Sci-fi action comedy-drama “Everything Everywhere All at Once” swept the Academy Awards Sunday night, racking up seven wins, including Best Picture. Its remarkable success came as a surprise to many, including the film’s directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – known together as the Daniels – as well as its cast and those viewing the Oscars in person or on TV.

The A24-produced movie had a modest budget of around $15 million, but racked up more than $100 million primarily due to word of mouth, according to Vox.

“I have great faith in our stories,” Daniel Kwan said in his Best Picture acceptance speech. “These stories have changed my life, and I know that they’ve done that for generations.”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” follows laundromat owner Evelyn Wang, played by Michelle Yeoh, who, in the midst of an IRS tax audit, learns that she must find a way to connect with versions of herself existing in parallel dimensions in order to prevent a multiverse apocalypse. Beyond its unique premise, the film struck a chord with audiences thanks to its special effects and quirky humor, involving martial arts, hot dog fingers, as well as nods to “Ratatouille” and Wong Kar Wai films.

In addition to Best Picture, the directors, known collectively as the Daniels, took home the award for Best Director. Michelle Yeoh won for Lead Actress; Ke Huy Quan won for Best Supporting Actor; and Jamie Lee Curtis won for Best Supporting Actress.

“They say stories like this only happen in the movies,” Quan said through tears during his acceptance speech. “I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This is the American dream.”

The dominance of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes on the heels of other recent Best Picture surprises such as “Moonlight” (2017), “The Shape of Water” (2018), and “CODA” (2022). The trend suggests that formulaic picks for the night’s biggest award may be a thing of the past thanks to the Academy’s growing membership and changing demographics.