The Covid pandemic closed down theaters and changed the way people watched movies and brought on streaming in the home at a much quicker pace. 

The popularity of streaming is also changing the rules when it comes to how movies will be selected for the Academy Awards.  Beginning in 2025, with the 97th Academy Awards, films will have to appear for a longer period of time in order to be eligible in the Best Picture category.

Currently films must spend at least seven days in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco or Miami.  Beginning in 2025 the film must also appear for at least seven days in one of 10 of the top U.S. markets.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang spoke on the decision via a statement saying, “it is out hope that this expanded theatrical footprint will increase the visibility of films worldwide and encourage audiences to experience out art form in a theatrical setting.”

Since the pandemic closed theaters around the world, many of them are struggling to recover and survive.  The popularity of streaming has made recovery from the pandemic even more difficult.  Over the past few years, award show categories have seen a big increase in programming from streaming services.

The move has drawn mixed reactions; calling it an “important Initiative”, President and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners noted the change, “affirms that theatrical exhibition is the keystone of the industry.”

With Amazon, Apple, and Netflix all looking to put more productions into the theaters, the new change may not be as detrimental as first thought.

President of the Independent film company Oscilloscope Dan Berger spoke on the change saying, “it’s important to consider that qualifying is merely a first step in a long process that involves robust and costly campaigning.  I think it’s fair to say that nearly any flim that doesn’t meet these parameters never stood a chance in a best picture race anyway.  Hopefully the result of this isn’t more robust and more costly campaigning that only serves to further divide merit based results from campaign based results.”

There are still a number of logistics to be worked out over the next year for films eligible for the Best Picture category including the number of showtimes, screens, box office, and even the number of releases in a given period.  Questions also remain about how the new rule will affect animated and documentary films in relation to the Best Picture category; the individual categories will not be affected.

Speaking under the condition of anonymity, a top award strategist and Academy member noted, “it’s about time the academy made a move to recommit to theatrical.  The Oscars were inching closer and closer to becoming the Emmys.  Could they have gone further? Of course.  But it’s a good faith step in the right direction.”