A press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences indicates that they have instituted a new rule requiring all members to actually watch each of the nominated films before voting on them.
"Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars," the official press release stated.
The Academy will track viewership through its exclusive, members-only streaming platform, the Academy Screening Room. "There is also a 'seen elsewhere' form that members will need to submit before finals voting. If you have not viewed a title, the award category will be inaccessible (greyed)," according to the press release.
However, film fans are shocked to discover that members were voting on movies and performances they hadn't seen. One moviegoer commented on social media: "What do you mean NOW you’re required to watch all the movies?"
Another appeared astonished at the news, asking, "It hasn’t…is that how…last years movie….won….?" referring to Anora, which unexpectedly won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison, over Demi Moore, who'd won in the Leading Actress category at the BAFTAs, Critics' Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Golden Globes.
"Makes sense why Demi Moore didn’t win the Oscar," stated another fan.
Other comments included, "You mean the voting members voted without watching all the films? What a scam award show!" and "This should have been a rule from the start. How do you vote on winners without even watching all the films."
Prior to this year, members operated under an honor system in which they were previously asked not to vote if they hadn't seen all of the nominees.
Prior to this year's Oscars ceremony, one casting director told Entertainment Weekly, "I haven’t seen The Brutalist yet. I’m planning to see it, and from what little I saw [already], it’s similar to The Pianist, and [Adrien Brody] already got his Oscar for that. So, maybe someone else deserves a chance [for Best Actor]."
Other members who'd seen the movie voted for Adrien Brody, who won in the Leading Actor category.
And then there's the film director who told the outlet, "I'm bummed because I haven't seen The Substance or I'm Still Here yet. The first Dune, I couldn't get through; I'm not rushing for another three hours of Dune. There's still time to re-evaluate, but I really struggled."
The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15, 2026, hosted again by comedian Conan O'Brien and broadcast live on ABC and CTV. ~Alexandra Heilbron
WTF?!! That should've been a rule from the start. Especially with how soon shows come out on tv streaming services they should've been watching things at home if they couldn't get to a proper theatre. No wonder shows win that leave us scratching our heads. A lot of times there are shows we've never even heard of that are nominated or winners. Bad enough tv performances are now included for an Oscar. Just lost another viewer!
Yet another reason why the Oscars are total BS. It also goes some way to explain the ridiculous choices the Academy has made over the years. Hardly any wonder why the rating have plummeted.
Not surprising. It's all political, related to what's happening in the "real" world at the time. I used to be a big fan of the Oscars, watching all or most of the performances before the awards. Whatever happened to going to a movie to just get lost for a few hours and not think about anything? I've been in a movie theatre twice since the start of Covid.....prefer the older movies these days :) :)
So that is how some of those very questionable movies won? Anora, Parasite.
Now I know why I have made it preference NOT to watch whatever movie has been an Oscar winner. Got sucked in a couple times on stuff that was just crappy.
Does this constitute showbusiness, "insider trading?"
I heard the end of the statement on a TV show. I had no clue until now, that it was the people that chose who won! Very upsetting! One year I saw most of the movies nominated, and I had a better time hoping who would win. I just saw a few that were nominated or won recently, and it would have changed my initial choices. I guess the people choosing, are more fake than I thought.
I wondered how Anora won, I watched the entire movie what a waste! Demi was robbed you cant change what happened but Demi deserves better!!!! There has to be something you can do to make this up to the other actresses......