Hollywood's Anti-Male Narratives Dominate 'Awards Bait' Films

Prestige TV and Oscar-nominated movies increasingly vilify men to elevate female stories, critics say

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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A recent report examines how Hollywood is pushing anti-male narratives in so-called 'awards bait' films, with movies like The Bride!, The Queen's Gambit, Promising Young Woman, and others framing male characters as villains or obstacles for female protagonists to overcome. Critics argue this trend is damaging to culture and society, as it teaches boys to view themselves as the 'bad guys' while suggesting to girls that men are nothing more than roadblocks to their happiness.

Why it matters

This trend of vilifying men in prestige TV and Oscar-nominated films is seen by critics as a troubling example of Hollywood's embrace of woke ideology and identity politics, which they argue is slowly chipping away at trust in honest, unbiased storytelling. The films reach millions of viewers worldwide and risk shaping harmful perceptions about gender relations.

The details

The report cites numerous examples of recent films that fit this pattern, including The Bride!, Promising Young Woman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, Poor Things, and Anora. In these movies, male characters are often portrayed as predatory, abusive, emotionally unstable, or simply useless, in contrast to the strong, righteous female protagonists. The article argues this approach aligns with the ideological preferences of award institutions and cultural gatekeepers in the post-#MeToo era, enabling these films to receive critical acclaim and accolades despite their perceived anti-male bias.

  • The Bride! was released in 2023.
  • The Queen's Gambit premiered in 2020.
  • Promising Young Woman was released in 2020.
  • Never Rarely Sometimes Always was released in 2020.
  • Anatomy of a Fall was released in 2023 and nominated for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, winning Best Original Screenplay.
  • Barbie was released in 2023 and received 8 nominations at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
  • Poor Things was released in 2023 and won 4 Oscars out of 11 nominations in 2024.
  • Anora was released in 2024 and won Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025.
  • Triangle of Sadness was released in 2022 and received 3 nominations at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.

The players

Maggie Gyllenhaal

The director of The Bride!, which is described as a radical feminist reimagining of the Frankenstein myth.

Christian Toto

A reviewer who criticized The Bride! as a 'blast from cancel culture past' that relentlessly hammers feminist themes and portrays men as inherently bad, oppressive, and villainous.

Nona Gaprindashvili

An 84-year-old female chess player who sued Netflix for defamation over a false claim in The Queen's Gambit that she had never faced male competitors, when in fact she had beaten at least 59 men by 1968, including many grandmasters.

Beth Harmon

The fictional protagonist of The Queen's Gambit, whose success is framed as a battle against men rather than on its own merits.

Film Industry Watch

A publication that has reported on the trend of prestige TV and films rewriting history to vilify men.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This trend of vilifying men in prestige TV and Oscar-nominated films is a troubling example of Hollywood's embrace of woke ideology and identity politics, which risks shaping harmful perceptions about gender relations and damaging trust in honest, unbiased storytelling.