96th Oscars: Everything You Need to Know About
The 96th Oscars Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are just around the corner, and film enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await this grand event.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about this year’s 96th Oscars:
Date and Venue of 96th Oscars
The Oscars will occur on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EDT, which is one hour earlier than usual. Set your clocks accordingly, as it coincides with the first day of daylight saving time in the U.S.
A pre-show will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
How to Watch the 96th Oscars
The show will be available on ABC.com and the ABC app (which requires a cable subscription) for online streaming.
Other streaming services where you can catch the Oscars include Hulu Live TV, YouTube, AT&T TV, and FuboTV.
Will There Be a Red Carpet?
This year’s awards show will take place in-person, so we expect to see all the big stars stopping for photos. Based on past coverage, we’ll likely be able to watch the red carpet on the ABC site or app starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, or on the Academy’s official Twitter from 6:30 p.m. ET. We’re also crossing our fingers that E! will broadcast the pre-show and red-carpet coverage, but we’re still waiting for details on that front.
Host of the 96th Oscars
Jimmy Kimmel will be the emcee for the fourth time. His previous stints tie him with fellow four-time hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon.
Among repeat Oscar hosts, Kimmel trails only Johnny Carson (five), Billy Crystal (nine), and Bob Hope (11).
Best Picture Nominees of 96th Oscars
The ten films nominated for Best Picture are:
- American Fiction
- Anatomy of a Fall
- The Holdovers
- Barbie
- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Maestro
- Oppenheimer
- Past Lives
- Poor Things
- The Zone of Interest
Best Picture Nominees of 96th Oscars
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is the frontrunner for Best Picture.
Nolan, a favorite for Best Director, is also poised to win his first Oscar.
The Best Actress category could be a close race between Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”).
If Gladstone wins, she’ll be the first Native American to receive an Oscar.
For Best Actor, keep an eye on Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), both potential first-time winners.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph is favored to win Best Supporting Actress for her role.
Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) is expected to take home the Best Supporting Actor award.
Who’s Nominated at the 96th Oscars?
Best Director the 96th Oscars
- Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
- Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
- Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
- Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
- Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Also Read: Shocking NEWS: Scorsese Soars Past Spielberg! Director Grabs 10th Oscar Nod, Shattering Records!
Best Actress the 96th Oscars
- Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
- Emma Stone, Poor Things
- Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
- Carey Mulligan, Maestro
- Annette Bening, Nyad
Best Actor
- Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
- Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
- Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
- Colman Domingo, Rustin
- Bradley Cooper, Maestro
What’s up with the ‘Barbie’ snubs?
While “Barbie,” 2023’s biggest box-office hit, comes in with eight nominations, much discussion has revolved around the nominations the film didn’t receive. Greta Gerwig was left out of the directing category, and Margot Robbie missed out on best actress. In those omissions, some have seen reflections of the misogyny parodied in “Barbie,” others have noted the tough reception comedies have historically had at the Oscars. The nominations for “Barbie” include best-adapted screenplay (by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach), best supporting actress for America Ferrera and two best song nominees in Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” and the Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt composition “I’m Just Ken.”
Related Topic: Surprise Snubs! Barbie Bites Dust as Gerwig, Robbie, and DiCaprio Miss Oscar Spotlight!
Are there any changes to the 96th Oscars this year?
Though recent Oscars have been marked by everything from slaps,envelope snafus and controversies over which awards are presented live during the telecast, this year’s show comes in with no big changes. All of the awards are to be broadcast live (though honorary prizes remain separated in the earlier, untelevised Governors Awards ). The academy is adding a new award for best casting, but that trophy won’t be presented until the 2026 Oscars.
Related Topic: Exclusive: Oscar Shocks! Barbie Bombs, Scorsese Soars, and DiCaprio Drops Out: 5 Must-Know Snubs and Surprises!
Also Read: Sundance 2024: The Best Films to Watch for Next Year’s Oscars
What else is there to look for the 96th Oscars?
Composer John Williams is nominated for his record 49th best-score Oscar, for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and 54th overall. Godzilla is attending the Oscars for the first time, with “Godzilla Minus One” notching a nomination for best visual effects. And for the first time, two non-English language films are up for best picture: the German language Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” and the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall.”
Editor Pick: And the Nominees Are: Barbie and Oppen Heimer Top Contenders for the 2024 Oscars
Who’s performing the 96th Oscars?
Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Reba McEntire and Sebastián Yatra will all perform their nominated songs. They include:
- “Be Alive” from “King Richard” — performed by Beyoncé (who is behind the music and lyric alongside Dixson)
- “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” — performed by Yatra (music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who could EGOT if the song wins in this category). While the hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” wasn’t nominated, producers of this year’s telecast announced Thursday that the “Encanto” cast (Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero, along with Becky G and Luis Fonsi) will perform it, as well, at some point.
- “No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” — performed by Eilish and Finneas, who also are behind the music and lyrics
- “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” — performed by McEntire (music and lyrics by Diane Warren)
“Van Morrison was invited to perform his nominated song but will not attend the Oscars due to his tour schedule, therefore ‘Down to Joy’ from ‘Belfast’ will not be performed on the broadcast,” the academy said in a news release.
Also taking the stage will be a band “featuring the show’s music director Adam Blackstone, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, percussionist and singer Sheila E. and genre-spanning pianist Robert Glasper,” the academy said. DJ D-Nice, known for his virtual Club Quarantine parties on Instagram, will perform, as well.
What’s the deal with Covid at the 96th Oscars?
COVID-19 is still a thing (especially with that BA.2 subvariant of the omicron variant). That means those in Hollywood remain cautious while proceeding as normally as possible.
Some in the industry suspect that the March 13 British Academy Film Awards, held in London, led to COVID-19 infections, some among prominent Oscar nominees, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times reported.
At Sunday’s show, guests must show proof of vaccination and two negative Covid tests, The New York Times reported. However, presenters and performers will not be required to be vaccinated. They need proof that they have tested negative for the coronavirus.
That is a shift from last year’s April 25 show, which was relocated to Union Station, where the audience was just 170 people.
How are winners chosen at the 96th Oscars?
The Oscars—the pinnacle of recognition in the film industry—follow a meticulous voting process. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how these prestigious winners are chosen:
- Voting Members:
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences comprises over 10,000 members across 17 branches.
- Membership isn’t limited to creatives; it includes executives, marketing professionals, and public relations experts.
- While nominations are primarily decided by relevant branch members (e.g., directors nominate directors), all voting members can nominate films for Best Picture.
- Once nominees are determined, all voting members can cast their ballots in any category.
- Voting Timeline:
- Oscar voting occurs over a few days shortly before the ceremony.
- For instance, in 2023, voting opened on March 2 and concluded on March 7, just five days before the big night.
- Online Voting the 96th Oscars
- Voting takes place entirely online, eliminating the risk of hanging chads.
- Most categories use a straightforward tabulation: the nominee with the most votes wins.
- However, Best Picture employs ranked-choice voting (also known as preferential voting):
- Voters rank the nominees by preference.
- If one movie receives over 50% of the first-place votes in the initial round, it wins.
- If not, the film with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated, and those votes transfer to second choices.
- This process continues until a movie secures a majority.
- Ranked-choice voting aims for greater representation, especially in large fields of nominees.
- Envelope Secrets:
- Only two PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) partners know the results beforehand.
- PwC is the accounting firm responsible for tabulating the votes.
- During the ceremony, these partners stand in the Dolby Theatre’s wings with a full set of winners’ envelopes.
- Their critical task is to hand the sealed envelope to the deserving winner.
- Notably, the infamous 2017 mix-up between “La La Land” and “Moonlight” occurred due to a PwC accountant’s envelope mishap.
Was there any drama related to the awards show this year?
The academy drew backlash on social media after news broke that eight categories won’t be telecast live.
Of the 23 categories, eight — documentary short, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live action short and sound — will be handed out before the ceremony is broadcast live on ABC on March 27, Variety and other outlets reported.
Also Read: Shocking NEWS: Scorsese Soars Past Spielberg! Director Grabs 10th Oscar Nod, Shattering Records!
Excitement and Anticipation for the 96th Oscars
As Hollywood gears up for the Oscars, film lovers await the magic of cinema, heartfelt speeches, and memorable moments. Whether you’re rooting for your favorite film or enjoying the glitz and glamour, the 96th Oscars promise an unforgettable evening.
Remember to mark your calendars and join the celebration of cinematic excellence!
