The important thing query for the Academy is whether or not or not this batch of nominees is sufficient to transfer the needle on viewership. Audiences love Christopher Nolan and the awards voting our bodies do as properly. It seems like “Oppenheimer” provides him the perfect probability in his total profession at profitable each Finest Director and Finest Image. Equally, “Barbie” feels prefer it may stroll away with some massive prizes, despite the fact that Greta Gerwig was shockingly ignored of the Finest Director class (to not point out Margot Robbie not being nominated for Finest Actress).
That is to say, the favored Finest Image nominees this 12 months really feel like they’re extra than simply nominations for the sake of a nomination. These are wildly well-liked motion pictures which might be additionally very a lot within the race. So, whereas we had some massively well-liked motion pictures nominated final 12 months as properly, the favored motion pictures this 12 months have extra pores and skin within the recreation, and audiences really feel invested in lots of of those motion pictures. That might assist with regards to viewership, which actually wants a lift.
Final 12 months’s Oscars ceremony was seen by 18.7 million individuals, which was a giant improve from the all-time low in 2021 of simply 10.4 million viewers. However we’re nonetheless leaps and bounds away from pre-pandemic numbers when the ceremony simply introduced in 30 million viewers or extra. Hollywood wants individuals to care about awards — notably the Oscars — as these items strongly inspire the selections to make sure forms of motion pictures. In an more and more unsure market, one may argue the significance of the Oscars has by no means been higher (and, with it, the common moviegoer’s funding within the Oscars). We’ll see if this specific batch of nominees is as much as the duty at hand.
The 96th annual Academy Awards are set to air on Sunday, March 10, 2024, on ABC.