Academy Awardvoters are now required to watch all nominated movies to vote. There was significant discourse before and during the most recent Oscars about voters not watching all the nominated movies, especiallyThe Brutalist,which had a three-and-a-half hour runtime. While the2025 Oscarsended up being generally well-received, there was criticism towards the voters who admitted that they did not watchThe Brutalistand other nominated movies.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has now revealed that, moving forward,Academy Award voters will be required to watch all nominated movies in order to vote in any category. This extends to all categories, and not just Best Picture. Voters who do not follow this rule for any specific category will be ineligible to vote in the final round. The rule change also emphasizes that all designated nominees will be included on the final ballot.
What This Means For The Oscars
It Will Be More Equitable Moving Forward
The new rule change ismeant to create a more equitable competitionand to ensure that all nominees, not just those in the Best Picture category, are recognized. This will ensure that movies likeThe Brutalistthat previously went unwatched by many voters due to runtime or other factors are no longer given this treatment. As the premiere awards show for movies, the Oscars have a responsibility to crown the best movie in each category, and this can be better achieved when voters watch all the nominees.
This is only one of many newly implemented changes, with another substantial one being the addition ofthe Oscars' stunt category.The Academy is not resting on the laurels of the positive reception to this year’s ceremonyand is instead focused on finding new ways to further improve the Oscars and the rules surrounding it. The change can benefit all categories, and in the case of the newly added stunts' category, it is especially vital that all voters see each nominee’s stunts for themselves.
Our Take On The Oscars' New Rule
It Is A Positive And Long Overdue Change
I am thrilled by the rule change and that it will go beyond theBest Picture nominees. All nominated movies need to be seen, as otherwise, the votes are not informed and equitable, and the films that win may not necessarily be the most deserving. I wish this rule had been implemented long ago, but at least it is being enforced now. Between voters needing to watch all the nominees and the addition of the stunts' category,the 2026 Academy Awards can be even better than this year’s event.
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
