How All Quiet on the Western Front hit the front in Netflix’s race for Oscar nominations – despite the German war film’s rejection at home

All Quiet on the Western Front wasn’t expected to be Netflix’s main Oscars contender, but has 9 nominations. It’s the first German-language best picture nominee

Director Edward Berger is surprised – the film was slammed in Germany for straying from the novel it’s based on – but he says he didn’t make it for the country

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Felix Kammerer as young German soldier Paul Bäumer, in a still from All Quiet on the Western Front. Netflix’s German war movie has 9 Oscar nominations, despite being pilloried by some German critics. Photo: Netflix

Published: 5:15pm, 11 Mar 2023Updated: 10:00am, 13 Mar 2023

When All Quiet on the Western Front had its premiere back in September 2022, there was little to suggest it was about to wage an all-out campaign for Oscar votes.

The German-language World War I film comes from Netflix, which had a roster of far more expensive “prestige” movies primed for Academy Award pushes, from Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Bardo to the star-studded Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

But while those have largely fallen by the wayside, with one nomination each, All Quiet on the Western Front has emerged from the crowded trenches of awards season hopefuls as an Oscars front runner, with nine nominations, including for much coveted best picture honours.

“It really feels like a wave of joy and luck that has come over us,” said director Edward Berger, days before his film won seven prizes at Britain’s Baftas, including best film.

Edward Berger at the Baftas last month, where All Quiet on the Western Front won seven prizes, including those for best director (above) and best film. Photo: AFP

“We’re very grateful for that … it’s a German war movie!”