LOS ANGELES – The 97th Academy Awards defied expectations, delivering its largest television audience in five years, even as smaller films like “Anora” dominated the night.
According to ABC’s viewership data, an estimated 19.7 million people tuned in to watch Hollywood’s biggest night, marking a slight increase from last year’s 19.5 million viewers, despite the absence of massive box office hits like Oppenheimer and Barbie.
‘Anora’ Triumphs as Oscars Viewership Climbs
The night belonged to “Anora”, which swept five awards, including Best Picture, yet its indie status didn’t hinder audience engagement. The Conan O’Brien-hosted broadcast benefited from major nominations for blockbuster films like “Wicked”, whose opening musical performance by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande set an energetic tone for the evening.
✅ Key Highlights Driving Viewership:
✔️ Wicked’s high-profile nominations and live performance.
✔️ A significant increase in younger viewers (18-49 age group), largely due to mobile and laptop streaming.
✔️ A steadily recovering post-pandemic Oscars audience.
Oscars Continue to Outshine Other Award Shows
Despite changes in viewing habits and live event ratings declines, the Oscars remain the most-watched entertainment broadcast of the year.
📈 Comparison with Other Major Award Shows:
- Oscars 2025: 19.7 million viewers
- Grammys 2025: 15.4 million viewers
While the Super Bowl remains the gold standard for live event ratings, the Oscars continue to set the benchmark for award show audiences.
Viewership Trends: From Record Highs to Pandemic Lows
The Oscars’ viewership trajectory has seen dramatic shifts over the years:
- 1998 (Titanic’s Win) – 55 million viewers (all-time high).
- 2018 – 26.5 million viewers (first time under 30 million).
- 2021 (Pandemic-era show) – 9.85 million viewers (all-time low).
- 2022 (Will Smith-Chris Rock incident) – 16.6 million viewers (rebounding).
The steady increase in recent years suggests that the Oscars are regaining cultural significance, albeit at a more moderate pace than before.
Hulu Livestream Glitch Cuts Off Oscars Finale
For the first time in history, the Oscars were streamed live on Hulu, marking a new digital era for the ceremony. However, a technical failure at the climax of the broadcast caused viewers to miss Best Actress winner Mikey Madison’s speech and the Best Picture announcement for “Anora”.
This unfortunate mishap sparked social media frustration, highlighting both the growing role of streaming in awards show viewership and the technical hurdles that come with it.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
