The 96th Academy Awards attracted 19.5 million viewers on Sunday, the largest audience since pre-pandemic highs in 2020.
According to Variety, this number slightly increased from last year’s 18.8 million viewers. The outlet also noted that the broadcast received a 3.8 rating among the key demographic of adults aged 18-49.
The Oscars aired one hour earlier than normal, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET and lasting until 10:30 p.m.
These numbers represent a continued rebound after the 2021 awards show drew a record-low viewership of just 10.4 million viewers due to the ongoing COVID pandemic. The event in 2021 was held in person but was delayed to April after initially being scheduled for February. There was no host, and invites were limited to nominees, presenters, and their guests.
Numbers started climbing again in 2022 when 16.6 million viewers tuned in, and the ratings have been incrementally increasing ever since.
This year’s Oscars ceremony was dominated by the historical drama “Oppenheimer,” which won seven categories of the 13 it was nominated for, including the highly coveted Best Picture. The film also won Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.
“We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world,” Murphy said during his acceptance speech.
The second most winning film was “Poor Things,” which won in four out of the 11 nominated categories, including Best Actress for Emma Stone.
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Meanwhile, the Martin Scorsese drama “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” had no wins. The summer blockbuster “Barbie” only won for Best Original Song (“What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell).
The event was hosted again by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who got mixed reviews on some of his jokes. Viewers were especially taken aback when Kimmel made fun of Best Supporting Actor winner Robert Downey Jr. for struggling with substance abuse more than twenty years ago.