People Pointing Out the Same Thing After Academy Introduces New Voting Rule at Oscars That Could Have a Massive Impact
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a significant change to its Oscar voting rules — and it’s causing a wave of reactions across Hollywood and social media. As soon as the news broke, one reaction kept popping up: “This is going to change everything.” And depending on who you ask, that change could be for better or worse.
The newly introduced rule requires that all Academy members — not just those within a specific branch — must now meet certain viewing requirements to vote in Best Picture and other top categories. This is a departure from the traditional method, where members were allowed to vote regardless of whether they had seen all the nominated films. Under the new policy, members must confirm they’ve watched every film in a category in order to cast a vote in that category.
Almost instantly, people began pointing out the same issue: this rule could drastically change how certain films — especially smaller, indie productions or international films — fare in the awards season.
A Push for Fairness, or a Bias Booster?
On the surface, the change seems like a smart move. Requiring voters to watch all films aims to level the playing field. For years, insiders have complained that voters often skip lesser-known nominees, sticking with the buzziest or most mainstream contenders. This move theoretically gives every film a fairer shot.
However, many online critics and industry observers are concerned that the rule might actually hurt diversity and originality in nominations. “People are acting like this is about fairness,” one Twitter user wrote, “but it could end up reinforcing the same old industry biases. Who’s really going to take the time to watch all the under-the-radar stuff?”
Another user echoed the sentiment: “So now a bunch of people who never had interest in indies have to ‘check the box’ and binge them like homework. How is that going to help those films?”
Massive Implications for Campaigning
Another common point being raised is how this could affect Oscar campaigns. Studios already spend millions promoting their films during awards season. Now, the pressure to get in front of voters early and often will intensify, with more focus on making films easily accessible through screeners or streaming platforms. Voters being required to actually engage with the full list of nominees might put smaller studios at a disadvantage, unless they can afford wider outreach efforts.
“It’s going to shift the marketing landscape,” said a former awards consultant. “More money will go into exposure, which ironically could make it harder for indie films to compete.”
The Bottom Line
This new voting rule could dramatically reshape Oscar outcomes moving forward. While its goal is transparency and fairness, many people are worried that it may create a system that still favors major studios and Oscar “favorites,” just in a slightly different way. One thing is clear: the days of casually voting without watching all nominees are over — and Hollywood is watching closely.
