I’m no movie buff. The last time I stepped foot into a movie theater was over a year ago, which is a pretty long time for the average movie goer. When films come out on DVD, or On Demand, or Redbox there are few that I actually want to see, and most of the time, especially when school is in session, I don’t have time to sit down and watch a movie. Truth be told, I used to love going to the movies, but in recent years, I think the overall quality of films has gone down. Superhero movies, reboots, and book adaptations rule the market. Nothing feels new, or fresh, or original. And the movies that are original or thought provoking or artistic (sometimes a little too artistic and progressive if you ask me. Oscar bait is usually “groundbreaking” or pushes the envelope socially or politically, etc.) are usually indie projects or films released without much promotion. These are the films most people never see, the unpopular ones that don’t usually receive commercial success, but instead critical acclaim. These are the films typically nominated for Academy Awards,or as the public knows them, Oscars.

If you’re like me, and you’re not extremely passionate about film as an art form, and a commercial film is not nominated for an Oscar, you probably don’t have an interest in watching the award show unless you’re really into Hollywood glamour. For the past few Oscars, I have maybe seen one or two of the films nominated, and most times it was after it won numerous awards and generated buzz. Some years,I have zero interest in the Oscars at all. The Academy is a business, and networks like ABC and NBC are businesses, and businesses want to make money. The Academy has realized that some of the movies they nominate aren’t immensely popular with audiences, which alienates a significant demographic. Millions of people watch the Oscars each year, but the Academy and the TV networks want more millions to watch. Their solution? A ‘Best Popular Film’ category, which is ridiculous.

The Oscars have never been about popularity; they have always been about artistry. Oscars have a certain level of credibility because they are awarded based on votes from professionals-The Academy- in the film industry. So when an actor or actress, or film, wins an Oscar, you know they/ it are legit-for the most part. By creating a popular film category, the Academy is reducing the Oscars down to MTV Movie Awards territory, which rewards movies on the basis of popularity and not quality. There are occasions to award mediocre, albeit popular movies, and it shouldn’t be at the Oscars. Pandering to a wider audience for more cash removes the integrity, and soon, no one will respect the Oscars just as no one respects the Grammys much anymore.

The award is kind of backhanded anyway. It’s basically saying “these movies are good, you know, for being popular.” So what exactly are they rewarding? The best of the average? The best of the okay? A lot of people think that a movie can’t be popular and be critically acclaimed. In a lot of ways, this is true. Critics and the Academy often look for deeper meaning and such, so while the latest Marvel movie that made billions is good and entertaining it’s not typically “Oscar worthy.” And some box office smashes, like every Transformers movie after the first film just suck plain and simple.

My thing is, if a popular movie is good enough it can just be nominated for ‘Best Picture,’ and that is in the hands of the filmmakers. They have the power to make a widely enjoyable film and communicate deeper meaning through the script, production, and hiring the right cast. In recent years, they have just failed to do so. I mean, it’s not like popular movies have never been critically acclaimed too. Titanic, my favorite movie, became the highest grossing film of the time back in 1997/1998. Not only was it the first film to reach the billion dollar threshold, but it was also nominated for a record 14 Oscars, winning 11.

In 1983, ET-The Extra Terrestrial, another favorite,was the highest grossing film ever at that point and garnered 9 Oscar nominations.

Toy Story 3 and Up, both Pixar films, were nominated for ‘Best Picture’ as animated films that struck gold at the box office.

Rocky, another popular film, received 10 Oscar nominations and even won Best Picture, so popularity can know acclaim too.

Granted, the films I’ve listed are all classics ( and all original films I might add-not a reboot, superhero film, or adaptation in sight), but that’s the problem with popular culture. None of the popular films of today are timeless, generation defining, original, or layered enough. They are dated. This is why they haven’t broken that threshold to win Oscars. The Oscars don’t truly have anything against popularity, but more so mediocrity, blandness, and bad quality. But this new category is a cop out. It’s the worst kind of pandering, and the Oscars should just expect more from filmmakers that create popular movies instead of stooping down to their level. To the filmmakers behind popular films that don’t receive Oscar nominations, the millions of dollars made at the box office should satisfy you more than a golden trophy man. If you want the best of both worlds, do better.



This new category is not a good look, and this is coming from someone who’s not an avid moviegoer or film ambassador. The Oscars should stand their ground and only reward true art. If they really want their ratings to be better, they should stop making their awards shows so politically charged. I mean Hollywood doesn’t even try to hide that they are pushing an agenda anymore…

Couturely Sound