John Malkovich Contends That Awards Season Has Become the Primary Driver of Theater Attendance

John Malkovich acknowledges his current awards momentum, even if the attention doesn’t align with his usual demeanor.

The actor has been promoting Martin McDonagh’s tragicomedy Wild Horse Nine on the festival circuit, with critics hailing his performance as potentially career-best and a near-certain Oscar nomination. This would not be his first Academy Award recognition — he received nominations in 1985 for Places in the Heart and in 1994 for In the Line of Fire — but during a BFI London Film Festival discussion on Sunday, Malkovich acknowledged that navigating awards season in 2026 presents unique challenges compared to past experiences.

“I feel differently about awards consideration now than I did when In the Line of Fire was released,” he explained. “Back then, the film industry held a disproportionately prominent place in culture — though I believe that status was unearned, given the scarcity of truly seminal works like Chinatown, The Godfather, or The Godfather Part II. Today, the awards circuit has become the primary means of drawing audiences to theaters, a process that demands months of sustained effort.”

Recalling his Places in the Heart nomination and his inaugural Oscar attendance in 1985, Malkovich shared an anecdote about asking his manager, Phyllis, if they could enter via a side door. Her firm reply — “Honey, it’s the Oscars — there’s no side door!” — drew laughter from the audience. “That reaction captures my typical response to such intense attention,” he remarked regarding his current campaign for Wild Horse Nine. “However, as a seasoned professional, I recognize this as an integral aspect of the industry today.”

Noting that his earlier films achieved financial success prior to Oscar season, he observed: “Today, securing an Oscar appears to be the essential catalyst for driving theater attendance.” When questioned whether this trend saddens him — especially given his uncertainty about whether his daughter would frequent cinemas — Malkovich responded: “No, because at 72, I understand that evolution is inevitable. Rather than lamenting how things have changed, I choose to adapt; resisting change leads to obsolescence, but embracing it ensures continuity.”

Wild Horse Nine features Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as Chris and Lee, veteran CIA operatives based in Santiago, Chile, who receive orders from their superior (Steve Buscemi) to investigate Easter Island. Set against the island’s iconic Moai statues, the duo confronts their obscured history while Chris develops an unforeseen connection with two rebellious Chilean students (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas) — a relationship that jeopardizes both their partnership and the covert operation they’re entangled in.

The film debuted at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday evening, with Malkovich, Rockwell, and director Martin McDonagh attending the premiere’s red-carpet ceremony.

Given the recurring exploration of the Kennedy assassination in his filmography, Malkovich was questioned about this theme — especially since his character in Wild Horse Nine is suggested to have influenced JFK’s death. When asked for his personal perspective, he stated: “I am certain that the officially reported version of events is inaccurate.”

Malkovich praised McDonagh as “a brilliant writer and a direct, compassionate director,” adding: “His feedback is consistently valuable. For instance, during one scene involving large props, he simply suggested, ‘Channel more David Attenborough’ — a note I considered exceptionally insightful, though I struggled to execute it effectively.”

Comparing Rockwell to “a SeaWorld trainer feeding fish to a shark,” Malkovich elaborated amid audience laughter: “Observing him repeatedly reveals his exceptional skill in dynamic role-playing. He remains an outstanding collaborator and actor — flawless in this performance, capable of shifting instantaneously between interpretations.”

While stating he avoids political engagement, Malkovich emphasized that Wild Horse Nine powerfully explores existential themes, particularly grief and mortality.

Reflecting on his extensive career, Malkovich traced key milestones from Dangerous Liaisons and collaborations with Clint Eastwood to his West End work and the origins of his 1999 film Being John Malkovich — admitting he “had a moment” and behaved poorly during a sweltering day on set. He also noted his recent discovery of being 43% Romanian and lamented how infrequently one encounters a truly exceptional script.

“Discovering a superb screenplay and transforming it into an outstanding film is exceedingly rare,” Malkovich observed. “No matter how diligently one prepares or how compelling the performance, if the final product lacks quality, the effort becomes meaningless — ultimately wasting both the audience’s time and the creator’s investment.”

Concluding the session, Malkovich discussed his upcoming project 100 Years with Robert Rodriguez, noting that the film is currently stored in a secure vault and slated for release in 2115. “I possess tickets,” he joked, “though I doubt I’ll attend the premiere — given that my grandchildren likely won’t be alive by then.”

The 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival is scheduled for October 7 through 18.

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