- Hailee Steinfeld’s original song “Dangerous,” from the hit movie Sinners, was not submitted for Oscar consideration, leaving many fans confused.
- A specific Academy rule dictates that a song must be featured substantively within the film or as the first music in the end credits to be eligible.
- Steinfeld’s track, while on the official soundtrack, did not meet this strict on-screen placement requirement.
- Warner Bros. strategically submitted two other songs from the film that did meet the criteria, likely to avoid splitting votes.
The Shocking Reason Behind Hailee Steinfeld’s Oscar Ineligibility
The Ryan Coogler-directed vampire thriller Sinners has been a critical and audience favorite, positioning itself as a major contender this awards season. With its stellar cast, stunning visuals, and a powerhouse soundtrack, many expected its rich musical landscape to feature heavily in the Best Original Song race. However, fans were shocked to learn that a standout track from star Hailee Steinfeld was conspicuously absent from the film’s Oscar submissions.
The reason isn’t a lack of quality but a technicality buried deep in the Academy’s rulebook. Despite writing and performing the track “Dangerous” for the film’s soundtrack, Steinfeld’s work was deemed ineligible for submission, and the studio’s hands were tied.
A Deep Dive into the Academy’s Strict Rules
For a song to qualify for an Oscar nomination, it isn’t enough for it to simply be written for a film. The official guidelines state there must be a “clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyric and melody, used in the body of the motion picture or as the first new music starts in the end credits.”
Unfortunately for Steinfeld and her fans, “Dangerous” was part of the film’s official soundtrack but did not have the specific on-screen placement required to make it eligible. This arcane rule disqualifies many songs that audiences associate with a film but don’t appear in a key scene or over the credits.
The Songs That Made the Cut
Instead of Steinfeld’s track, Warner Bros. moved forward with two other powerful songs from the Sinners soundtrack that perfectly met the Academy’s criteria. The studio submitted:
- “I Lied to You”: Performed by Raphael Saadiq and composer Ludwig Göransson, this song is a pivotal element in one of the film’s most memorable and climactic sequences.
- “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)”: This track, by Alice Smith and breakout star Miles Caton, plays as the end credits begin, making it a prime candidate under the rules.
This move also highlights a common awards strategy. While the Academy allows for up to three submissions per film, studios often submit fewer to consolidate support and avoid splitting votes among their own contenders.
What This Means for Steinfeld and ‘Sinners’
While the Oscar door has closed for “Dangerous,” this is far from the end of its awards journey. The track remains fully eligible for other major awards, including the Grammys, in its visual media categories. Meanwhile, Sinners continues its awards campaign on multiple fronts, with Miles Caton generating significant buzz for a potential Best Supporting Actor nomination, which would be bolstered by a separate nomination for the song he co-wrote and performed.
Image Referance: https://www.goldderby.com/film/2025/sinners-original-song-oscars-hailee-steinfeld-miles-caton/