Oscars Ratings Show Modest Recovery with 'Barbenheimer' but Still Far from Glory Days

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony, known as "Barbenheimer," failed to bring a significant uptick in viewership, drawing an estimated 19.5 million people on Sunday night. This marks the largest audience in four years, but the increase is marginal, at just 4% from last year's 18.7 million viewers.

New Format and Audience-Friendly Nominations

This year, the Academy took a new approach by commencing the show an hour earlier and nominating popular films such as "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," which resonated with a wider audience. Notably, the viewership peaked in the final half hour, featuring compelling performances and award wins that captivated an estimated 21 million viewers.

Box Office Performance

The previous year's major winner, "Everything, Everywhere All at Once," garnered $143 million globally, indicating respectable box office performance. However, it pales in comparison to the massive success of "Barbenheimer," with "Oppenheimer" nearing a billion dollars globally and "Barbie" surpassing it. Despite the commercial triumph of these films, the Oscars did not experience a proportionate surge in viewership.

Historical Decline and Pandemic Impact

The Oscars' viewership has witnessed a steady decline over the years, with the pandemic exacerbating the situation. From a peak of 43.7 million viewers in 2014, the numbers dwindled to 9.85 million in 2021 due to the pandemic. Although there was a slight rebound in 2022, reaching 16.6 million viewers, it remains far from the previous highs.

Challenges for the Academy and ABC

Traditionally, the Oscars ranked as one of the most-watched TV programs, often trailing only the Super Bowl. However, the telecast had never dipped below 30 million viewers until 2018. The all-time high of 55 million viewers for "Titanic" in 1998 contrasts starkly with the recent figures, underlining the challenges faced by the Academy and ABC.