Few people came to see the controversial Donald Trump biopic apprentice When it was released in theaters late last year. But it's clear that Academy voters loved the film, awarding Oscar nominations to the two lead actors, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, on Thursday.
Sebastian Stan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the young Trump, who rose to prominence in the late 70s and 80s. inheritance Star Jeremy Strong won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Roy Cohn.
The two nominations represent a significant rebuke to President Donald Trump and the decisive majority of American voters who chose to return him to the White House.
Although the recent Golden Globe Awards had little to do with politics, apprentice That means the Oscars on March 2, which will be broadcast on ABC, could feature special appearances by anti-Trump celebrities, potentially alienating for tens of millions of viewers. .
apprentice — Directed and written by Ali Abbasi vanity fair Screenwriter Gabriel Sherman — The film has been controversial since it was first shown in competition at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
U.S. distributors snubbed the film after President Trump threatened legal action against the filmmakers for what he claimed was a false portrayal of himself.
Eventually, indie label Briarcliff Entertainment released the film domestically, giving it a wide theatrical release rather than a platform release. The film was a huge hit, grossing an average of approximately $862 per screen during its opening weekend.
apprentice Despite major media coverage promoting the film, it ultimately grossed $4 million at the U.S. theatrical box office.
The annual Oscars broadcast continues to struggle in the ratings as more and more American households choose not to watch it.
Last year's Oscars drew just 19.5 million viewers, despite the hype. barbie and oppenheimer. Exactly 10 years ago in 2014, the Oscars telecast drew 43.7 million viewers. year titanic Nominated in 1998, the show attracted 55 million viewers.
