The Best TV Movies of the 2023 Emmy Awards

We’ll be updating this article with all of our predictions throughout the season, so be sure to check IndieWire for the latest news on the 2023 Emmys. The nomination round of voting runs from June 15 to June 26, with the official Emmy nominations announced on Wednesday, July 12. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be presented over two consecutive nights on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10. an edited presentation of the ceremonies that will air on FXX at a later date. Finally, the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 18 and will air live on FOX at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT.

State of the species

The Outstanding Television Movie category at the Primetime Emmy Awards remains a fascinating microcosm of how streaming has changed the film industry as a whole. In other words, there’s a reason Racers isn’t described as a “made-for-TV” movie anymore.

Connected

Connected

Two of Disney+’s contenders, last year’s reigning champ “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” an inventive comedy, are actually sequels to theatrical releases (“Hocus Pocus 2” and “Disenchanted”). Some of Fox’s films, such as “Fire Island” and “Prey,” have not been released in theaters due to circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Disney acquisition.

It’s really tricky because a lot of these movies go above and beyond our expectations of traditional TV movies, especially a movie like Amazon Prime Video’s “Shotgun Wedding,” which has such an all-star cast, but if any of them ever feel too theatrically throwaway, Emmy voters tend to reject them. Sundance acquisition “Fresh” missed out on a final nomination last year. The HBO-bought TIFF premiere “The Survivor” was the only film nominated that wasn’t a spinoff of a TV show.

The contenders in the category are likely to change soon as more networks decide which movies to air. All of them have different strategies, from Amazon Prime Video to Netflix, which is now extremely specific about which of their movies are the right ones. The most promising candidate appears to be “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” which was honored at both the Critics Choice Awards and the PGA Awards this winter, giving Roku Originals another win after its triumphant first Emmy nomination last year. “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas.”

Current contestants (in alphabetical order):
“The Waltons’ Thanksgiving” (CW)
“Boston Strangler” (Hulu)
“Disappointed” (Disney+)
“Disney Pinocchio” (Disney+)
“Dolly Parton’s Magical Christmas in the Mountains” (NBC)
“Father of the Bride” (HBO Max)
“Fire Island” (Hulu)
“Hocus Pocus 2” (Disney+)
Jerry and Marge Go Large (Paramount+)
“People We Hate at Weddings” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Prey” (Hulu)
“Reno 911: It’s a Wonderful Heist” (Paramount+)
“Shotgun Wedding” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Someone I Used to Know” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (Roku Original)

More Limited Series and TV Movie Category Predictions:
Excellent limited or anthology series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Excellent supporting actor in a limited series or movie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Click here for IndieWire’s full predictions for the 75th Emmy Awards.

Last year’s winner: “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers”
Still eligible: No.
Hot Streaks: Disney+ is looking for its second win in a row, with a number of contestants to choose from.
Notable Ineligible Films: “Flamin’ Hot” (film will not be released in time to qualify)

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