2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Television Movie

Marcus Jones
·2 min read
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We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2023 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 15 to June 26, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 12. Afterward, final voting commences August 17 and ends the night of August 28. The 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will now take place Monday, January 15, live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

See our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards here.

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The State of the Race

Last Emmys season definitely felt like a turning point for the Outstanding Television Movie category, with voters coming to more of a consensus on what makes a film a made-for-TV movie in a post-streaming world. Disney TV pulled off a history-making win with “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” the first animated film to win the award, and the Roku Channel also established itself as a competitor, earning its first major Emmy nomination here for “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” (a follow-up to a canceled NBC series).

Both entities are back in the race this year, with Roku Channel now having a slight edge. Its breakout original film “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” had about as big a premiere as a TV movie could get, launching at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival to much acclaim, and later several winter TV awards.

However, in recent months, the film that has done the best job campaigning has been Hulu’s “Prey,” another project technically under the Disney TV banner that managed to receive a directing Emmy nomination—a nod none of its competitors received. Just recently, as final voting commenced, it had one more screening paired with the original “Predator,” which helps emphasize how although it is a TV movie, it stands up next to its theatrical predecessors.

“Fire Island” has been a firm third throughout even the winter awards season, which its filmmakers seem fine with. It is one of those cases where if the WGA and SAG strikes were to not have happened, the ensemble comedy could have spent another summer campaigning, but to even go from a victim of Quibi’s implosion into a Hulu film that’s had a year of awards attention is its own win.

Power Rankings:

  1. “Prey” (Hulu)

  2. “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (Roku Channel)

  3. “Fire Island” (Hulu)

  4. “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” (NBC)

  5. “Hocus Pocus 2” (Disney+)

Will Win: “Prey”
Could Win: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
Should Win: “Fire Island”

More Limited Series and TV Movie Category Predictions:
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

To see IndieWire’s full set of predictions for the 75th Emmy Awards click here.

Last Year’s Winner: “Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: Disney+ is looking to score its second win in a row with several different contenders to choose from.
Notable Ineligible Films: “Flamin’ Hot” (the film will not premiere in time to be eligible)

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