This year's Oscars ceremony saw a significant drop in viewership in the United States, reaching only 17.9 million viewers, a decline of about 9% from last year's figures. Despite high hopes that major films like Sinners and One Battle After Another would attract larger audiences, the numbers fell short of expectations. The decrease in viewership comes even as some anticipated a resurgence in audience interest due to a post-Covid revival in cinema attendance.

The two films that were expected to boost viewership had contrasting performance metrics in terms of box office success. While the arthouse film Anora enjoyed critical acclaim and a strong showing with $20 million in US ticket sales, it paled in comparison to the commercial success of Sinners, which grossed $280 million, and One Battle After Another, which garnered $72 million domestically. The international performance of these films also showcased a disparity; while One Battle After Another thrived globally with $210 million, Sinners struggled to match that success with $370 million total.

Adding to the disappointing statistics, audience approval ratings for this year's Oscars were also low, averaging only 3.92 out of 5. This downward trend in ratings could suggest a broader disconnect between film industry expectations and audiences' viewing habits, raising questions about how the Academy Awards can reinvigorate engagement in the future and whether the changing landscape of media consumption warrants a reevaluation of the ceremony format itself.