The state of the Oscars is floundering. Already, Hollywood is falling because of streaming, the internet, and most recently, unfairly paid workers resulting in the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) going on strike. Actors have stopped working, Marvel is seeing less and less in theaters, and big blockbuster movies have pulled out of release, such as Dune: Part Two—delayed by an entire year!
However, one of the most important factors keeping Hollywood relevant are The Academy Awards, which (sometimes) celebrate the good films of the year. But just as Hollywood is falling, so are the Oscars, bringing fewer people every year, especially with the Academy’s reluctance to switch from cable to streaming platforms. Either way, many viewers see the event as rich people being given even more money than they already have, exemplifying the issues. Furthermore, long gone are the days of idolatry, with only the 85-year-old grandmothers tuning in to see a plastic Tom Cruise and a hologram Nicole Kidman projected by AMC.
However, with a fantastic summer box office, the Academy may see higher viewership this year. The Barbenheimer blast has not only rejuvenated the theaters, but possibly the award show too. This is the Academy’s time to replace the last memory of“the slap” with a box office bonanza. I, personally, am a larger Barbie fan.
