Independence Day: Resurgence announces its Oscar nomination for Alternative Best Picture

HOLLYWOOD, CA—Taking a cue from the US government's recent PR campaign of "alternative facts", the critically panned Independence Day: Resurgence has announced its own nomination this morning for Alternative Best Picture.

"We're so thrilled to announce our Best Picture nomination," said Cherry-Lee Salmon, a PR rep for the film. "And as the only 'alternative' nominee in this category, we've got a good chance of taking home the gold."

• Increasingly lazy Hollywood reboot to just use same actors and script as original film
• New Maggie Smith film rated MNB ("Must Be Accompanied By A Mom Named Barb")

Many critics are puzzled as to how a film that was so universally disliked could have received any attention from the academy, alternative or otherwise.

"Independence Day: Resurgence was more of a disaster of a movie than a disaster movie," said Tilda Swampton, top film reviewer for Regular Tomatoes. "It was like watching a demon take a whiz on my childhood for two and a half hours."

I didn't exactly write a draft of the movie as much as I drew a UFO, an explosion, and a question mark on a Post-It Note.- Writer Craig Brilton

Nevertheless, Independence Day: Resurgence has received multiple Alternative Oscar nods, including a blurry selfie of Will Smith, which was nominated for Alternative Best Supporting Actor. The photograph declined to be interviewed for this piece.

Bill Paxton has been nominated for Alternative Best Actor for the role of President Whitmore—a role that was performed by Bill Pullman.

"I am not Bill Pullman," Bill Paxton said. He accepted the nomination regardless.

"I honestly couldn't remember which Bill we cast in the darn thing. The two men are practically identical," Salmon said. "I figured we just roll the dice and give the award to Paxton."

While Craig Brilton was not credited as a writer on Independence Day: Resurgence, he is the only writer to have received a nomination for Alternative Best Screenplay.

"It's an honor even to be nominated," he said. "I didn't exactly write a draft of the movie as much as I drew a UFO, an explosion, and a question mark on a Post-It Note. But it's great to see my contributions recognized."

Other notable alternative Oscar nominees this year include Simon McNevins, nominated for Alternative Best Actor for reprising his role as "Boss" in the Del Taco employee training videos, and a refrigerator that's been nominated for Alternative Best Actress in a Supporting Role for La La Land. 

Cherry-Lee Salmon believes Alternative Oscars are a positive addition to award-giving and to filmmaking in general.

"We now live in a world where anything is possible, especially the imaginary. Trump taught us that," she said. "Not a single critic disliked Independence Day: Resurgence. Also I'm half unicorn."

Don't miss anything from CBC Comedy - like us on Facebook.