an interview with Variety, journalist Sarah Hagi firmly rejected initial suspicions that this could be a smear campaign launched by the competition.
Gascón Apologizes – Sort of
Gascón’s co-star Zoe Saldaña, also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, has already spoken out about the scandal. During an event in London, she said she was “really saddened” by the incident and did not support it. “I do not tolerate negative rhetoric against people of any group,” she is quoted as saying.
Gascón has already issued a profound apology. However, not simply in the form of a statement but also in the form of an emotional TV interview in which the star also sees herself as a victim: “I was crucified and stoned to death without a trial and without the opportunity to defend myself.” Gascón is said to have conducted the interview without informing Netflix in advance.
Netflix Reacts to Controversy Surrounding Gascón
As is now making the rounds, Netflix is distancing itself from Karla Sofía Gascón. As Variety writes, the streaming service and the PR agency responsible have stopped talking to the star. Only a contact at the acting agency would still allow communication between the parties.
It is also reported that Netflix will no longer cover the costs for Gascón’s flights and accommodations for events. During a so-called Oscar campaign, stars and studios promote themselves in order to improve their chances of winning. To this end, they are present at various events or sometimes organize events themselves. Now, Gascón is expected to bear these expenses personally. Only the co-stars can be seen in the advertising materials that were created as a result.
World-famous title Attention “Bridgerton” fans! Netflix plans next big historical series
Stars Strip Bare These Nude and Sex Scenes in Series and Films Are Real
Mega project Star director wants to make his own version of Netflix’s most successful series
Can Netflix, Gascón and “Emilia Pérez” Still Win?
It is not yet known whether Gascón will even be present at the Oscars ceremony on March 2. It is also not clear whether and how the organizers will react to the scandal. Nevertheless, the chances for Netflix, Gascón, and Emilia Pérez to win have likely suffered a significant setback.
The first voices of Oscar voters are already saying that they will no longer vote for the film. Others, however, remain unaffected by this. Basically, there have already been examples where a film was first exposed to controversy only to win later, such as Green Book. It remains to be seen whether Emilia Pérez will be one of them.
Emilia Pérez with Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez can still be seen in German cinemas. However, the release date for the film on Netflix in Germany is still uncertain.