Okay, real talk: have you ever screamed at your phone when the Oscars snubbed your favourite movie, like it didn’t even get a chance to shine? I’m still salty about Everything Everywhere All at Once having to fight so hard for its flowers. The Academy’s been low-key messy forever, letting voters pick winners without watching every nominated film. Like, imagine me choosing the best pizza in town after only trying one slice because I saw a dope Instagram ad. That’s been the Oscars’ vibe. But yo, huge news—starting in 2026, the Academy’s like, “Nah, y’all gotta watch every movie in a category before voting.” Why wasn’t this a thing ages ago? And why’s it got Hollywood shook? Grab your popcorn, my fellow movie nerds, because I’m spilling all the tea in this 1,020-word vibe check. It’s got drama, laughs, and hope for the films we’re obsessed with. This is a big deal because the Oscars are the flex for movies, like the Super Bowl for cinephiles. If you’re like me, staying up late to live-tweet the wins and roast the snubs, you know it sucks when some overhyped blockbuster steals the show while a gem like Moonlight gets slept on. This new rule could finally give every film, from indie bangers to foreign flicks, a fair shot. Plus, it’s straight-up hilarious that the Academy’s been out here trusting voters to do their homework when we all know half of us would skip the assignment and copy off X.
Let’s dive into why the old system was giving major side-eye, how this change is a glow-up, and what it means for the movies we’re hyping in our group chats. So, I’m sitting on my couch last week, scrolling X, when I see this post about the Oscars’ new rule, and my jaw drops. The Academy—that’s the 10,000-ish fancy folks like directors and actors who vote—has been letting people slide forever. You could literally vote for Best Picture without watching all the nominees. Like, you might pick Barbie because your cousin wouldn’t shut up about Ryan Gosling’s abs, while Anatomy of a Fall is collecting dust in your screener queue. I mean, same, I’ve skipped movies because they looked “boring,” but I’m not out here deciding who gets a gold statue! Word is, some voters were straight-up guessing based on vibes, buzz, or who had the best afterparty. I read somewhere—think it was Variety, a few years back—that like 20% of voters didn’t even watch all the Best Picture noms. No shade, but that’s why films like Parasite had to claw their way to glory, while big-budget flicks coasted on clout. Why didn’t the Academy make this a rule back in, like, 1927 when they started? Honestly, it’s giving “we didn’t think we had to tell you not to eat glue” energy. Back then, they were sending out film reels or setting up theater screenings, and nobody wanted to babysit voters to make sure they showed up. Plus, the Academy’s always had this old-money, “trust the pros” attitude, like everyone’s too classy to half-ass it. Spoiler: they’re not. Even celebs like Carey Mulligan have been like, “Y’all, some of these votes are sus.” Fast-forward to now, and voters are juggling red carpet fits, Netflix deals, and way too many screener links.
Before streaming, it was a hassle to watch everything, but now? You’ve got no excuse, Karen. The Academy’s finally catching up, using their app to track what you’re watching and throwing in surveys to make sure you’re not lying. It’s like when your prof locks the quiz so you can’t Google the answers. This new rule is a whole mood. It means every movie—whether it’s a Marvel blowout or some artsy Sundance vibe—gets a fair shake. I’m picturing me and my bestie losing it when a lowbudget banger snags Best Picture because voters had to watch it, not just stan the one with the most ads. X is already popping off with fans hyping this as a W for indies, with one user joking, “Bet voters are gonna discover subtitles exist.” But let’s not get it twisted—some voters are not happy. Watching every nominee is a time suck. Best Picture alone could be 10 movies, some of ‘em three hours long. I’d be stressed too if I had to sit through all the docs while dodging spoilers on my feed. And you know people are gonna try to cheat, like “watching” a movie while scrolling Instagram or napping. I’m cackling, imagining the Academy playing detective to catch ‘em slipping. Still, this could be huge for films that don’t have a zillion-dollar campaign, like the ones we find at 3 a.m. and text our group chat about. For real, this hits home for us young folks. We’re out here binge-watching Squid Game in one night but also hyping niche movies that get how messy life is—films about love, mental health, or just vibing in a world that’s falling apart. The old Oscars felt like my uncle picking music for a party, totally out of touch with what slaps. Now, I’m hopeful our faves might actually win something.
But there’s a catch: will this make the Oscars boring? Part of the fun is the chaos—the snubs that make us rage-tweet, the wins that spark memes. If everyone’s forced to watch everything, we might lose that hot-mess energy. And spare a thought for the voters—some of the older ones are probably side-eyeing this like it’s extra homework, while the younger crowd’s like, “Bet, let’s do this.” Either way, it’s proof that even Hollywood’s gotta fix its nonsense sometimes. Every time we clown a bad Oscar pick, we’re part of pushing for better. Alright, y’all, that’s the tea—the Oscars are telling voters to stop playing and watch the dang movies. From a system where hype and laziness were MVPs to a world where every film gets a shot, this rule’s a vibe for anyone who loves movies. It’s not flawless, and some voters are gonna try to finesse their way out, but it’s a step toward an awards show that gets what’s fire. For us, it’s a chance to see our favorite indies, foreign flicks, or weird passion projects get, it’s a chance to see our favorite indies, foreign flicks, or weird passion projects get the love they deserve. Next time you’re deep in a movie marathon, think of those Academy folks sweating to keep up. Will this make the Oscars less unhinged? Maybe. But I’m hyped to see what wins when everyone’s actually paying attention. What movie’s got your vote? Slide into my X DMs, and let’s talk flicks.