'Kiss of The Spider Woman' Places J.Lo In Oscar Conversation!

Jennifer Lopez is back in full force. After a tumultuous few years, including a critically panned music-drama film, This is Me… Now and a(nother) public split with actor Ben Affleck, her new cinematic venture reminds us why J.Lo is a household name. Jenny From The Block has become an Oscar-hopeful lead actress in Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ film Kiss of the Spider Woman, a musical drama adapted from the 1992 play and 1976 novel of the same name. Alongside "Andor" alum Diego Luna and newcomer Tonatiuh, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a technicolor prison drama infused with the charm of Singin’ in the Rain and balanced by the gritty suffering born of homophobia and alienation. 

Choreographed by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo and produced by Affleck and Matt Damon through Artists Equity, KotSW follows Valentín (Luna), a political prisoner, and his cellmate Molina (Tonatiuh) as they clash and bond over the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite diva, Ingrid Luna (Lopez). Speaking to the unifying power of musicals and their importance in queer history, Kiss of the Spider Woman deserves the same attention as hit musicals like Wicked and Tick Tick… Boom. 

After a few close calls with Oscar over the years -- Selena (1997) and Hustlers (2019) being two standouts in particular -- Kiss of the Spider Woman is the prestige musical drama that surrounds Lopez in the glorious set design, complex choreography, and expert musical director Bill Condon that she needed to shine again. As the titular Spider Woman, J.Lo commands the screen with ferocity and allure, maintaining an elusive quality that makes her a mysterious and seductive lead. With Condon citing Bob Fosse’s Cabaret as inspiration, J.Lo delivers all of the diva power required of such a predecessor. 

Lopez is set to fight for her first Oscar nomination with this role. Campaigning in the Supporting Actress category, the road ahead is tough. Sentimental Value from Swedish director Joachim Trier has standout supporting performances from both Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter; backed by NEON and staged to be nominated for Best Picture and other categories, these actresses will be frontrunners in the category. Moreover, Ariana Grande will most likely pick up another nomination for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked: For Good, potentially crowding out another supporting actress musical performance. Amy Madigan could be the dark horse pick for the final slot in the category for her role as Aunt Gladys in Warner Bros.’s horror film Weapons from Zach Cregger. Can Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions compete with these major studies to push Lopez into the view of Academy voters? Time will tell. Scott Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter and Clayton Davis of Variety both rank Lopez as a strong contender in Supporting Actress, and she surely deserves this. Lopez has redefined her career with this role, reminding the world why she has ruled our screens for the last 30 years and will continue to do so. If anything, Lopez will be nominated for her role in the Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy category at the Golden Globes, though, in my opinion, she deserves the Oscar nomination too. 

While Lopez rules the film, adorned in beautiful gowns and showstopping makeup, her co-stars Diego Luna and Tonatiuh deserve shoutouts as well. Luna brings authenticity and gritty realism to his performance, perfectly juxtaposing the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood dream with the cold reality of his Argentine prison cell. Tonatiuh brings the themes of alienation and homophobia to the fore, his vulnerability and dreamer’s aspirations reminding the viewer of the importance of musicals and theater as a form of escapism for queer people suffering oppression. Tonatiuh connects queer love with the radicality of resistance, affirming his love for the Spider Woman not just as a form of artistic celebration but as a small revolution within his grey cell. Lopez even made an appearance at the 2025 WorldPride celebration in Washington, D.C. to share an exclusive clip from the film and perform the title song live for the first time, grounding KotSW in themes of LGBTQ affirmation in the midst of a wave of conservative pushback. 

Kiss of the Spider Woman is, at its core, a celebration of the musical. Bill Condon wields the camera with sweeping, grand motions in the musical scenes and static stillness in the prison scenes, underscoring the film’s dualistic construction and repressive themes. The songs weave a sumptuous web of musical intrigue, Latin influences, and Old Hollywood flair. Condon and Lopez show us that the musical genre is still alive and relevant, even on the budget of independent filmmaking -- something that should be celebrated with a theater viewing.

Kiss of the Spider Woman is in theaters now!