The Oscars are widely regarded as the most prestigious film award globally, drawing significant attention each year. The ceremony often sparks heated debates over which films and individuals will make history, with critics questioning the Academy's lack of racial and gender diversity. While some argue there’s an overemphasis on diversity, others challenge the subjective nature of the Academy’s voting process. Despite these controversies, the Oscars remain the most influential film award, raising ongoing questions about how winners are chosen.
Voting System for Oscar Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences consists of over 9,000 professionals from various sectors of the film industry. To become a member, individuals must be nominated by two existing members or be nominated for an Oscar. Members are divided into guilds based on their profession (e.g., actors, directors), and vote within their guilds during the first round. However, the Best Picture category allows all members to vote on the nominees. The final vote, where all members can vote for any category, determines the winners.
The Best Picture category uses a preferential voting system to determine the best Oscar movie. If no film receives a majority of first-place votes, the lowest-ranked film is eliminated, and its votes are redistributed according to voters’ second choices. This process continues until one film has more than 50% of the votes. This system often leads to a film winning the Oscar Best Picture award that might not have been the top choice but gained enough support through second-place votes.
$15 million for the Oscar
Campaigning for an Oscar can be a costly endeavor, with studios spending millions on advertising and promotions aimed at influencing voters. These campaigns can range from $3 million to $15 million, and they often use aggressive PR strategies. Films with significant financial backing, like Netflix’s Roma or Apple TV’s CODA, gain advantages, while smaller, independent films face challenges in gaining visibility among Academy voters due to limited resources for promotion.
Who Always wins?
The types of films most likely to win Oscars tend to be dramas, particularly historical or biographical stories. Longer films also have a higher chance of winning. While genre films like sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy are often overlooked, certain films that reflect the film industry or the lives of actors have had more success. The Academy’s evolving composition and the ongoing debates around diversity show that the Oscars are responding to larger societal changes and shifting cultural values.
Oscar nominations 2025 were announced on January 23, 2025. Emilia Pérez led with 13 nominations, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked with 10 each. The awards ceremony will take place on March 2, 2025.