Happy Gilmore 2 & Bradley Cooper Win PETA’s Oscats – Marty Supreme Panned
Los Angeles – As Hollywood gears up for the , PETA is preemptively handing out its own honors with the announcement of the winners of its 9th annual Oscat Awards. The awards recognize films and individuals who champion kindness to animals, prioritizing ethical treatment both on and off screen.
This year’s awards highlight a growing trend within the industry: a move away from using live animals in filmmaking and towards increasingly sophisticated CGI and practical effects. Anaconda received a “Snakes’ Selection” award for entirely foregoing the use of real snakes, opting instead for computer-generated imagery and props. PETA noted the distress that live snakes experience during filming due to the noise, lights and general commotion of a film set.
Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 earned “The Bear Who Wasn’t There” award for similarly choosing a bear suit and visual effects over putting a live bear in the spotlight. The award underscores the potential for harm to animals used in entertainment, even in seemingly benign scenes.
The superhero blockbuster Superman, directed by James Gunn (who was named PETA’s 2023 Person of the Year), received the “Up, Up, and Adopt” Oscat. The film reportedly inspired a 500% surge in pet adoptions after Gunn revealed that his own adopted dog, Ozu, served as inspiration for Krypto, the film’s CGI superdog. This award highlights the positive influence that films can have on animal welfare by promoting adoption.
On the acting front, Bradley Cooper was recognized with the “Stand-Up Guy for Animals” award for including his canine companions, Charlie and Lucy, in Is This Thing On? and for subtly promoting plant-based alternatives – specifically, oat milk – within the film. Ariana Grande took home the “Best Actress” award for her performance in Wicked: For Good, and for her consistent advocacy for animal rights as a vegan.
The film’s writers also received the “Best Adapted Screenplay” award for incorporating animal liberation messaging into the narrative of Wicked: For Good. This suggests a growing willingness within the industry to address ethical concerns related to animal treatment directly within mainstream storytelling.
However, not all films received praise. PETA named Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, as the worst film of 2025 for its treatment of animals. The organization cited instances of forcing animals to participate in stressful scenes – including a scene with dogs exposed to breaking windows and loud noises – and dressing a sea lion in a manner reminiscent of exploitative marine animal parks. PETA plans to present the film’s director, Josh Safdie, with a symbolic “snub” from a gilded big cat and a revised title: Marty Supremely Cruel.
“From indie darlings to big-budget blockbusters and highly anticipated reboots and sequels, 2025 was another winning year for animals thanks to compassionate characters and compelling CGI,” said Lauren Thomasson, PETA Director of Animals in Film and Television. “PETA applauds Ariana Grande, Bradley Cooper, Adam Sandler, and all of the artists and filmmakers who continue to make the world a better place for animals on and off the screen.”
The winners will each receive a framed certificate. A complete list of awards is available here.
PETA, whose motto states that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment,” emphasizes that “Every Animal Is Someone” and offers free Empathy Kits to promote kindness. More information can be found at PETA.org, or by following PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Moira Colley, a contact for PETA, was listed in the press release and is also listed on LinkedIn, indicating her role in media relations for the organization.