2025 Oscars ended up being generally well-received, there was criticism towards the voters who itted that they did not watch The Brutalist and other nominated movies.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has now revealed that, moving forward, Academy Award voters will be required to watch all nominated movies in order to vote in any category. This extends to all categories, and not just Best Picture. Voters who do not follow this rule for any specific category will be ineligible to vote in the final round. The rule change also emphasizes that all designated nominees will be included on the final ballot.

What This Means For The Oscars

It Will Be More Equitable Moving Forward

The new rule change is meant to create a more equitable competition and to ensure that all nominees, not just those in the Best Picture category, are recognized. This will ensure that movies like The Brutalist that previously went unwatched by many voters due to runtime or other factors are no longer given this treatment. As the premiere awards show for movies, the Oscars have a responsibility to crown the best movie in each category, and this can be better achieved when voters watch all the nominees.

This is only one of many newly implemented changes, with another substantial one being the addition of the Oscars' stunt category. The Academy is not resting on the laurels of the positive reception to this year's ceremony and is instead focused on finding new ways to further improve the Oscars and the rules surrounding it. The change can benefit all categories, and in the case of the newly added stunts' category, it is especially vital that all voters see each nominee's stunts for themselves.

Our Take On The Oscars' New Rule

It Is A Positive And Long Overdue Change

I am thrilled by the rule change and that it will go beyond the Best Picture nominees. All nominated movies need to be seen, as otherwise, the votes are not informed and equitable, and the films that win may not necessarily be the most deserving. I wish this rule had been implemented long ago, but at least it is being enforced now. Between voters needing to watch all the nominees and the addition of the stunts' category, the 2026 Academy Awards can be even better than this year's event.

Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences