The year’s most popular film could walk away from the 94th Academy Awards empty-handed. The Amazon Prime original filmCinderella, starring Camila Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, and others, looks to be leading the pack within the newly established #OscarsFanFavorite category. The revelation comes as a shock to most that expected Marvel/Sony’sSpider-Man: No Way Hometo take home the prize, but as is always the case with the superhero genre, the path to an award is never a seamless journey.
The average viewershipfor the Academy Awards has dropped significantly throughout the past few years. The awards show saw its 23.6 million viewership from 2020 drop to 9.8 million the following year, and if the decline continues, the show could be looking at its lowest viewership ever. A few notable faces have been outspoken about the Academy’s decision to excludeSpider-Man: No Way Homefrom the Best Picture category, highlighting the film’s critical and monetary success worldwide. Ratings have dipped due to audience apathy, but equally due to a disconnect between the Academy and moviegoers.
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The Academy introduced the#OscarsFanFavorite categoryto avoid further regression in partnership with Twitter. Audiences have the chance to vote for their favorite film of the year until March 3rd, which gives films that failed to earn a nomination a chance to walk away with an award. The opening looks to be a maneuver by the awards show to workSpider-Man: No Way Homeinto the ceremony because of its overwhelming popularity, but things don’t appear to be going as planned. Any film from 2021 is eligible, opening the door for overlooked additions, such as Amazon Prime’sCinderella, which looks to be sitting in the coveted top spot, according to insiders keeping track of the votes.
The Camila Cabello-led film appears to be dominating the fan voting site, with no indication of slowing down as its numbers continue to grow. As stated,voting for the categoryends on March 3rd, but at the moment,Cinderellais holding firm at the top. Fans of the actress/singer have flooded the voting site to support the Amazon Prime film, which was not received well critically. The film earned 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41% on Metacritic, but the numbers don’t appear to be hindering the film’s popularity amongst audiences. Sony initially had the rights to the reimagined fairytale but sold it off the Amazon, which looks to now upset Marvel/Sony’s most prized possession of the year.
In addition toCinderella, other films have crept into the conversation for the award.Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguehas seen a wave of support, alongside Johnny Depp’s newly released filmMinimata.Columnist Pete Hammond spoke with voters about the new category, and the reception hasn’t been as bright as the Academy would expect. “Wait. Did I read this right? Why is the Academy handing out Oscars voted by fans tweets? What’s next? Best Movie Kiss? I’m starting not to care about the Oscars,” stated one voter in discussion with Hammond. While most fans see the category as unnecessary and MTV-like, the category is creating more interest in the awards show than the 10 Best Picture nominations.
There will be no physical award for the victor at the end of the night, but bearing the fan-favorite title could ease the pain of being excluded from an actual nomination. Hopefully, the move to incorporate the fans will lead to better viewership and ratings, but it’s unclear what the fallout will be ifSpider-Man: No Way Homewalks away empty-handed. The webslinging hero has broken numerous records and continues to climb charts but could face defeat at the hands of an Amazon film that wasn’t well received. Unfortunately, the Academy opened the floodgates with the category and will have to deal with the consequences if it proves to be a failed attempt to appease those outspoken about the hero’s absence from the awards.
The 94th Academy Awards will air on ABC on July 22, 2025.
