The Academy Awards aired on March 15 to an unusually small crowd, with many viewers and critics calling the ceremony a disappointment. There were only 17.9 million viewers in the US across both Hulu and ABC, making this the lowest viewer turnout that the show has had since 2022.
Following an incredibly strong year of film, the expectations were high for the night. Yet, the show struggled with pacing and a lack of memorable moments. Social media users were very quick to complain about cutting off acceptance speeches for the smaller categories and awkward transitions. Some viewers said that the broadcast felt “dragged out” and “uninspired.”
Conan O’Brien was an excellent host, his energy and wit getting many laughs from the crowd. The self-deprecating humor that he exhibited put the audience at ease and got him praise for keeping the audience engaged. O’Brien did a good job in celebrating Hollywood, rather than just mocking it (which we’ve seen happen with a lot of past awards show hosts).
On the awards side, Michael B. Jordan’s win for Best Actor was met with a lot of approval, marking a historic night for Sinners. His speech was heartfelt and sincere, reminding the audience why the Oscars are supposed to honor artistry. It was a tight race between Jordan for his role in Sinners and Timothee Chalamet with Marty Supreme. Chalamet’s loss didn’t surprise many, after he experienced a lot of discourse online during his messy Oscars campaign, shining light on how likely he really was to win. Unlike much of the night, social media paused its frenzy to praise Jordan’s words, calling them inspiring and the emotional highlight of the ceremony.
Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for Sinners, with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans having the honor of giving him the award, which is ironic, because Coogler was the director of the Black Panther franchise. Many were upset that Coogler didn’t win best director or best picture, as typically each top film wins one of those awards. This marked his first Academy Award win, and hopefully, many more will be in his future.
Perhaps the most baffling moment came with Sean Penn, who won Best Supporting Actor for a performance that many critics noted was so brief it was near absence. In a move that only deepened the night’s sense of disorganization, he didn’t show up to even accept the award. His role in One Battle After Another was nothing short of average, leaving people confused and annoyed that he won.
To top it off, the ceremony even had its first tie in over 10 years, for the category of Best Live Action Short Film. The reaction was messy, the speeches being cut off, and the segment just had an overall feeling of unorganization. This further contributed to the feeling that this year’s Oscars lacked clarity and cohesion.
In the end, the 2026 Oscars may be remembered less for honoring film and more for the scattered moments that defined the show. This leaves the audience to question what Hollywood’s biggest night is really even meant to celebrate anymore.
