The 97th Academy Awards will mark a significant change in hosting duties as comedian Conan O'Brien takes the reins for the first time. Set to air on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, the ceremony promises an evening of celebration, controversy, and star-studded performances.
This year’s Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC and will also be available for streaming on Hulu, a first for the prestigious awards show. Viewers will have additional options to catch the event through ABC's website and app, as well as various online TV services including YouTube TV and Fubo. Globally, the ceremony will reach audiences in over 200 territories, further cementing its status as a premier film event.
The ceremony will take place at the iconic Dolby Theater in Hollywood, where the glitz and glamour of the film industry will be on full display. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang highlighted O'Brien's suitability for the role, stating, "He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise."
This year's nominees include an array of films that have captured both critical acclaim and box office success. Among the contenders for Best Animated Feature is "Inside Out 2," which faces competition from "Flow," "Memoir of a Snail," "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl," and "The Wild Robot."
In the Best Picture category, "Wicked" and "Dune: Part Two" stand out as box office juggernauts. "Wicked" alone has grossed an impressive $472.8 million, accounting for more than half of the total box office earnings of all ten Best Picture nominees. Excluding "Emilia Pérez," the total box office for these films exceeds $900 million domestically and $1.7 billion globally.
Sean Baker's "Anora, Emilia Pérez" has garnered significant attention this awards season, receiving nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. However, the film has also faced scrutiny due to past social media posts by its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, which many critics have labeled as racist and Islamophobic. Despite the controversy, industry insiders believe "Emilia Pérez" could still secure wins.
Reflecting on past Oscar highlights, Russell Leung noted, "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho won best director, best picture, and best original screenplay in 2020 but missed out on the movie's best international feature film win since that award is officially given to the country where the film originated, not any single contributor. This illustrates the complex dynamics of award recognition within the industry.
The ceremony will also feature musical performances from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both stars of the upcoming movie adaptation of "Wicked." Their participation is expected to bring an added layer of excitement to the evening.
Since its inception in 2002, the Academy has recognized animated films with a dedicated category. Disney's animation studios have made a significant impact in this space, winning a record 15 awards out of a total of 23 nominations.