"Almost Feels Like A Funeral": Oscars' James Bond Tribute Earns Mixed Responses

The 2025 Oscars elected to honor theJames Bond movies, but it has resulted in a divisive response. The franchise has been a constant in Hollywood since 1962's Dr. No took the world by storm. It quickly became a media giant under producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, before Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over from Albert R. Broccoli in 1990. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli recently announced that Amazon will now have complete creative control over Bond, which has led to widespread outcry.

At the 2025 Academy Awards, the Oscars offered a full-scale performance to honor the Bond franchise. There were several musical performances, acclaim offered to the producers, and footage of the classic movies. While it was a respectful tribute, Twitter users have been baffled by the decision:

@Luiz_Fernando_J loved the performances but described that the tribute "almost feels like it's a funeral."

@ShinobiDancer is concerned about the references to classic Bond, as opposed to the future and more modern movies.

@Lons is concerned that the Bond franchise may "never be the same again" after this tribute.

@deepbluestrips is just baffled by having any tribute at all.

@MarcusShepard is confused about the decision to have a tribute without announcing the new Bond actor.

@hairball1952 is just annoyed that there was a Bond tribute instead of a former acknowledgment of the late David Lynch's career.

@howatdk has no idea why the Best Original Song nominees were not allowed to perform, while there was a multi-song Bond tribute.

@scripttoscene called the Bond performance a complete "waste of time."

@dSquib is concerned that this was done to honor the movies before Amazon ruins them.

@3000cine just wants to know why the Oscars bothered at all.

Adrien Brody in The Brutalist and Ariana Grande in Wicked between an Oscar statuette

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What The Oscars' Bond Tribute Means

Hollywood Is Concerned About The Bond Franchise

The franchise is preparing to enter a new era. It has already faced a massive transition once, after Albert R. Broccoli passed the franchise to Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. This time, however, it will not be coming under the control of trained individuals. Instead, it will be controlled by a massive media enterprise. The Oscars 2025's James Bond tribute featured Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye playing "Live and Let Die," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Skyfall", and each was a thrilling performance. Unfortunately, none of them feel well-timed.

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After all, the franchise is still alive and well, and no one has passed. As one of the Twitter posters alluded to, major Hollywood figures have passed away since the last Oscars ceremony, and wildfires devastated Los Angeles. The Oscars did honor firefighters and always runs a memorial segment, but the Bond tribute seemingly outshone them all. It was a curious decision when the Bond franchise and its producers are still alive and well.

Our Take on The Oscars' James Bond Tribute

Amazon's Purchase Is Probably Coincidental

Daniel Craig looking mildly perplexed as James Bond in Spectre

As much as this tribute reads as a sign of concern from Hollywood, it is probably just a coincidence. After all, it is unlikely that the Academy Awards' producers planned the tribute in less than a month after Amazon took control. Wilson was already rumored to be retiring, so the tribute could have been an attempt to acknowledge his career and his work on James Bond. Unfortunately, it may not have come off the way that the Oscars' producers hoped. Either way, the tribute was incredibly confusing.

Source: Various (see above)