Podcast Summary
The Oscars and Blockbuster Films: A Complex Relationship: The Oscars often overlook popular blockbuster films despite their success and widespread appeal, leading to criticism and questions about representation and relevance in the Academy Awards.
The Oscars have a complicated relationship with blockbuster films. Despite the fact that these movies often have massive box office success and widespread audience appeal, they rarely win the coveted Best Picture award. This was explored in a recent episode of Vox's Intuit, where host Sam Sanders discussed the issue and looked back at the history of the Oscars and their nominations. The sketch from SNL, where a film with an all-female cast went unrecognized, perfectly encapsulates this problem. The Oscars have faced criticism for nominating films that few people have seen, and while some blockbusters have been nominated, they rarely win. Joe Reed, a film industry expert, believes that Top Gun: Maverick's success at the box office could be a reason why it won't win Best Picture this year. However, it's important to note that there are multiple factors at play, and the notion that the Oscars are hostile to popular movies may not be a complete truth. Nonetheless, this phenomenon raises questions about the relevance and representation of popular films in the Academy Awards.
Definition of Blockbuster Movies Changed Over Years: Today's blockbusters are defined by high box office earnings and action-heavy content, while movies with deep emotional themes like 'Kramer vs. Kramer' and 'Rain Man' would not be considered blockbusters today. Oscars increasingly favor movies with low box office takes over big-budget films.
The definition of a blockbuster movie has significantly changed over the years. While films like "Forrest Gump" and "Rain Man" were both critical and commercial successes in the 1980s, earning the title of best picture at the Oscars and topping the box office, today's blockbusters are largely defined by their high box office earnings and action-heavy content. For instance, movies like "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Rain Man," which explored deep and emotional themes, would not be considered blockbusters by today's standards. Furthermore, the Oscars have increasingly nominated movies with low box office takes for Best Picture, while snubbing big-budget blockbusters. This trend has held true since 1977, with only five movies leading the box office the year of their release also winning the Best Picture Oscar.
Balancing public appeal and artistic merit at the Oscars: The Oscars strive to acknowledge both popular blockbuster movies and critically acclaimed films, but face resistance to nominating purely based on box office success.
The Oscars have been under pressure to remain relevant and avoid being seen as out of touch with the public by recognizing popular blockbuster movies alongside smaller, critically acclaimed films. However, there is also a certain snobbery within the organization that prefers to celebrate films with artistic merit. This has led to a polarization where big budget movies like "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" have won, while others have been overlooked. More recently, there seems to be a shift towards recognizing high-grossing films like "Top Gun: Maverick," but there is still resistance to nominating movies purely based on box office success, such as the Marvel or Transformers franchises. The Oscars aim to strike a balance between pleasing the public and maintaining their reputation for recognizing quality cinema.
The disconnect between Oscar nominations and box office success: Despite criticism for favoring niche films over Hollywood productions, the Oscars continue to face declining TV ratings and shifting viewership trends.
The disconnect between Oscar nominations and box office success has been a long-standing trend, with some years seeing more out-of-touch nominations than others. For instance, in 1996, the English Patient won Best Picture despite being a niche film that didn't resonate with a large audience. This was in contrast to more popular films like Jerry Maguire. The Oscars that year were criticized for favoring indie movies over Hollywood productions, leading to a pushback the following year with the success of Titanic. However, it's important to note that declining TV ratings for the Oscars and the shift to streaming services have also contributed to the conversation around the relevance of the awards. This year, the Oscars saw a boost in ratings with the success of a blockbuster like Top Gun: Maverick, but overall, ratings continue to decrease. The conversation around the Oscars and their connection to popular culture and box office success is a complex one that requires considering various factors.
The Oscars and Blockbuster Movies: A Complex Relationship: The Oscars have had a longstanding issue with recognizing blockbuster movies in the Best Picture category, leading to changes in the number of nominees and continued controversy
The Oscars have had a complex relationship with blockbuster movies when it comes to the Best Picture category. This tension became more pronounced as blockbusters became more prevalent in the film industry. For instance, in 2008, movies like "The Dark Knight" and "WALL-E" were snubbed, leading the Academy to expand the Best Picture category from five to ten nominees. However, this change did not last long, as smaller films like "Winter's Bone," which was nominated in 2010, faced backlash from the Academy and broadcasters. In response, the number of nominees was reduced once again. The era of the Oscars not favoring many blockbusters in the Best Picture category can be traced back to the late 1970s, when movies like "Jaws" and "Star Wars" were both nominated but their directors were not. As the number of blockbusters increased, it became less representative of the American public's taste for the Academy to only nominate one or two each year. This dynamic continues today, with the occasional blockbuster like "Black Panther" receiving a nomination, but often losing out to smaller films.
The divide between public taste and Oscar recognition widens: As CGI-heavy movies dominate the top 10 and streaming services become more prevalent, audiences turn to prestige TV shows for high-quality storytelling and performances, blurring lines between movie and TV stars, leaving traditional movie genres like romcoms behind in movie theaters.
The divide between what the public enjoys and what the Oscars recognize has grown wider, particularly as CGI-heavy movies dominated the top 10 and streaming services became more prevalent. Traditional movie genres like romcoms now go straight to streaming platforms, while adult dramas seem to have lost their appeal in movie theaters. Instead, audiences are turning to prestige television shows for high-quality storytelling and performances. The blurred lines between movie and TV stars have further contributed to this shift. If one were to be frustrated with this "blockbuster Oscar conundrum," the potential targets could be the viewing public for their changing preferences, streaming services for disrupting the traditional movie industry, or even the Academy voters for their choices. However, it's important to note that former Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs tried to bridge the gap and faced challenges during her tenure.
Mishap at the Oscars and the Future of Film Awards: Despite occasional mishaps, the Oscars broaden viewers' horizons by introducing them to lesser-known films. To stay relevant, the Oscars could consider airing on a streaming platform and embracing their unique identity.
The Oscars, as a cultural institution, have been facing the challenge of appealing to a diverse audience, particularly in the age of streaming and niche media. The nominees for cinematography in the 2015 Oscars included Emmanuel Lubezki, Robert Yeoman, Lukas Yal and Richard Lenczowski, and Dick Pope. During the ceremony, a presenter mistakenly announced the wrong name, causing a brief moment of confusion. Chris Pine, who was standing nearby, handled the situation professionally, showing his support for the industry and his fellow nominees. Despite the controversy, the speaker argued that the Oscars' "blockbuster problem" shouldn't be seen as a major issue. Instead, the Oscars have historically introduced viewers to lesser-known films and broadened their horizons. However, the issue becomes problematic when it's perceived as keeping people from watching the Oscars or making them obsolete. The proposed solution is for the Oscars to air on a streaming platform, free from the constraints of ratings and commercial breaks. The SAG Awards, which aired on YouTube, were praised for their uninterrupted speeches and unique vibe. Ultimately, the speaker suggested that the Oscars should embrace their identity and cater to their core audience, rather than trying to appeal to everyone. The film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was cited as an example of a production that successfully blends commercial appeal and artistic flair.
Oscars: Art and Commerce Come Together: The Oscars have faced criticism for perceived snubs of popular films and filmmakers, with some arguing for an 'outstanding achievement in popular film' award. Iconic films and directors like 'Mad Max: Fury Road' and Steven Spielberg have been overlooked in the Best Picture category, sparking debates on representation and recognition.
The Oscars celebrate movies where art and commerce successfully come together, as seen with the success of "Everything Everywhere All At Once." However, an attempt to create an award for "outstanding achievement in popular film" was met with backlash for perceived pandering. Iconic films like "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "ET" have been snubbed in the Best Picture category, with some arguing that Steven Spielberg is underappreciated by the Oscars despite his impressive body of work. The conversation ended on a lighter note, drawing a comparison between Spielberg's underrepresentation at the Oscars and Beyonce's Grammy history.
Joe Reed shares insights on gossiping during Oscars and Vulture introduces stunt awards: Joe Reed discusses effective gossiping tactics for the Oscars, while Vulture recognizes the significance of stunts with the first-ever stunt awards
Joe Reed and I had an enjoyable conversation about movies. Joe shared some insights on how to effectively gossip during the Oscars, which you can read about in his cheat sheet on Vulture. Additionally, Vulture recognized the importance of stunts in cinema by introducing the first-ever stunt awards. While the Oscars don't have a category for best stunts, Vulture filled that gap. I appreciate Joe's knowledge and enthusiasm for movies, and I look forward to our next chat. Be sure to check out Vulture for Joe's cheat sheet and the winners of the stunt awards.
