The Oscars Finally Force Voters to Watch the Films They Judge

The Oscars new voting rule marks a historic shift as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences moves to expose an uncomfortable truth. For the first time, voters must watch every nominated film within a category before casting their final ballots. This change aims to strengthen the credibility of the awards and confirms what many suspected for years: some voters awarded Oscars without ever seeing the full lineup.

The Academy announced the rule change alongside other updates for the upcoming 98th Oscars, including official guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking and expanded eligibility for refugee and asylum-seeking directors in the international feature category. Yet it is the viewing mandate that has sparked the loudest reaction, especially after years of controversial snubs that left audiences wondering if merit was ever the true measure.

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Oscar Voters Skipped Major Performances and the Results Were Obvious

The idea that Oscar voters would judge performances and films they had not seen has long been an open secret. Now, the Academy’s new rule all but admits it. Without enforcement, coattail voting and name recognition often overruled actual merit. The damage has been evident in some of the ceremony’s most baffling outcomes.

Angela Bassett’s loss for her commanding role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever remains a fresh example. Despite earning widespread critical acclaim and building awards momentum, Angela Bassett lost to Jamie Lee Curtis, fueling accusations that genre bias and favoritism overpowered fair assessment. Oscar voters similarly overlooked Jennifer Lopez for Hustlers, ignoring one of her most transformative performances when it mattered most.

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The Academy’s history is littered with overlooked talent, from Adam Sandler’s gritty turn in Uncut Gems to Toni Collette’s haunting work in Hereditary. These omissions often followed the same pattern: performances outside traditional Oscar genres struggled to earn respect from voters who may never have watched them at all.

By requiring members to confirm their viewings through the Academy Screening Room or submit verification for external screenings, the Oscars aim to push voters toward a more informed, responsible process. It remains to be seen whether this policy will fundamentally change the outcome of the awards, but it is a start toward rebuilding trust with audiences who want to believe the best films and performances are truly being honored.

New Rules Around AI and Refugee Filmmakers Signal an Evolving Academy

The Academy’s reforms go beyond voter integrity. For the first time, the Academy has added official language to clarify how generative artificial intelligence affects Oscar eligibility. The new rules state that using AI tools will neither help nor harm a film’s chances of securing a nomination. The Academy instructs voters to focus on the degree of human creative authorship, reinforcing that storytelling remains, above all, a human art.

Another major shift expands opportunities for filmmakers with refugee or asylum status to compete in the international feature category. Films can now qualify if individuals with refugee or asylum status held creative control and if the submitting country verifies their role in the production. This change reflects a broader movement within the industry to embrace stories that cross national, racial, and political boundaries.

These new policies come alongside other updates, including the introduction of a new award for Achievement in Casting. It marks the Academy’s slow but necessary adjustment to the way films are made and the way audiences now expect them to be honored.

The changes for the 98th Oscars season do not erase the Academy’s past mistakes. However, they offer a chance to reshape a system that has too often felt detached from the full richness of the art it claims to celebrate. Whether the Academy follows through on enforcement will determine if this moment becomes a true turning point—or just another missed opportunity.