Oscars viewership hits four-year high
Bollywoodfever, March 11: The ABC broadcast of the Oscars on Sunday, celebrating the atomic bomb-themed film “Oppenheimer,” marked a viewership milestone, achieving its highest numbers in four years with an estimated 19.5 million viewers, according to the network owned by Walt Disney Company (DIS.N). This represents a 4% increase from the previous year, which saw 18.8 million tuning in for cinema’s most prestigious awards.
“Oppenheimer,” a major biographical film recounting the effort to develop the first nuclear weapon, secured seven Oscars, including the coveted best picture award.
The Oscars also dominated social media, being the most discussed program on Sunday with 28.5 million interactions, showing a 4% rise from the previous year, as reported by ABC. The event’s hashtag led trends in the U.S. on X during the broadcast and became the most used worldwide on that day.
Hosted once again by Jimmy Kimmel, the ceremony received broadly positive feedback. The event kicked off an hour earlier than in past years, a strategy aimed at increasing viewership.
Kevin Fallon from The Daily Beast praised the event, citing major wins, poignant speeches, Ryan Gosling’s performance, and John Cena’s surprising appearance as key elements for a successful Oscars night.
The ceremony paid homage to two of the past year’s blockbuster hits, “Oppenheimer” and the feminist narrative “Barbie,” featuring standout performances and humorous segments, including Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” act and Cena’s unique presentation for the best costume design award.
Award show ratings have generally been declining as viewers shift from traditional TV to streaming platforms and social media. The Oscars’ highest viewership occurred in 1998, driven by the success of “Titanic,” attracting over 57 million viewers. Conversely, the 2021 Oscars saw an all-time low with just 10.5 million viewers amid the pandemic.
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