Award season is not just a high-stakes battleground for artists and creatives but an all-out streaming showdown where platforms fight to outshine their rivals. The debate over who truly dominates the streaming race rages on, but one thing is certain: Netflix never plays the underdog. As Hollywood marches towards the biggest night in cinema, the 97th Academy Awards, amid a whirlwind of glitzy galas, exclusive soirées, and pre-show power plays, the streaming giant scored an unexpected plot twist win at the Film Independent Spirit Awards with its could-have-been Oscar darling.

An Oscar snub may sting but a Spirit Awards victory for Netflix still screams power move.

Despite vouching for Netflix’s Oscar shout-outs early on, fans were really disappointed to find His Three Daughters out of the Academy race without a single nomination. The film originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, and by October, the streaming giant secured the global distribution rights. But even without an Oscar run, His Three Daughters was honored with the Robert Altman Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards merely a week before the big night.

Azazel Jacobs directed His Three Daughters stars Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, and Natasha Lyonne, and follows the story of three estranged sisters who come together to care for their ailing father. As word spread about the flick’s touchdown on the streamer, a particular scene featuring Olsen tugged heartstrings worldwide, convinced it was an Oscar-level performance. Although an Oscar nomination was not in her or the film's favor, the Spirit Awards honor speaks for its mastery, nevertheless.

Elizabeth Olsen Jumps Ships From Marvel as Strike-Hit Netflix Acquires ‘His Three Daughters’

Even then, it might be helpful to probe why His Three Daughters remains out of the Oscars nomination list, especially from the Best Picture category.

His Three Daughters may have summoned the Oscar buzz when the award season ideas were still in infancy, but the snub left several cinephiles heart-wrenched. Although considered the most prestigious award ceremony, with the Best Picture category being the most popular choice, both evoke quite the tension within the industry. While the flick was undeniably equipped to become part of the Best Picture nominees, the omission may have been an outcome of the Academy’s lack of rightful measuring benchmarks.

The fight for the Best Picture at the Oscars often fails as a fair fight owing to the lack of categories. As a result, even though His Three Daughters may be a masterpiece, the world reckons within the drama genre, it may have faltered over the Best Picture category’s dwellings in multi-genre genius. Although Netflix still has an edge at the Academy with Emilia Pérez, His Three Daughters Academy absence will still be a prick fans would not forget.

Netflix Leads the Bidding War for ‘Selena Y Los Dinos’, as Millions Are Splurged on the Documentary

What do you think of His Three Daughters' Spirit Awards win? Let us know in the comments below!