The Academy Pumps the Breaks on Their Proposed ‘Popular Film’ Oscar

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made many changes to their annual Oscar awards over the years, but one they proposed adding this year backfired in spectacular fashion. You see, in recent years, the Academy has made a desperate stab at relevancy, chiefly by increasing the number of Best Picture nominees in hopes that its voting bloc would nominate more commercially successful films.

This approach hasn't worked all that well. In fact, any time the Academy attempts to do something to broaden their commercial appeal, it ends up being rightly and roundly rejected by the general public. You see, people either love the Oscars or they don't, and no lineup of Best Picture nominees is going to swindle Joe Sixpack in to tuning in to the show.

Nevertheless, the Academy pressed on with a new idea this year that involved adding a new category called Best Popular Film. This seemed, to them anyway, like a great way to honor movies like Black Panther or The Incredibles 2 that made a ton of money but wouldn't make the cut for Best Picture in your average cinema-going year.

It was a stupid idea and now the Academy has decided to table it for the time being. In a press release, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson states...

“There has been a wide range of reactions to the introduction of a new award, and we recognize the need for further discussion with our members. We have made changes to the Oscars over the years — including this year — and we will continue to evolve while also respecting the incredible legacy of the last 90 years.”

Sure. We get it, you goofed and now you've gotta fix the goof. Word to the wise, shelve this idea permanently. Nothing is going to entice the average moviegoer into watching the Oscars, short of the prospect of them receiving an award for watching.

[h/t Variety]