New Oscar Rules Will Require a Much Broader Theatrical Release

The Academy is bolstering its support for theatrical moviegoing with a major change requiring best picture contenders to play in more theaters across the country.

Starting next year, any film eligible for best picture will have to play in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets, a major expansion from the current rule, which requires just a week in a theater in just one of the six biggest cities in the U.S. The new rules will also require an expansion into those 10 cities no later than 45 days after the initial release in 2024. “It is our hope that this expanded theatrical footprint will increase the visibility of films worldwide and encourage audiences to experience our artform in a theatrical setting,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.

How will the rules affect anything worldwide? Turns out that screening in two of the top 15 international markets — London, Paris, etc. — can count toward the requirement, as can a release in the film’s home territory.

Rumors have been swirling that the Academy was leaning towards increasing the theatrical requirements for Oscar contention, though initial reports had suggested the change would be much more aggressive, with 15-20 markets required. It’s a clear effort by the Academy to support movies being seen in theaters, with the exhibition industry still in a post-Covid state of uncertainty.

The new rules will affect a number of major players in the Oscar race. Netflix, for example, often limits its films theatrical release to theaters it owns and operates in New York and Los Angeles, a practice that will now have to expand. And Sony Pictures Classics has had great success with films that are released on an extremely limited number of screens at the end of the year, but only expand to broader audiences in January or February, just in time to take advantage of the buzz from a nomination. Those kinds of delayed runs won’t be totally eliminated in the future — planned expanded runs must be completed no later than January 24 in 2025, the first year the new rules will go in effect, and the distributors must submit release plans to the Academy for verification.

“Based on many conversations with industry partners, we feel that this evolution benefits film artists and movie lovers alike,” adds the statement from Kramer and Yang.

While this new rule will provide a boost for theatrical moviegoing, there could be one group that struggles as a result: smaller independent films that don’t have the budget for a larger theatrical release. Last year’s To Leslie — which, despite only earning $27,000 at the box office, became the story of the season because of Andrea Riseborough’s surprise nomination — is a prime example of the sort of film that might not be able to make the new requirement.

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