Joe Russo blames Harvey Weinstein for blockbuster films struggling to win major awards at the Oscars

Director Joe Russo, known for helming Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, has sparked debate by suggesting that Harvey Weinstein played a key role in shifting Hollywood’s perception of blockbusters at major award shows. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Russo claimed that Weinstein’s Oscar campaigning tactics changed the industry, pushing mainstream films out of awards contention. “This trend was started by Harvey Weinstein,” Russo stated. “He vilified mainstream movies to champion the art films he pushed for Oscar campaigns. Popular films were winning Oscars before the mid-Nineties, then Weinstein started mudslinging campaigns.” Russo pointed to Weinstein’s aggressive Oscar lobbying, arguing that his influence reshaped the way big-budget films were perceived in awards circuits. Before his conviction, Weinstein was known for manipulating awards season narratives, often securing wins for independent productions like Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction over commercially dominant films. His marketing tactics included strategic campaigning, smear tactics against competitors, and securing influential votes, ultimately prioritizing indie-style films over blockbusters. However, not everyone agrees with Russo’s perspective. Critics argue that blockbusters still receive major recognition, citing The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Titanic, Gladiator, and Oppenheimer as examples of commercially successful films that have won Best Picture. Some believe the issue is not Weinstein’s influence but rather the Academy’s preference for storytelling and artistic depth over commercial success. Martin Scorsese, for instance, has openly criticized superhero films, claiming they lack the emotional and psychological depth found in traditional cinema. Russo, however, defended Marvel’s impact on the industry, stating, “Marvel movies seemed to be keeping cinemas open for quite a long time.” While Russo believes blockbusters are unfairly sidelined, others argue that major awards continue to recognize quality storytelling regardless of budget. The debate over commercial success versus critical acclaim remains an ongoing conversation in Hollywood.  

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