George Clooney's New Movie Could Finally Snap A 14-Year Oscar Drought

George Clooney’s latest movie Jay Kelly has found a home on Netflix, and it’s shaping up to be the actor’s most exciting project in years. Although very few details have been announced about the story, Netflix has already given the movie a very promising release date that suggests it’s going to be one of the streaming service’s biggest awards contenders. Jay Kelly will also star Adam Sandler as he continues his trend of more prestigious, auteur-driven comedies in recent years, though it’s not been confirmed whether Clooney’s role will also be comedic.

Jay Kelly boasts a huge cast of both comedic and dramatic talents, with actors such as Billy Crudup, Laura Dern, Riley Keough, Patrick Wilson, Jim Broadbent, and Greta Gerwig all making appearances in the impressive ensemble. Hopefully, Jay Kelly could be the project that finally breaks George Clooney’s awards drought in recent years. Clooney has moved away from rom-coms and focused almost exclusively on prestige dramas, but he’s been unable to secure his elusive second Oscar. Netflix’s upcoming comedy could be the perfect vehicle to push him back into the spotlight.

Jay Kelly’s Release Date Positions George Clooney For Oscars Consideration

Netflix Clearly Has Some Faith In The Film

It’s never easy to predict which upcoming releases will develop Oscar buzz, but one of the most telling indicators that a studio has faith in their project is the release date. Jay Kelly is currently scheduled to land on Netflix on December 5th, which is the perfect window for awards consideration. The 2026 Academy Awards will take place on March 15th, and three months is a pretty ideal window for a prestigious film like Jay Kelly to spark its awards campaign and pick up some important precursors along the way.

Very few details have been announced about Jay Kelly, with Netflix merely labeling the project as a “heartbreaking comedy” that’s being written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The acclaimed director has plenty of experience with so-called “awards movies,” as two of his own features have been nominated at the Academy Awards over the years; Marriage Story collected six nominations, including Best Picture and three acting awards. This is a perfect collaboration for Clooney, whose own luck at the Oscars has been much less fortunate in recent years.

Netflix Has A Great History Of Getting Actors Oscar Nominations

Films Like Emilia Perez And Marriage Story Had Huge Success

Additionally, Netflix has proven itself in recent years to be among the most successful studios when it comes to getting their movies nominated at the Academy Awards. Last year, Netflix’s Emilia Perez led the nomination tally, and lead star Zoe Saldaña went home with the Best Supporting Actress award. Additionally, the streaming service has secured a Best Picture nomination for at least one of its films since 2018.

Over the past six years, Netflix movies have received 140 nominations and 20 wins at the Oscars.

The most obvious reason for Netflix’s success at the Oscars is its ability to focus on a strong, streamlined campaign on the movies that they expect to perform the best. Jay Kelly could definitely be that candidate this year, as the December 5 release date already proves that Netflix has faith in its awards chances. If the film makes its way to any major festivals and receives positive reviews, there’s nothing stopping Netflix from making it their next Best Picture candidate.

George Clooney Getting Oscars Recognition For Jay Kelly Could Break Two Major Droughts

The Actor’s Recent Films Haven’t Done Well At The Oscars

Jay Kelly will also benefit from a strong career narrative, as Clooney has been experiencing a major awards drought in recent years. Despite several of Clooney’s best projects coming out during this period, the actor hasn’t secured an acting nomination for fourteen years, and it’s been two decades since he last won for his supporting role in Syriana. The drought could certainly compel some Academy voters to get behind his cause and make 2026 the year of his awards comeback.