Among the 30 films nominated for the 2025 Academy Awards, The Wild Robot is reportedly the only one that directly addresses climate change. According to a survey conducted by environmental consultancy firm Good Energy, no other contender meets the criteria of acknowledging climate change and featuring a character who is aware of the crisis.
This assessment is inspired by the Bechdel-Wallace Test, which evaluates female representation in media. In a similar approach, the climate-conscious test was developed in collaboration with Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, an Associate Professor at Rice University, after interviewing over 200 industry professionals.
Directed by Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot has been praised for its breathtaking animation and emotional storytelling since its release in September. The film follows a robot that becomes stranded on an island, gradually forming connections with the natural world and raising a gosling as its own.
As reported by Variety, Good Energy pointed out that the film portrays environmental issues such as rising sea levels. One striking scene features whales swimming above the submerged Golden Gate Bridge. The story also includes extreme weather events, emphasizing themes of resilience, adaptation, and the power of community in dealing with environmental challenges.
Anna Jane Joyner, founder and CEO of Good Energy, highlighted the importance of integrating climate change into storytelling. She stated that after a year filled with climate-related disasters, audiences need more stories reflecting real-world environmental concerns.
Out of the 30 nominated films, only 10 were eligible for Good Energy’s assessment, meaning they were set on Earth in the present, recent past, or near future. However, The Wild Robot was the only one that fully met the criteria.
Other films such as Flow, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Dune: Part Two were noted for their environmental themes but did not meet the specific test requirements. The nine Oscar-nominated films that were evaluated but did not pass included A Different Man, A Real Pain, Anoura, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Inside Out 2, Sing Sing, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and The Substance.
In previous years, movies like Barbie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, and Nyad included climate-related elements. Founded in 2019, Good Energy works with the film industry to encourage climate-conscious storytelling, aiming to bring greater awareness to environmental issues through mainstream media.