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For Your Consideration: A New Oscar Category

posted 7 years ago by Daddyo (289)
23 replies | jump to latest

I'm a film buff who watches most new films with the exception of the horror genre. I also dutifully view the Oscars every year. This year I cannot say that I was passionate about any of the films nominated for Best Picture. As a result, my apathy coupled with the somber overtone of the festivity left me underwhelmed.

Someone told me that the box office for Black Panther exceeded the cumulative box office for all of the Best Picture nominated films. I think that there should be a new Oscar category titled Most Popular Film. The public should vote for this award.

I'm not arguing that box office revenue equals the Most Popular or Best film. However I would argue the higher the box office number the more attendees that were happy with the film. Too often the Best Picture does not reflect the tastes of the masses. I would think the Academy would be motivated to acknowledge the tastes of the public as well as it's members. I can't believe the group on which the film industry is dependent does not "have a vote."

PR wise, I would think it would make a lot of sense to include the public.

I know there are People's Choice as well as a myriad of lesser prizes. However the Academy Award is the pinnacle(although I enjoy the Independent Spirit Awards as well). So there would be nominations and a winner for Best Picture and Most Popular Picture.

What's wrong with that? Please don't argue mediocrity appeals to the masses...

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I was expecting some kind of smart-alecy post, and instead found this.

"Someone told me that the box office for Black Panther exceeded the cumulative box office for all of the Best Picture nominated films."

That's a surprising, and worth knowing, fact.

I like your proposed new category. It'd be easy enough to go just by box office figures, but if the public votes for Most Popular Film (somehow, without it being hackable so it'd be legit), I'd be all for it.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Thanks. I think it is important that the winner of the Most Popular Movie be voted and NOT just the highest grossing film. During the course of the year, I may have seen the highest grossing film however it may not have been MY Favorite film.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

Nothing wrong at all bra. I agree, however, that is kinda what the MTV movie awards are for, along with a few other award shows. I think the Oscars should have categories for best comedic performances as well, like the golden globes do. I always thought certain actors were robbed for no reason, like Jim Carry (Man on the Moon)

But my question is, why would there need to be a category for most popular picture? Since it would be the one that made the most money, they should just give it a special award?

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Please read above I do not think the highest grossing film should necessarily be the Most Popular film. The Most Popular film would be voted by the public. The Best Film voted by Academy members. Thanks.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

So what is the difference between the most popular and highest grossing? Are you talking about rotten tomato ratings kinda thing? Who would be voting?

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

I was just making a point that movies that are most viewed by the public(as evidenced by their box office numbers)are more frequently ignored by the Academy. And by definition the larger the box office the more people were pleased by the movie. That said, the highest grossing film is not necessarily the Most Popular film. The Most Popular film is the film that receives the most votes from the general public regardless of the box office. I apologize if I was unclear.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

No not unclear at all. I am just wondering how you would monitor a popular vote. I agree the highest box office gross might not be the most popular. But how would you define most popular? You could have 100 people see a movie and 99 of them liked it giving it a popular 99%. However a movie like Black Panther could have a hundred million people see it and 80 million loved it giving it an 80 percent vote correct?

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Theoretically every individual would be entitled to a single vote, regardless of box office numbers, for their respective Favorite Film. One vote per person. The Academy would host a website where the votes would be entered and tallied. I'm confidant people will post about the ways voters could vote more than once etcetera. I don't have an answer for that as I am a fossil bereft of computer skills.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

So would you be able to vote on any movie that came out the previous year?

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Exactly. I think the public would appreciate getting a vote and then tracking where it finished on the final tally page(regardless of whether their favorite film received only their 1 vote or was popular with many others). I think avid moviegoers would enjoy participating.

For instance, in 2016 there was a little Irish gem called Sing Street that I passionately supported. I think Captain America:Civil War was #1 in box office(which I saw). I would have voted for SS to evidence my support for this remarkable story. Maybe I'm just speaking as a passionate movie buff but I know there are many others who feel the art house fare does not speak to them.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

But the voter would actually have to prove they saw the movie. Like a bar code on the ticket or something.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

I wouldn't get that technical. If someone places their one vote for a film they haven't seen so be it. Some Academy members vote for films they haven't seen.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

I wouldn't get that technical. If someone places their one vote for a film they haven't seen so be it. Some Academy members vote for films they haven't seen. Thanks for your thoughtful responses.

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[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

No problem. I like your idea in theory.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

I dunno, I think the box office income is its own award.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

You could be right but I still don't think box office is the sole indicator for the Most Popular movie. It's a subjective opinion.

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[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Very much the same premise of the peoples choice awards...which I do not know are even still a thing...they were terrible! I think the academy allowing up to ten nominees was very much your idea...with the exception being that the most popular will never win😉 honestly don't mind the notion...might be a way to welcome the general public back to a ceremony that has been bleeding viewers for decades. Good thread!👍

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Thanks for your response. I did mention the People's Choice Awards above however they do not have anywhere near the same credibility or prestige as the Academy. I don't even trust them. If the Academy wants to serve the group that provides it with their lifeblood, I think the time is now for it to include the opinion of the public. This way, by definition, the "Most Popular film" as voted by the public WILL win. It could even win BOTH! Thanks again.

I won't even inquire about the whole delicious feet thing :-)

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[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

No problemo daddyo😉 so TPCA are still around? Really shitty and yes...shady as all get out!

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

Shady they are!

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[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Just call it Best Superhero movie.

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

I'm not a fan of the superhero films. And I agree with your prediction. However if, in these times, this genre is the most popular, so be it! Can you imagine how excited this legion of fans would be to see their favorite film celebrated in the limelight? I don't think there is anything wrong with that! The public speaks and all that. Remember there still is the Best Picture as voted by the Academy

Off topic, although a Flyers fan, Orr is/was a "Gawd"!

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[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Top grossing films since 2010 by year - The only one I have seen is American Sniper.

2010: Toy Story 3 (2010)
2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011)
2012: Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
2013: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
2014: American Sniper (2014)
2015: Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
2018: Black Panther (2018) (tentative)

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[–] Daddyo (289) 7 years ago

I'm not saying the top grossing film is automatically the Most Popular film. My point is although I HAVE seen the majority of the top grossing films in your list(and my dollars would have been included in the box office total) I wouldn't necessarily VOTE for it as my Favorite film. In fact I wouldn't have voted for any of those films. I'm simply saying that the public should have an opportunity to participate in selecting it's choice for an Academy Award.

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