Finally, an Oscars for People Who Actually Bother to Watch Movies

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The Academy Awards ended with a funny bit where Conan O’Brien and Jim Downey recreated a scene from a lesser-known movie, playfully referencing a character’s death and ultimate achievement. Earlier in the show, a clip from the same movie showed a much more dramatic moment – a character losing his face – which prompted a spontaneous “spoiler alert!” from the audience. O’Brien also kicked off the show with a comedic reenactment of another scene from a different film, chasing himself through clips of the Best Picture nominees. Basically, the Oscars were full of movie spoilers – and laughs – last night.

The Oscars broadcast included fun nods to popular movies from the year, but more importantly, it signaled a welcome shift in attitude. Not long ago, the Oscars were seen as struggling to stay relevant, an awards show desperately trying to appeal to broader audiences to survive. There was constant debate about how to “fix” the show – cutting awards, over-explaining movies, ditching the host, or trying to emulate the Grammys, even though they weren’t doing so well either. For a long time, the Oscars focused too much on attracting viewers who didn’t see the films, instead of rewarding those who did. (We shouldn’t forget the ill-conceived Best Cheer Moment and Fan Favorite awards.) So, it was refreshing to see the show casually reveal movie endings last night, without worrying about those who hadn’t watched. It felt like an Oscars designed for people who actually watch the films.

This core belief wasn’t just present in the show’s segments, but throughout the entire event, which genuinely celebrated the art of filmmaking itself. It wasn’t just about the general ‘magic of movies,’ but also about the practical things needed to ensure that art form continues to flourish. Conan O’Brien’s speech included a particularly satisfying jab at Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, poking fun at his reaction to people enjoying movies together in theaters. O’Brien imitated Sarandos pretending to pet a cat while complaining about why people weren’t watching at home, where Netflix could profit – and it was clear Conan was fully committed to the bit.

The Oscars are most successful when they strike a balance between elegance and silliness, and Conan O’Brien perfectly embodies that spirit – he effortlessly combines those seemingly opposite qualities. Despite often making fun of himself, he always seems confident and in control. His recent bits were particularly clever, like the one imagining the constant ads if the Oscars moved to YouTube, or his take on streaming services over-explaining movie plots for distracted viewers. He also brilliantly skewered the trend of shrinking movies to fit phone screens. While he sometimes made himself the initial target of the joke, his overall message was clear: the people harming cinema – greedy tech companies and their compliant leaders – are foolish and ultimately doomed.

Last night’s Oscars seemed confident that viewers were already invested in the show. Perhaps this relaxed atmosphere was because the awards show is moving to YouTube, lessening the pressure to impress the network executives at ABC. A welcome change was the introduction of the new Best Casting award, celebrated with a lengthy segment highlighting the work of casting directors. It’s ironic considering the frequent complaints about the Oscars having too many categories – and next year will bring another new category for Stunts, which has been requested for a long time. The cast of Bridesmaids presented the awards for Best Score and Best Sound, marking the film’s 15th anniversary. This felt like a genuine celebration, a contrast to the Oscars’ 50th-anniversary tribute to The Godfather, which consisted of a short montage introduced by Diddy (with a Kanye West song!) and no speaking roles for Robert De Niro or Al Pacino. That year, the Best Sound award wasn’t even televised, along with seven others – and of course, it was also the year of ‘The Slap,’ but that’s another story.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Oscar acceptance speech, where he jokingly acknowledged the 1975 Best Picture nominees (including Barry Lyndon), fit the overall feel of the night. The ceremony proved you don’t need constant surprises to be engaging. Despite reports to the contrary, this year’s Oscars were fairly predictable. One Battle After Another—having already won nearly every other award—took home the major prizes. The only real uncertainty was in categories where the outcome was already difficult to guess; Michael B. Jordan and Sean Penn won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively—both well-deserved wins in highly competitive fields. Even though it was predictable, the show was enjoyable because it felt genuinely appreciative and respectful. The orchestra, as usual, was quick to cut off speeches, particularly for winners in less-publicized categories.

This year’s in-memoriam segment was particularly memorable, running longer than usual and feeling like a complete experience. It began with a lengthy tribute to Rob Reiner, with Billy Crystal highlighting films from his successful career in the ’80s and ’90s – though he notably skipped Reiner’s less popular film, North. The segment then honored actresses who passed away in 2025, including Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, with a touching tribute by Rachel McAdams. The finale featured a powerfully moving appearance by Barbra Streisand, who paid tribute to Robert Redford with personal stories and a performance of their signature song, “The Way We Were.” Even with a slightly shaky voice, Streisand’s performance was stunning. The segment didn’t shy away from assuming the audience knew who these figures were and the significance of their work. Streisand’s tribute beautifully connected the past and present, reminding everyone that cinema, at its heart, is about enduring emotions and the passage of time.

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2026-03-16 19:57