Oscars 2025: ‘El Mal’ from ‘Emilia Pérez’ wins ‘Best Original Song’
Emilia Pérez made Oscars history as the most-nominated foreign-language film in the ceremony’s history before its chances of success were severely impacted by controversy, but thanks to ‘El Mal’, the Netflix musical drama has at least been awarded the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Song’.
The star’s social media posts created a firestorm around not only her involvement in the Oscars but cast a dark cloud over Emilia Pérez as a whole, with anyone involved in the film who’s collected a major prize at any awards show inevitably being asked about the situation.
However, after winning the Golden Globe in the corresponding category, Zoe Saldaña’s performance of ‘El Mal’ was the odds-on favourite to win the Oscar, and it lived up to those predictions by beating out distinguished competition that featured some of the biggest names in music, both in and outside of the industry.
Taking to the stage, the Ducols shared their hope that Emilia Pérez “speaks to the role music and art can continue to play as a force for good and progress in the world.” There was even an impromptu singsong from the freshly minted Oscar winners, which was a unique – if unusual – flourish to add to an Oscar acceptance speech.
Occupying 40% of the field, thanks to a second nomination for ‘Mi Camino’, Camille and Clément Ducol stood the best chance percentage-wise of winning ‘Best Original Song’, despite the impressive array of names vying for the statue.
Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight, a fellow Netflix original, was shortlisted for ‘The Journey’, with music and lyrics from honorary Oscar winner, 16-time competitive nominee, and all-around Oscars staple Diane Warren.
Two-time Oscar winner, five-time nominee, and musical icon Elton John was also in the running for the title track to his farewell tour documentary Never Too Late, with Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada rounding out the quintet with Sing Sing‘s ‘Like a Bird’.
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