The Academy’s latest rule for the 98th Oscars has created an online stir. Starting with the upcoming edition, members of the Academy must confirm they have watched all nominated films in a category before casting their votes. The aim is to ensure a more informed and responsible voting process—though many online users are shocked that this wasn’t already a requirement.
Internet Reacts to “New” Rule with Surprise
The new voting guideline, reported by Variety, left many social media users scratching their heads. One user summed up the collective confusion by asking, “THEY WEREN’T DOING THAT BEFORE?” Others speculated this might explain past snubs, with a comment stating, “This explains why movies like The Color Purple, What’s Love Got to Do With It, and Malcolm X were snubbed. These voters were NOT watching Black films?”
Another user wondered how the Academy plans to verify the process, asking, “And how are they gonna keep them accountable?” One even jokingly suggested, “Maybe give them a quiz on the movie before submitting a vote or something.”
‘Were They Just Voting on Vibes?’
As memes flooded X (formerly Twitter), one remark captured the spirit of the discussion: “Were they just voting on vibes?” Another joked, “Guess they were voting based on IMDb scores lol.” Skeptics questioned the practicality of the rule. One user wrote, “This isn’t realistic though. Like the 2023 year to watch every movie nominated for the Oscars would’ve taken someone 75 days straight and that’s with no breaks.”
Meanwhile, others questioned the integrity of past ceremonies. “So the Oscars were fraudulent too??” one post read, while another user said, “I don’t understand … what were their votes based on before?”
New Voting Guidelines Aim for Fairer Process
The Academy’s rule change mirrors the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)’s policy, which already mandates viewing all nominated films in categories like Best Film. While the move intends to make voting more credible, doubts remain about how this will be enforced.
Additionally, for Oscars 2026, all nominated films will now appear on the final voting ballot, potentially helping voters focus more comprehensively on the selections.
New Deadlines and Expanded Eligibility for International Films
The Academy has also updated several timelines and eligibility criteria. The nominations voting window will run from January 12 to January 16, with nominees revealed on January 22. The Oscar Nominees Luncheon is set for February 10, and the ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026.
New provisions will also give more opportunities to international filmmakers and adjust submission timelines across various categories.
