Mike Flanagan has directed a new movie based on aStephen Kingstory, andthe film which has 88% onRotten Tomatoesjust became a major Oscar contender. Mike Flanagan is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who has made all kinds of beloved movies and TV shows, with him being one of the most popular creatives currently working in the horror genre. Flanagan’s newest project seems to be a bit of a change of pace for him, and while it may be anodd Stephen King story, the film has just proven that it could be an awards season powerhouse.
Mike Flanagan started out directing several original horror features, but the director had his big break into the mainstream when he directed 2016’sOuija: Origin of Evil. Since then, Flanagan has gone on to direct several beloved horror TV shows, with him beingthe creator ofThe Haunting of Hill House,The Haunting of Bly Manor,Midnight Mass,The Midnight Club, andThe Fall of the House of Usher.Mike Flanagan’s last two movies, however, have both been adaptations of Stephen King stories, with his next film continuing this trend afterGerald’s GameandDoctor Sleep.

The Life Of Chuck Won TIFF’s People’s Choice Award In 2024
Beating Two Other Critically Acclaimed Films
The Life of Chuckis the next feature film from director Mike Flanagan, and hisadaptation of Stephen King’s novellais already proving to be a critical hit.The Life of Chuckhad its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, showing the world the newest Stephen King adaptation for the first time. The film proved to be a major hit with audiences, asThe Life of Chuckhas won TIFF’s People’s Choice Award, one of the highest honors that the prestigious film festival gives out each year.
The Life of Chuckis said to becloser in tone to other Stephen King non-horror adaptations, such asStand by Me(1986).

The Life of Chuck’s big TIFF award win is immensely impressive, especially considering some of the competition that it faced.Mike Flanagan’s newest movie beat two critical darlings,Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez and Sean Baker’sAnora, both of which were huge hits at the film festival. Many fans of Mike Flanagan were already excited forThe Life of Chuck, but its success at TIFF has put even more eyes on the film, with it quickly becoming one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2024.
The Last 12 TIFF People’s Choice Award Winners Received Best Picture Oscar Nominations
Starting With Silver Linings Playbook
The Life of Chuck’s TIFF win could signal future successes for the film based on previous awards season trends. As it turns out,the last 12 films to win TIFF’s People’s Choice Award went on to be Best Picture nominations at the Oscars, with this decade-long trend hopefully continuing withThe Life of Chuck. Although it is impossible to say that the film is guaranteed a spot in the nominations, it seems unlikely thatThe Life of Chuckwould break this 12-year-long chain, with it hopefully becoming the 13th film in a row to pull this feat off.
The Life Of Chuck Cast & Character Guide
The cast of Mike Flanagan’s Stephen King adaptation The Life of Chuck includes many of his frequent collaborators alongside some first-timers.
Starting in 2012, every film that has won theTIFF People’s Choice Award has gone on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.Silver Linings Playbookkicked this trend off, with it being followed by12 Years a Slave,The Imitation Game,Room,La La Land,Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,Green Book,Jojo Rabbit,Nomadland,Belfast, and 2023’sAmerican Fiction. IfThe Life of Chuckcontinued this trend, it would be the 13th entry in this prestigious list of films, putting Mike Flanagan’s name alongside a plethora of other beloved filmmakers.
Will The Life Of Chuck Win Best Picture At The 2025 Oscars Now?
3 People’s Choice Award Winners Following This Trend Have
While it seems likely thatThe Life of Chuckwill be nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars, the real question has to do if it will win. While not all of the films that have won TIFF’s People’s Choice Award in this 12-year streak havewon Best Picture, some have, meaning that there is a precedent.12 Years a Slave,Green Book, andNomadlandall took home the most prestigious of the Academy Awards after winning the TIFF People’s Choice Award, meaning that there is a chance thatThe Life of Chuckcould continue this trend.
12 Years a Slave,Green Book, andNomadlandall took home the most prestigious of the Academy Awards after winning the TIFF People’s Choice Award
More often, however, the Best Picture nominated People’s Choice Award winner is beaten by another People’s Choice Award nominee or a film that wasn’t present in the TIFF nominations at all. Based on statistics,The Life of Chuckwould be more likely to fall into this category. However,it is impossible to talk about art using precise mathematics and statistics, meaning that we will have to wait until the 2025 Oscars to see what happens with Mike Flanagan’s newest Stephen King movie.
The Life of Chuck
Cast
The Life of Chuck is a film exploring the life of Chuck Krantz, presented in reverse chronological order.