Academy Announces New Popular Film Category and Telecast Changes

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, which recently re-elected John Bailey as president, has announced a series of changes to the Oscars telecast and awards lineup. Most notably, the Academy will introduce a new category recognizing achievement in popular film, beginning with the 91st Academy Awards on February 24, 2019.

New Category: Achievement in Popular Film

The newly approved category, provisionally titled “Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film,” is intended to celebrate commercially successful movies that have traditionally been overlooked by the Academy awards process: major blockbusters, action films, and franchise entries. Industry attention has already focused on films such as Black Panther, which received strong support from many within the motion picture community and was widely discussed as a candidate for broader awards consideration.

The Academy has stated that a single film can be eligible for both the new popular film award and the Academy Award for Best Picture, ensuring that commercial success will not preclude recognition in the existing major categories. Final eligibility requirements and other details for the new category will be announced by the Academy when they are finalized.

Changes to the Oscars Telecast

In response to a decade-long decline in television audience numbers — including a noted low of 26.5 million U.S. viewers in 2018 — the Board of Governors approved a plan to streamline the televised ceremony and make it more accessible. The Academy has committed to producing a three-hour Oscars telecast, aiming for a faster pace and broader entertainment appeal.

To honor all 24 awards while keeping the broadcast within the three-hour limit, the Academy will present selected, less widely viewed categories live at the Dolby Theatre during commercial breaks. The winners’ moments from those categories will be edited and aired later in the telecast as part of a condensed presentation. The Academy has not yet specified which categories will be presented in this manner and has assured members that the winners will be included in video packages later in the broadcast.

Scheduling Update for 2020 Ceremony

Another scheduling change announced by the Board moves the 92nd Academy Awards to an earlier date in the awards season calendar. The 92nd Oscars telecast will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020, rather than the previously planned February 23. The Academy emphasized that this date change will not affect awards eligibility periods or the established voting process. The 91st Oscars telecast remains scheduled for Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Message to Academy Members

The Academy distributed a letter to its members summarizing these decisions. In that message, the Board of Governors explained that staff, Academy members, and several working groups spent months evaluating improvements to the show. The board framed the three key changes — a three-hour telecast, the new popular film category, and the earlier date for the 92nd Awards — as steps to keep the Oscars relevant amid a changing media landscape.

In the same communication, Academy leadership expressed that they had heard member feedback and took seriously the charge to adapt the Awards to better serve both industry professionals and the global television audience.

Context and Industry Reaction

These announcements reflect the Academy’s effort to balance tradition with the realities of modern entertainment consumption. Introducing a popular film award signals an acknowledgment of the commercial side of cinema and aims to bridge the gap between mainstream audiences and the Academy’s historical focus on artistic distinction. The decision to shorten the telecast and adjust how certain awards are presented attempts to address viewer attention spans and broadcast constraints while still recognizing excellence across all categories.

Responses from industry professionals and the public will likely continue as more details are released, particularly regarding eligibility criteria for the new category and which awards will be shifted to commercial break presentations. The Academy has promised to share additional information as it becomes available.

Announcement signed by John Bailey and Dawn Hudson on behalf of the Academy Board of Governors.