Hollywood has traditionally hidden the horror genre in its shadows when it comes to the most important awards shows. The Academy Awards have treated horror movies as uninvited guests who received an invitation to attend but never received recognition during the ceremonies. And yet, every so often, a film claws its way towards the territory of cinematic prestige, demonstrating to the entertainment world that fear functions as an artistic medium in film.

One of the horror icons, Jamie Lee Curtis, however, has been bluntly not in favor of the genre altogether. 

Despite the Oscar campaigns surrounding last year's horror hit, Sinners, Curtis has her reasons for not being the biggest fan of the genre.

Jamie Lee Curtis shared her personal experiences with horror films during a discussion on an SXSW panel, If Not Now, When, if Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting, about the increasing recognition of the horror genre and the award nominations for Sinners. Curtis, who became famous as one of horror's most recognizable "scream queens," revealed that she does not choose horror films as her top film preference.

Curtis' performance as Laurie Strode in Halloween established her as a leading horror actress and secured her status as a horror cinema legend. Curtis defined the horror genre through her work, which she now claims not to favor much. The actress built her successful acting career through horror movies, yet she does not enjoy viewing them. She explained her view of the genre by being brutally honest in her expression.

"I appreciate, and I owe my life to the genre, but I don’t have to pretend to you that I’m a genre girl, and that I love it," Lee Curtis divulged at the panel, according to Variety.

The independent filmmaking element of horror films makes Curtis love this particular genre, according to her explanation. She praised horror for embracing diverse representation in a place where certain discussions are being politically contested, according to Variety. The creative freedom found in horror movies serves as Curtis's primary reason for considering this genre important in contemporary times.

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Curtis's perspective on horror movies sheds light on the lacuna of the genre that deserves recognition. And this year's Oscars might just be a good start.

In the recent past, the Oscars' token horror nominee, The Substance, had met a traditional disregard when, despite being a favorite and winning other awards, veteran icon Demi Moore lost to 25-year-old Anora actress Mikey Madison. The Academy Awards show a consistent pattern of avoiding complete recognition of horror films despite the genre providing some of cinema's most memorable narratives.

Through the years, multiple horror movies received Oscar nominations and achieved critical success, yet most of them departed from the awards show without recognition despite their significant cultural impact. Except for The Silence of the Lambs, horror has not had a major win at the Oscars in 100 years.

Whether it is The Exorcist losing all top categories at the Oscars, or The Sixth Sense, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, having an underwhelming Oscars run, or perhaps a best picture award for Get Out being out of the picture, the horror genre has failed to conquer the Academy so far.

However, Sinners might ultimately turn the wheel of horror genre's fortune this year, as it is not only an awards-circuit favorite but also one of the best-performing movies of 2025 critically and commercially. Jamie Lee Curtis' stamp of approval for Sinners, despite not favoring the genre, speaks volumes for its indelible cultural impact. 

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Do you agree with Jamie Lee Curtis? Let us know in the comments.