Last updated on: March 13, 2023

A brief overview of “Everything Everywhere All At Once” winning Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards

The metaphysical multiverse comedy “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” won Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards. Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress, Ke Huy Quan won Best Supporting Actor, Jamie Lee Curtis won Best Supporting Actress, and Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert won Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay for the film, which was produced by A24. The story revolves around Mei (played by Yeoh), a woman who finds herself at the center of a cosmic conspiracy involving multiple universes and versions of herself. The film was praised for its originality and creativity, and its Oscar win was viewed as a significant accomplishment for Asian and Asian-American filmmakers and actors. Overall, “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” dominated the 95th Academy Awards, taking home seven major awards.

Why this is a significant achievement

For several reasons, “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” winning Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards is a significant achievement. First and foremost, the film is a metaphysical multiverse comedy, which is not a typical Best Picture nominee. Its victory demonstrates voters’ willingness to embrace more unconventional and experimental storytelling.

Second, the film is directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, both of whom are well-known in the music video and indie film industries. Their Oscar success demonstrates the value of independent filmmaking and the importance of promoting new voices and perspectives in the industry.

Finally, the film has a predominantly Asian cast and crew, and its Oscar win can be seen as a significant step forward in terms of diversity and representation in Hollywood. The film has been lauded for its inclusive and nuanced portrayal of Asian characters, and its victory sends a strong message of support to the Asian community in the wake of rising anti-Asian hate crimes.

About the Film

Storyline

“Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” follows Ming (Michelle Yeoh), a woman who discovers by accident that she is connected to parallel universes. In order to save the multiverse from an evil entity known as The Nothing, she teams up with her estranged daughter (Stephanie Hsu) and a quantum physicist (Ke Huy Quan) (James Hong).

The film delves into themes such as family, identity, and the nature of reality. Ming’s journey through the multiverse allows her to confront various versions of herself and grapple with the life decisions she’s made. The film also explores the concept of infinite possibilities and how every decision we make creates a new version of ourselves and our reality.

Cast and Crew

“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” features an impressive cast and crew, including the directing duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who were previously known for their work on the critically acclaimed film “Swiss Army Man.” The cast also includes the legendary Michelle Yeoh, who won Best Actress at the Oscars for her role in the film. In supporting roles, Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis both give outstanding performances.

The direction of Kwan and Scheinert is notable for seamlessly blending multiple genres, such as comedy, action, and drama, while still maintaining a cohesive and engaging narrative. Yeoh’s performance is lauded for conveying emotional depth while navigating the film’s complex and surreal multiverse. Hsu and Curtis also provide strong supporting performances, with Hsu bringing charming and relatable energy to her role as a young woman caught up in the film’s universe-spanning conflict and Curtis bringing gravitas to her role as a mysterious and enigmatic figure.

Awards Season Journey

Everything Everywhere All at Once had a successful awards season, receiving critical acclaim and winning several major awards leading up to the Oscars. The film entered the 2023 Oscars with a leading 11 nominations and took home seven, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Directing, and Best Original Screenplay. The film tells a story of family conflict within a multiverse and has been praised for its originality and genre-bending qualities.

In addition to its success at the Oscars, Everything Everywhere All at Once also won Best Feature and Best Lead Performance (Michelle Yeoh) at the 2023 Spirit Awards, as well as Best Breakthrough Performance (Stephanie Hsu) and Best Supporting Performance (Ke Huy Quan). The film’s year-long awards journey started out in small, indie film festivals, but gained momentum as it premiered at larger festivals and earned positive reviews.

Analysis of the film’s critical reception and box office performance

Strong performances, imaginative storytelling, and a distinctive blending of action, comedy, and drama have all been praised for the movie. The film’s ability to masterfully meld various genres and address difficult subjects while maintaining humor and playfulness has been praised by critics. The movie has received praise for its ambition and originality and has been compared to works by Charlie Kaufman and Terry Gilliam.

Everything Everywhere at Once has performed exceptionally well at the box office. With over $106 million in total revenue, the movie is A24’s highest-grossing theatrical release to date. In one of the best-limited releases of the pandemic, the movie brought in close to $27 million domestically. Additionally, thanks to IMAX, the movie’s box office performance increased by 2% from the previous weekend’s results.

The Importance of Representation

Denise Khor, an associate professor of Asian American and visual studies at Northeastern University, recognizes the historic struggles that Asian people have faced in the industry and appreciates the recognition that the film has received. Additionally, the film’s stars, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan have spoken about the importance of the film’s story and representation of Asian actors and filmmakers.

Moreover, Everything Everywhere All at Once has been described as a game-changer for Asian men everywhere, providing a positive representation of Asian men on screen. The film’s exploration of cultural themes and identity has been praised by various critics and has contributed to a more diverse and inclusive representation of Asian and Asian-American experiences in mainstream media.

The entertainment industry has been making efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity, with various aspects of the industry making progress. “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” is an example of a film that has contributed to this initiative by depicting diverse characters and themes.

Conclusion

The win of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards has sparked various discussions and interpretations. The film, which is a metaphysical multiverse comedy, has been praised for its message of love, kindness, and optimism in the face of bleakness and isolation. The fact that it won multiple awards, including Best Picture, Best Leading Actress, Best Director, and historic acting wins, has been seen as a significant moment, especially for a film with a mainly Asian cast.

Some have noted that the film’s win, despite its zany and sometimes disturbing tone, represents a push for a more diverse and inclusive Hollywood, where films with unconventional themes and casts are recognized and celebrated. The win has also been seen as a victory for independent films, as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” was produced by A24, a company known for its support of smaller and more experimental films

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” winning Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards is a significant moment in the history of the Oscars and the film industry as a whole. Its success sends a powerful message about the importance of diversity and inclusivity in storytelling and could have a lasting impact on both the film industry and society at large.