Oscars Voters Find This Loophole In New Rule To Avoid Watching All Nominated Films
Voting members are doing this to dodge Academy's new viewing rules.
Just over a week after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) introduced a new rule for Oscars, requiring voters to watch every nominated film in a category to be eligible to vote for the said category. However, some members have already found a loophole to find their way around watching all the movies, which raises concerns about the true credibility of the awards.
Reports reveal that voters are using various tricks to meet the new viewing requirement without actually watching the films. These include playing movies on the official streaming app with the sound off, switching tabs, or using faster playback speeds. Some even press play before leaving their devices unattended, letting the films run in the background.
Also Read: From AI to Actually Watching The Film: The Academy Introduces New Rules For Oscars
While earlier methods like sharing password details have become harder due to stricter security with the implementation of new rules by the Academy, voters are still finding such loopholes. The Academy has also introduced an honour-based system where members declare when and where they watched each nominated film, but there’s no verification process put in place yet.
Despite these loopholes, the new rule has been seen as a long-overdue change by many within the Academy. It’s one of several updates to the Oscars rulebook this year, including listing all nominees on the final voting ballot and new guidelines around AI and film categories.
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15.
First Published: May 02, 2025 3:34 PMMark your calendars! The 98th #Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026. pic.twitter.com/vhoYGGh5Pz
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 21, 2025
