Oscars 2025: The Wild Robot stands out as the only contender addressing climate change

The Wild Robot is the only film among this year’s 30 Academy Award nominees that directly addresses climate change, according to a survey by environmental consultancy firm Good Energy.

The nonprofit organisation developed a “Climate Change Reality Check” test to evaluate how contemporary films acknowledge climate change.

Inspired by the Bechdel-Wallace Test for female representation in media, this assessment examines whether a film:

• · Acknowledges the existence of climate change.
• · Features at least one character aware of the crisis.

As reported by Variety, the test was developed in collaboration with Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Associate Professor of English and Environmental Studies at Rice University, following interviews with over 200 industry professionals.


Of the 30 Oscar-nominated films, 10 met the eligibility criteria — being set on Earth in the present day, recent past, or near future. However, only The Wild Robot, a nominee for Best Animated Feature, passed the test.

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A story rooted in climate reality

Directed by Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot has received widespread acclaim since its September release. Variety praised the film’s stunning computer-generated animation and emotional depth. The story follows a robot stranded on an island, forming bonds with its new environment, including a gosling it raises as its own.

According to Good Energy, the film highlights concerns about rising sea levels, with striking scenes of whales swimming over the submerged Golden Gate Bridge. It also depicts extreme weather, reinforcing themes of resilience, adaptation, and community in the face of environmental uncertainty.

Founder and CEO of Good Energy, Anna Jane Joyner, emphasised the importance of climate-conscious storytelling, stating that after a year marked by climate crises, society needs more stories that inspire meaning and courage. She described The Wild Robot as an enchanting portrayal of life in the age of climate change.

Joyner also noted other 2024 films exploring environmental themes, including Flow, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Dune: Part Two.

The need for more climate-conscious films

According to Variety, the other nine Oscar-nominated films assessed were A Different Man, A Real Pain, Anoura, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Inside Out 2, Sing Sing, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and The Substance.

In 2023, Barbie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, and Nyad also passed the test.

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Founded in 2019, Good Energy collaborates with Hollywood to integrate climate themes into storytelling, advocating for greater awareness in mainstream media.

FAQs

1. What is the ‘Climate Change Reality Check’ test?
It is a scoring system created by Good Energy to assess whether films acknowledge climate change and feature characters aware of the crisis.


2. Have other Oscar-nominated films explored climate change?
While films like Flow and Dune: Part Two touch on environmental themes, The Wild Robot is the only nominee that explicitly meets Good Energy’s criteria.