We had one films release this past weekend with the potential for Oscar nominations.

The Lego Movie

With the smash debut of The Lego Movie and the near-universal praise, you have an unqualified success here. The film’s chances at an Oscar nomination have gone up exponentially. Before it released, there was some doubt whether this massive marketing campaign could generate a film that felt less like a movie and more like an effort to sell toys. The truth is a combination of these things.

While the film has clear anti-corporate messages embedded in its DNA, the film also does a terrific job selling toys to children, which is likely its original intention. Yet, the story and impact of the story on both children and adults is what has brought it a surprising level of attention and praise from critics and audiences alike.

The film is sure to be a nominee for Best Animated Feature this year. It’s also likely the film will garner a nomination for the original song “Everything Is Awesome,” the infectious song from the film. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it nominated much like “Happy” was this year.