Oscar Voters Find Loopholes in New Viewing Rules

The Academy Awards recently introduced a rule requiring voters to watch every nominated film in a category before voting, aiming to address past criticism that some voters skip viewing the films. Despite this effort, many voters have quickly found ways to bypass the requirement, such as running movies in the background, muting the sound, or even leaving the room while the film plays, as the Academy's digital app only tracks if a film was played, not actively watched. The new system, intended to ensure more equitable and informed voting—including for lesser-known films—has instead exposed how easily it can be gamed, turning the process into an honor system with little real enforcement. Critics argue that the loopholes undermine the fairness the rule was meant to promote and perpetuate the long-standing influence of marketing and personal allegiance over actual merit in Oscar outcomes. While some Academy members support the change and hope it will lead to better recognition of smaller films, skepticism remains about its effectiveness. The overall response among film fans and industry observers has been frustration and disappointment that true reform remains elusive.