Los Angeles – The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, unfolded on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in California. The event was steeped in anticipation as movie buffs eagerly awaited the announcement of winners.

Among the night’s triumphs, “Oppenheimer” emerged as the undisputed champion, clinching a total of seven awards. Notable among these were Best Director, awarded to Christopher Nolan, and Best Actor, claimed by first-time Oscar recipient Cillian Murphy. Robert Downey Jr. secured his inaugural Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “Oppenheimer.” The film also garnered recognition for Best Original Score and Best Picture. 

In addition to “Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things” and “The Zone of Interest” also enjoyed multiple award wins. Emma Stone earned her second Oscar for her leading role in “Poor Things.” 

Billie Eilish and Finneas triumphed in the Best Original Song category with “What Was I Made For,” featured in the highest-grossing box office film of 2023, “Barbie.” However, fans of the film were left disappointed as it failed to secure additional awards. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, frontrunners for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively, left the ceremony empty-handed, sparking disappointment among their fan base online. 

A noteworthy moment of the evening featured WWE and Hollywood superstar John Cena, who appeared on stage clad only in a cue card, eliciting mixed reactions from the audience. The moment was interesting, to say the least, but many of the Hollywood elites got a big chuckle out of their fellow co-star being naked heat-to-toe on national television.

Ryan Gosling’s rendition of “I’m Just Ken” earned a standing ovation, while the overall event was deemed less memorable and somewhat lackluster compared to previous years. 

Reflecting on the evening’s proceedings, it’s evident that following the events of the 2022 Oscars, hosting any award show is a daunting task. Jimmy Kimmel, an experienced Oscar host, and the Academy face the challenge of revitalizing the event’s appeal.

Despite receiving the highest ratings since 2020, with 18.6 million viewers, this figure pales in comparison to the 2014 viewership of 43.7 million. The lackluster turnout underscores the necessity for significant changes in future Academy Awards shows to reignite interest and engagement among audiences.