Oscars To Introduce Outstanding Popular Film Category And Shorter Telecast

People have been asking about this for years, and now the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has spoken — “popular” films will get their own category. A decade ago, the Oscars expanded the Best Picture category to allow for more “mainstream” films to be included. This meant films like “Avatar,” “Inception,” “Toy Story 3,” and “District 9” all got Oscar love that they probably wouldn’t have previously. But still, there hasn’t bee this influx of popular films as expected.

Now, with films like “Wonder Woman” and “Black Panther” arguing that superheroes should get their day in the Oscar sun, the Academy has heard the cries and now introduced their own Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film category, aka Best Blockbuster, according to an email sent to Academy members (via THR). So what does this mean for the future of the Oscars? Well, quite a bit actually.

This year was being set up as the year that superhero filmmaking would make it to Oscar season, with “Black Panther” having a massive box office total and incredible reviews to match. But now, with the Popular Film category, that means the Academy can “honor” ‘Panther’ without giving the film the Best Picture nom. While many would see that as a good thing, the problem continues that popular movies will still struggle mightily to get true awards recognition. But there will be more discussion about this topic later, as the official eligibility requirements have not been laid out.

The email sent to members also included a couple more changes, including an abbreviated run-time. Now, the Oscars telecast will run only 3 hours. According to the message sent, that means some categories will not be televised as usual, and instead will be awarded between commercials. And during the telecast, the Oscars will highlight some of those acceptance speeches. This is in an attempt to raise viewership, as many don’t want to sit around for 4+ hours to watch the show.

And finally, the upcoming 2020 Oscars will move up a couple weeks to February 9, instead of the previously announced February 23.

Here are some of the best reactions on Twitter:

Film Twitter to the Academy pic.twitter.com/nvFXZn1drm

— Hillary Busis (@hillibusterr) August 8, 2018

the Oscars is adding a Best Popular Film category to be determined thru a combination of box office, fan voting, and number of a films costars bullied off social media due to constant death threats from racist trolls

— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) August 8, 2018

https://twitter.com/loudmouthjulia/status/1027218026347855872

https://twitter.com/elijahwood/status/1027223726218080256

https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/1027220118462509056

There is already an award for popular films. It's called "money." I have no particular problem with the other new Oscar moves–to insist on a three-hour show (whatever) and to move it a couple of weeks earlier (won't help a thing but won't hurt anything). >

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) August 8, 2018

“The Black Panther Memorial Award for Movie That We’re Afraid Won’t Get a Best Picture Nomination”

— David Sims (@davidlsims) August 8, 2018

The film business passed away today with the announcement of the “popular” film Oscar. It had been in poor health for a number of years. It is survived by sequels, tent-poles, and vertical integration.

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 8, 2018