Jimmy Kimmel hosts the 95th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California, 2023.
Photo: Getty Images, Kevin Winter. All rights reserved.
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Jimmy Kimmel returned to the Dolby Theater on Sunday (March 12). For the third time after 2017 and 2018, the late show host presented the Oscars. The tried-and-tested formula stabilized the show’s ratings a bit.
In the US, a total of 18.7 million people tuned in to watch the statuettes being awarded live. After all, the highest figure since 2020, when a total of 23.6 million Americans* saw “Parasite” (2019) win the most important award. However, they saw an award ceremony that took place without a host. A practice that began in 2019 and continued through 2021. In the years plagued by Corona, with the opportunities to visit cinemas and produce films, some interest in the award ceremony also dwindled. It only reached 10.4 million viewers in 2021. It was the lowest value of all times.
After last year’s Oscars delivered the shock moment of the Will Smith Chris Rock slap in the face, the production last Sunday (March 12) went smoothly. The industry’s post-Covid normality also entered its biggest celebration. However, Kimmel can attest that this normality has also meant that interest in Hollywood and classic movies has waned overall. Not only did Everything Everywhere All at Once, a decidedly low-budget film ($15 million) from a relatively small production company (A24), win four top awards, but Kimmel’s hosting successes in 2017 and 2018 saw his leadership by the Show attracted 33 and 27 million viewers respectively, this year’s numbers look rather meager.
The highest-rated ceremony occurred in 1998 when James Cameron’s Titanic won Best Picture in front of 55.3 million people. This year’s box office hit “Avatar: The Way of Water” could only convince for the best special effects. The director himself could not be present due to a private obligation.
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