Thescreescore – Hugh Jackman is once again aiming for Oscar glory, and his latest cinematic offering, "Song Sung Blue," has just premiered with a promising, albeit not universally ecstatic, Rotten Tomatoes score. The film, co-starring Kate Hudson, is a musical docudrama directed and written by Craig Brewer, drawing inspiration from Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary of the same name. It’s a late entry into the 2026 awards season fray.
"Song Sung Blue" debuted at the 2025 AFI Film Festival on October 26th and is slated for a Christmas Day 2025 theatrical release, putting it in direct competition with other Oscar hopefuls like "Marty Supreme," "The Testament of Ann Lee," and "No Other Choice." The film tells the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a married couple from Milwaukee who embark on an emotional musical journey as they form a Neil Diamond tribute act called Lightning & Thunder.
As of today, October 30th, "Song Sung Blue" has garnered an initial Rotten Tomatoes score based on 10 critics’ reviews. The film currently holds an 80% Tomatometer rating, indicating that, on the whole, critics view it favorably. The score arrived somewhat slowly, with reviews trickling in gradually after the film’s premiere a few days prior.
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While Hudson is generating buzz as a potential Best Lead Actress nominee for 2026, she faces stiff competition from Rose Byrne ("If I Had Legs I’d Kick You") and Amanda Seyfried ("The Testament of Ann Lee"), whose performances are considered frontrunners, even if their films aren’t guaranteed Best Picture nominations. A nomination for Hudson would be her first since 2000’s "Almost Famous."
Jackman, best known for his portrayal of Logan/Wolverine in Marvel’s universe, previously received an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor for his role in 2012’s "Les Misérables." His background in Broadway adaptations, "The Greatest Showman," and stage performances solidifies his standing in the musical theater world.
"Song Sung Blue" aims to be an Oscar comeback vehicle for both Jackman and Hudson, who have maintained successful careers outside of the Academy Awards. However, the film faces an uphill battle in a fiercely competitive year for Best Picture, potentially struggling to compete with contenders like "One Battle After Another," "Sinners," and "Hamnet," and their respective casts.
It’s important to remember that Rotten Tomatoes scores are subject to change. While "Song Sung Blue" launched with a respectable 80%, other Oscar contenders debuted with perfect 100% scores and have managed to maintain ratings above 90% as more reviews have been published. While "Song Sung Blue" is likely to be a crowd-pleasing holiday release, especially for Neil Diamond enthusiasts, it may lack the momentum needed to achieve the awards success its team desires, according to thescreescore.com.
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