Martin Scorsese is collaborating with Leonardo DiCaprio all over again in his upcoming movie project, and a closer look at the film’s genre suggests it will continue an incredible Oscar trend.
The Academy Awards have changed in myriad ways over the years. However, in recent times, the most noticeable change in their nominations is that movies of the horror genre have finally started getting far more appreciation than they previously did. Even in 2026, some exciting horror movies, like Curry Barker’s Obsession, already show immense potential to win big during the awards season.
Interestingly, even Martin Scorsese’s next big movie project falls in the horror genre. The film could not only be the horror favorite at the next Academy Awards but could also make up for the underwhelming response to another Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio collaboration.
Martin Scorsese’s What Happens At Night Could Be The Next Big Win For Horror At The Oscars
When it comes to feature films, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have collaborated on 6 projects since 2002. Gangs of New York marked the beginning of their partnership before Leonardo DiCaprio went on to star in Scorsese’s The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Unsurprisingly, almost all these movies have earned several Oscar nominations.
Considering how Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese’s movies often end up becoming Oscar front-runners, their upcoming film, What Happens at Night, seems to have a good chance of continuing the trend.
Based on Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name, the movie focuses on a married American couple who travel to a quaint European town to adopt a child. However, what begins as a well-intended endeavor soon turns into a reality-bending experience that makes the couple question their identity. Apart from Leonardo DiCaprio, the upcoming movie will also feature other big stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen.
With an incredible cast and Martin Scorsese at the helm, What Happens At Night already seems to be a promising movie that could earn several nominations at the Oscars. Given how the Academy Awards have now started favoring horror movies more than ever, What Happens At Night seems to have even better odds of performing well at the awards.
What Happens at Night comes off as a unique movie project, one where Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are both experimenting with a whole new genre. However, this isn’t the first time Scorsese and DiCaprio have teamed up in a psychological horror flick. Their previous movie in the genre struggled to leave its mark during the awards season but is considered a masterpiece by many.
What Happens At Night Can Make Up For Shutter Island’s Lack Of Oscar Nominations
Long before What Happens At Night, Leonardo DiCaprio starred as the leading man in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. The 2010 movie does not exactly rank among the most acclaimed additions to Scorsese’s incredible catalog. It still holds an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 69%. However, over the years, the film has managed to garner a cult audience because of its twisty and atmospheric storytelling.
As its critical scores reflect, Shutter Island happens to be Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s only collaborative effort that did not land any Academy Award nominations.
After 2021’s Don’t Look Up, What Happens At Night is the first movie that includes both Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in its roster.
Shutter Island may not be one of Scorsese’s best works, but it arguably deserves to be nominated in at least three categories: best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), original screenplay, and cinematography. While it is unfortunate that no aspects of the movie were appreciated at the Oscars, it looks like What Happens At Night can make up for its underwhelming award season performance.
After Shutter Island, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio seem equipped with several lessons surrounding what works in the psychological horror genre and what does not. Since What Happens At Night also inclines more towards the horror genre than Shutter Island, it will also benefit from the Academy’s recent shift towards favoring horror movies.
If all goes well, the new Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio movie could not only earn several Academy Awards but also eventually land some big wins.