'The film business passed away today': Hollywood slams Oscars' 'popular film' addition
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced major changes to future Oscar broadcasts early Wednesday in an attempt to rein in the show’s length (by presenting some unspecified categories during commercial breaks), shorten the months-long awards season (by moving up the ceremony by several weeks, beginning in 2020), and most controversial of all, adding a new category for outstanding achievement in popular film. While the board of governors probably hoped the fresh category would excite viewers and perhaps get those ratings up — spoiler alert — Hollywood pretty much hates it. Especially in the year of Black Panther.
The response from many in the industry has been overwhelmingly negative since the announcement early Wednesday, with Rob Lowe even declaring, “The film business passed away today.”
The film business passed away today with the announcement of the “popular” film Oscar. It had been in poor health for a number of years. It is survived by sequels, tent-poles, and vertical integration.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 8, 2018
He’s not alone in his disdain for the category. Actors, writers, and journalists were quick to weigh in, slamming and mocking the whole thing.
Best Popular Film? oof
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) August 8, 2018
“I would have voted for Black Panther for Best Popular Film twice if I could have.” pic.twitter.com/sYc6l9rXXV
— Ross Miller (@rosstmiller) August 8, 2018
Personally, this feels like a HUGE step back for genre film. Dark Knight, LOTR, District 9, Get Out, & Shape of Water broke the mindsets that scifi and fantasy could be considered BEST PICTURE. Does this new POPULAR category give snobbier members an out? https://t.co/CeMf7B1Cul
— Meredith Woerner (@MdellW) August 8, 2018
Giving out an Oscar for Best Popular Film is like giving out a Nobel Prize for Hottest Abs
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) August 8, 2018
last year’s Best Picture nominees to gross over $100 million were GET OUT and DUNKIRK; imagine if both had been shoved into “Best Popular Film” instead and ignored by voters for the big category
— David Sims (@davidlsims) August 8, 2018
2018: The Academy announces a new award for “Popular Film”!
2020: The Academy announces a new award for “Best Cinematic Universe!”
2022: The Academy announces a new award for “TV Shows that Feel Like 10-Hour Movies!”
2024: The Academy announces that “gifs are the new cinema!”
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) August 8, 2018
Hearing from so many millenials today who cannot wait to watch the Oscars now.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 8, 2018
Oh, Christ. AMPAS just announced that it will be presenting some awards off the air, and creating a new category to honor “popular films.” These are bad, pandering, desperation-based decisions and I hope they reconsider. >
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) August 8, 2018
YOU SAY: The Oscars are adding an award for achievement in popular movies
I HEAR: Christine Baranski and Jessica Keenan Wynn are winning a joint Oscar for their work as “Tanya” in the popular film MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN pic.twitter.com/BGYrgADtyO
— Kevin O’Keeffe (@kevinpokeeffe) August 8, 2018
Black Panther should absolutely make the Best Picture noms but the idea of inventing a “popular film” category for it to lose to Infinity War even though it’s the better film… makes me itch.
— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) August 8, 2018
“The Black Panther Memorial Award for Movie That We’re Afraid Won’t Get a Best Picture Nomination”
— David Sims (@davidlsims) August 8, 2018
It truly is something that in the year Black Panther, a movie made just about entirely by and with black people, grosses $700 million, the Academy’s reaction is, “We need to invent something separate…but equal.”
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) August 8, 2018
Plus, there’s the whole “popular films should already be nominated” argument.
Here’s the ten highest-grossing films, when accounting for inflation aka America’s most “popular” films. Every single one was either nominated for or won Best Picture with the exception of “Snow White,” which was given an honorary Oscar. Popular films are films! pic.twitter.com/8wIB0NGyLh
— Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) August 8, 2018
Popular film should… be nominated in general? What’s been defined as Oscar worthy or Oscar bait has been defined by the pretensions of white people.
— Ira (@ira) August 8, 2018
The Academy did not provide details on which flicks would qualify for the category (“eligibility requirements and other key details will be forthcoming,” it said in a letter to its members), which sounds problematic already.
adding a “popular film” category sounds both incredibly vague and incredibly lame, but refusing to broadcast technical awards is much much worse and more depressing
— David Sims (@davidlsims) August 8, 2018
So…does that mean films like ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Mission Impossible’ can’t compete for Best Picture? https://t.co/ed4NfFcflX
— Stuart Oldham (@s_oldham) August 8, 2018
Of course, there were a few who were in favor of the new addition, such as Rebel Wilson.
Great move by the Academy to create a new category at the Oscars: Outstanding Achievement In Popular Film 🏆
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) August 8, 2018
I watch all types of movies, including anything ‘popular’ so it’s great that these movies are now going to be recognized and I get to vote!
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) August 8, 2018
But that’s about it.
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