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Oscar bait
01
a film made with qualities thought to appeal to award voters, often overly dramatic or prestige-focused
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Abstract
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
Oscar baits
What does "Oscar bait" mean in film slang?
The term "Oscar bait" refers to a movie that appears designed to attract awards recognition, especially from major film awards. The structure combines "Oscar," referencing the Academy Awards, with "bait," implying something engineered to attract attention. It is commonly used to describe prestige-style films that rely on serious themes, emotional intensity, historical subjects, or dramatic performances intended to appeal to award voters.
Examples
That slow three-hour drama feels like pure Oscar bait.
