Record 31% of Oscar Films Feature Climate Change

This year's Academy Awards just made history in an unexpected way. Nearly one in three Oscar-nominated films acknowledged climate change, the highest percentage ever recorded.

Good Energy, a story consultancy that tracks climate representation in film, analyzed all eligible 2026 Oscar nominees. They used what's called the "Climate Bechdel Test": films must be set on Earth in the present or near future, depict climate change in some way, and have characters who recognize it.

Five films met these criteria: "Arco," "Bugonia," "Jurassic World Rebirth," "The Lost Bus," and "Sirat." That might not sound like many, but it represents 31% of eligible nominees and breaks all previous records.

Three of these films take climate seriously. "Arco" features a time traveler who falls into a suburban community threatened by wildfires. "The Lost Bus" follows a bus driver and teacher surviving five hours of climate-fueled fires. "Sirat" depicts desert travelers touring a world descending into climate chaos.

The other two films offer lighter touches. "Bugonia" includes a closing twist about aliens teaching humans environmental lessons. "Jurassic World Rebirth" mentions climate change but focuses on other themes.

The Ripple Effect

Breaking Hollywood's climate silence matters more than you might think. When major films include climate change in their stories, they normalize conversations about our shared reality. When winners mention it during acceptance speeches, millions of viewers hear those words.

Beyond the five that passed the test, other 2026 films wove environmental themes throughout. "Avatar: Fire and Ash," "Hamnet," and "Train Dreams" all delivered strong environmental messages, even if they didn't technically pass the climate check.

The documentary "The Prime Minister" about New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern directly addressed climate action with courage and compassion. Many critics believe it deserved an Oscar nomination.

Even films that missed opportunities show progress. That so many movies could have easily included climate references suggests filmmakers are thinking about it more than ever before.

Hollywood appears to be turning a corner. After years of treating climate change as too political or depressing for mainstream films, storytellers are finding natural ways to weave it into narratives across every genre.

The awards ceremony happens this Sunday, and there's a real chance someone will say "climate change" during their acceptance speech, reaching an audience of millions with a message of hope and action.