The Oscars are finally enforcing what many assumed was already a rule. Starting in 2026, Academy members must watch every nominated film in a category before they’re allowed to vote for a winner.
The Oscar voting rule change comes after years of criticism over voters casting ballots. The new policy could aim to improve fairness and transparency in the awards process.
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Internet reacts to overdue Oscar voting requirement
Many online users were stunned the requirement wasn’t already in place. Comments like “They weren’t doing that before?” quickly made the rounds on social media.
Previously, The Associated Press says members were only encouraged to watch nominees and vote in categories they felt qualified for.
Some voters even admitted to skipping major films. Ahead of the 2025 Oscars, one director told Entertainment Weekly:
“I’m bummed because I haven’t seen ‘The Substance’ or ‘I’m Still Here’ yet. The first ‘Dune,’ I couldn’t get through; I’m not rushing for another three hours of ‘Dune.’ There’s still time to re-evaluate, but I really struggled [with the vote].”
Academy monitoring viewership going forward
According to Variety, the Oscar voting rule change will be enforced through the Academy’s private streaming platform, the Screening Room. If a voter watches a nominated film elsewhere, they must submit a form confirming where and when they viewed it.
The Academy detailed the rule update in a press release issued Monday, April 21.
New AI guidelines and other Oscar updates
Alongside the Oscar voting rule change, the Academy also clarified its stance on artificial intelligence. Tools like generative AI won’t help or hurt a film’s chances, but the Academy says the degree of human authorship will matter when judging nominations.
Several other updates were included in the announcement:
- In the Animated Short Film category, any Academy member can now vote in the nomination round if they’ve watched all 15 shortlisted films.
- In Cinematography, a new preliminary voting round will narrow the category to a shortlist of 10 to 20 films.
- In International Feature Film, eligibility has expanded to include filmmakers with refugee or asylum status.
These updates follow other recent headlines from the Academy, including the introduction of a Stunt Design category set to debut at the 100th Oscars in 2028. Conan O’Brien is also set to return as host for the 2026 ceremony.
