96th Academy Awards

96th Academy Awards. The 96th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best films of 2023, was held on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The event was broadcast on ABC and hosted for the fourth time by late-night personality Jimmy Kimmel. The night was dominated by Christopher Nolan's historical epic Oppenheimer, which won seven awards including Best Picture.

Ceremony

The ceremony was produced by Raj Kapoor, Katrina Matchett, and Molly McNearney, with Hamish Hamilton returning to direct the telecast. Held at the traditional venue of the Dolby Theatre, the show emphasized a return to glamour and focused on cinematic achievement. Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue touched on the major nominated films and the previous year's labor strikes in Hollywood. The production featured several ambitious musical numbers and streamlined award presentations, aiming to maintain viewer engagement. Key moments included a performance by Ryan Gosling of "I'm Just Ken" from Barbie and a comedic bit involving John Cena presenting the award for Best Costume Design.

Winners and nominees

The nominations were announced on January 23, 2024, by actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led with thirteen nominations and won seven awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy. Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things followed with eleven nominations and won four awards, such as Best Actress for Emma Stone. Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon received ten nominations but did not win any competitive awards. Other major winners included The Zone of Interest for Best International Feature Film and The Boy and the Heron for Best Animated Feature.

Presenters and performers

A wide array of film stars and previous Academy Awards winners served as presenters throughout the evening. Notable presenters included Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lupita Nyong'o, and Al Pacino, who presented the final award for Best Picture. Musical performances were a highlight, featuring Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell performing the winning song "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie. Becky G performed "The Fire Inside" from Flamin' Hot, and Jon Batiste performed "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony. The Academy's house band was conducted by composer Marc Shaiman.

In Memoriam

The annual In Memoriam tribute was introduced by Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, who performed "Time to Say Goodbye" as a duet. The segment honored film industry professionals who died in the preceding year, including actors Michael Gambon, Harry Belafonte, Tina Turner, Alan Arkin, and Ryan O'Neal. It also paid tribute to directors William Friedkin and Norman Jewison, as well as cinematographer Haskell Wexler. The presentation was accompanied by a live orchestral performance and featured photographs and film clips of the departed artists on the main stage screen.

Critical reception and viewership

The telecast received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its pacing, Jimmy Kimmel's hosting, and the celebratory tone. Publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety noted the efficient runtime and the strong focus on the craft of filmmaking. According to preliminary data from Nielsen, the broadcast attracted an estimated 19.5 million viewers, representing a significant increase from the previous year's audience and marking the highest viewership for the ceremony in four years. The ratings success was attributed to the popularity of major nominated blockbusters like Oppenheimer and Barbie, a phenomenon often referred to as the "Barbenheimer" effect.

Category:Academy Awards ceremonies Category:2024 film awards