McDonagh's Oscar Record: 24 Nominations, One Win — What It Means for 'Wild Horse Nine'

Martin McDonagh has accumulated nine Oscar nominations for one feature alone, and 16 across his last two films combined. His fifth feature, Wild Horse Nine, opens in theaters this weekend with seven predicted nominations from Gold Derby's experts.

The film stars Steve Buscemi as MJ, a CIA bureau chief who dispatches agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) to Easter Island shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. The longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, while Chris's bond with two rebellious students threatens to derail the mission. Tom Waits, Parker Posey, Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas round out the cast.

What do the reviews say?

The critical metrics are strong. Wild Horse Nine currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 77 on Metacritic, which classifies reviews as "generally favorable."

Gold Derby's experts predict seven Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director for McDonagh, Best Actor for Malkovich, Best Supporting Actor for Rockwell, Best Original Screenplay for McDonagh, Best Casting, and Best Film Editing.

How did McDonagh's career start at the Academy?

His first Oscar came fast. McDonagh's debut behind the camera, the 2004 short Six Shooter, won Best Live Action Short Film at the 78th Academy Awards — his only Oscar win to date. The dark comedy starred Brendan Gleeson and Rúaidhrí Conroy as an older man grieving his wife and a possibly psychotic young oddball sharing a depressing train journey. The film debuted at the 2004 Cork International Film Festival and received a theatrical release in 2005.

Which features earned Oscar attention?

Nearly every McDonagh feature has registered with the Academy. The record:

• In Bruges (2008): Three Golden Globe nominations, with Colin Farrell winning Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor, and four BAFTA nods, with McDonagh winning Best Original Screenplay. At the Oscars, McDonagh's script nomination ended in a loss to Dustin Lance Black for Milk.
• Seven Psychopaths (2012): The only McDonagh feature with zero Oscar nominations. It earned a BAFTA nod for Best British Film, losing to Skyfall. The cast included Farrell, Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko and Željko Ivanek.
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017): Seven Oscar nominations. The precursor run included four Golden Globes (with Best Film Drama), three SAG Awards (with Best Film Ensemble) and five BAFTAs (with Best Film). Frances McDormand, Harrelson, Rockwell, Cornish, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage starred.
• The Banshees of Inisherin (2022): Nine Oscar nominations, McDonagh's personal best. It won three Golden Globes (including Best Film Comedy/Musical) and four BAFTAs (including Best British Film). Farrell, Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan led the cast.

What does the pattern suggest for 'Wild Horse Nine'?

Four of McDonagh's five films have drawn Oscar attention; only Seven Psychopaths missed. His three most recent features arrived on a steady five-year cadence — 2012, 2017, 2022 — and each of the last two earned at least seven nominations. Wild Horse Nine arrives three years after Banshees, ahead of that rhythm.

The predictions give McDonagh two personal nominations, matching his Banshees tally in the directing and screenplay categories. Malkovich and Rockwell would add acting nods to a filmography that has already carried McDormand, Rockwell and Gleeson through the acting races. Whether the 94% Tomatometer score converts into the nine-nomination ceiling of Banshees or something closer to Seven Psychopaths' shutout will define the season ahead.