On August 8 of 2018, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released that there would be some changes to The Oscars in the years to come in an attempt to increase ratings. Shorter broadcasts, a new air date, but most notably: a new category for “achievement in popular film.”
This new award was faced almost immediately with some praise and a roar of twitter backlash. Those excited for the award cited hopes that fan favorites like Black Panther and other Marvel sensations would win the coveted title of “Academy Award Winning” film. But mostly, movie-goers and film-lovers were quick to point out the ways this award may undermine the ceremony’s prestige and create the illusion of a participation trophy. And almost everyone, even those with faith in the Academy’s decision, were unsure of the possible qualifications for this award.
Skepticism abound, the Academy has recently announced that the introduction of the popular film category will be postponed for additional input. The President of the Academy, John Bailey released a statement stating, “We’re going to continue to evaluate it and seek more engagement with our members and try to sort it out,” but also added that “The same people [film journalists] who have criticized us for irrelevance and elitism now suddenly were the guardians at the gate.” John Bailey also defended the award as an attempt to include frequently overlooked types of film into the award show, such as comedies like Groundhog Day.
So where do you stand? Are you in favor of a popular film category? Against it? Let us know on twitter @HerCampusAkron!