The 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are just around the corner, and film enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the ceremony. With a leading 13 nominations, “Oppenheimer” is poised to be the standout film of the night, but other contenders such as “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “Poor Things” are also in the running. Let’s dive into all the details you need to know about this year’s Oscars.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Make sure to set your clocks accordingly as the event will begin at 7 p.m. EDT, an hour earlier than usual. ABC will broadcast the ceremony live, and a pre-show called “The Oscars Red Carpet Show” hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
For those who prefer streaming, the Oscars will be available to stream via ABC.com and the ABC app with a cable subscription. Other streaming services such as Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV will also provide access to the show.
Hosting duties for the Oscars will be handled by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time. While Kimmel hinted that he might incorporate some jokes about the upcoming presidential election, he stated that politics wouldn’t be the main focus of the evening. Kimmel joins the ranks of fellow four-time hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon, with only Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, and Bob Hope having hosted more times.
One of the highlights of the Oscars is always the performances, and this year is no exception. All the original song nominees will be performed live during the ceremony. Ryan Gosling will captivate the audience with his rendition of Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s “Barbie” power ballad “I’m Just Ken.” Billie Eilish, who co-wrote “What Was I Made For,” will soulfully sing her nominated song. The other nominated songs are Diane Warren’s “The Fire Inside,” performed by Becky G, Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson’s “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony,” and Scott George’s “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The lineup of presenters at this year’s Oscars is star-studded. The previous year’s big acting winners, including Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, will be returning to present awards. Other celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Emily Blunt, Cynthia Erivo, America Ferrera, Sally Field, Ariana Grande, Ben Kingsley, Melissa McCarthy, Issa Rae, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlize Theron, Christoph Waltz, and Forest Whitaker are expected to grace the stage.
The coveted Best Picture category boasts ten nominees this year: “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest.” Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is the front runner for Best Picture, and Nolan himself is favored to win Best Director. The Best Actress category is anticipated to be a close competition between Lily Gladstone for “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Emma Stone for “Poor Things.” First-time nominees Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”) are in contention for the Best Actor award.
There has been some controversy surrounding the nominations for “Barbie.” Despite being the biggest box-office hit of 2023, the film didn’t receive nominations for Best Director (Greta Gerwig) or Best Actress (Margot Robbie). Some speculate that these omissions reflect the misogyny parodied in the film, while others attribute it to the historically tough reception comedies face at the Oscars. Nevertheless, “Barbie” did secure eight nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera.
As for any changes to the Oscars this year, there aren’t any major alterations. All awards will be broadcast live, with the exception of honorary prizes, which will be presented separately during the untelevised Governors Awards. However, starting from the 2026 Oscars, a new award for Best Casting will be introduced.
There are a few notable moments to look out for during the ceremony. Legendary composer John Williams is nominated for his record 49th Best Score Oscar for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Additionally, “Godzilla Minus One” marks Godzilla’s first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. Another exciting aspect of this year’s Oscars is the inclusion of two non-English language films in the Best Picture category: “The Zone of Interest,” a German-language Auschwitz drama, and “Anatomy of a Fall,” a French courtroom drama.
Make sure to mark your calendars for March 10, as Oscar Sunday promises to be an unforgettable evening. The red carpet coverage will begin at 1 p.m. ET with “Countdown to Oscars: On The Red Carpet Live,” followed by “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars” at 4 p.m. ET. The main event, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will kick off at 7 p.m. ET. Don’t miss out on all the glamour and excitement as Hollywood’s finest come together to celebrate another year of outstanding filmmaking.
