# Oscars have new rules for best picture in 2024 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127 "2020-09-09T01:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/41 "2020-09-09T21:11:54Z")
So now _Crash_ is officially better than _The Godfather_ according to the Oscars. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/42 "2020-09-09T21:38:53Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > So does that mean films with a very limited cast like _My Dinner with Andre_ and _Sleuth_ would not be able to be nominated? Movies with a very limited cast/crew that are made by white men and about white men wouldn’t be eligible. Which is (I think) the point. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/43 "2020-09-09T21:39:25Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > does that mean films with a very limited cast like _My Dinner with Andre_ and _Sleuth_ would not be able to be nominated? Who’s doing the hair and makeup, and what kind of internships does the studio offer? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/44 "2020-09-09T21:49:51Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > So now _Crash_ is officially better than _The Godfather_ according to the Oscars. Got it. I can say, with 100% certainty, that neither will win the 2024 Oscar for best picture. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/45 "2020-09-09T22:01:26Z")
> [@CardboardBoxx](#): > > The nominations for Best Picture should be for whichever film was the best picture, for the couple of hours it runs. That should be the only criteria, nothing about “how it was made” should count. There _always_ have been criteria for eligibility. For example, television movies weren’t eligible. And movies had to be shown in the Los Angeles area sometime during the year to be eligible. > [@dorvann](#): > > So does that mean films with a very limited cast like _My Dinner with Andre_ and _Sleuth_ would not be able to be nominated? I see no reason why a limited cast would be a bar. Remember only two of the four standards need to be met for the film to be considered for Best Picture. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/46 "2020-09-09T23:08:27Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I see no reason why a limited cast would be a bar. Remember only two of the four standards need to be met for the film to be considered for Best Picture. That’s right. Also, there are some poorly-defined words making up those standards, notably “substantial” and “other major positions,” which dominate Standards 2, 3, and 4. If these terms actually are wiggle-words, then meeting those particular Standards won’t be onerous. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/47 "2020-09-09T23:48:01Z")
They ought to award the Oscars the same way Motor Trend picks Car of the Year: Whoever pays the most money wins. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/48 "2020-09-10T02:28:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I’m bringing this up because I’m wondering if you know how they’re defining the terms in question—and by the way, thanks for your post, which is very illuminating. To be honest I do _not_ know. I’m not a member of the Academy. ( Relatively few below-the-line crew members are, though there are exceptions. ) The idea raises questions, but also sheds light. Light should be shed. I’m a big fan of learning to see things in very new ways. I see my world from my life-experiences, my privilege, etc. Populating the creative teams with TONS of different folks can only make the creative process that much more complete. Also, of course, if we’re not shedding light, we’re making radio. ---
**Author:** ![Rob54](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rob54/32/4665_2.png) [@Rob54](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob54)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/49 "2020-09-10T14:46:17Z")
When I heard this news, these new rules, I thought it was scary. It’s scary that we will lose such a branch of art as cinema. Anything, where “artists” are forced to do according to the rules, is not art. This is commerce. This means that they will be filming in order to please people. I am not a racist, I love all people, I love different people. But I think this is a bad way to fight for rights. This infringes on art. I’m sad… 😑 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/50 "2020-09-10T14:54:12Z")
Seems like a reasonable-enough proposition, although with “Hollywood accounting” still a joke, how long until the studios start to fudge their personnel reports? > [@Chingon](#): > > Sounds like you have a great opportunity for a free market solution, start your own awards show that rejects all of these things. I would not in the least be surprised if the Fox network does just that, with encouragement from the White House. > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > > [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > > > So now _Crash_ is officially better than _The Godfather_ according to the Oscars. Got it. > > I can say, with 100% certainty, that neither will win the 2024 Oscar for best picture. The remakes, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/51 "2020-09-10T14:57:32Z")
> [@Rob54](#): > > When I heard this news, these new rules, I thought it was scary. It’s scary that we will lose such a branch of art as cinema. Anything, where “artists” are forced to do according to the rules, is not art. This is commerce. This means that they will be filming in order to please people. I am not a racist, I love all people, I love different people. But I think this is a bad way to fight for rights. This infringes on art. I’m sad… 😑 The movie industry has always been as much about commerce as it it about art, if not more so. What is the art involved in a big blockbuster? And of course movies are made to please people. That’s been the case since the Lumiere brothers and the Edison Trust. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/52 "2020-09-10T15:44:41Z")
They have to decide if a person is 1/2 ,1/4 or 1/8 black, native American, etc does that count as a minority? For 1/2 Obama and Meghan Markle would be black. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/53 "2020-09-10T16:17:43Z")
Can we add a rule that says Tom Hanks cannot be involved in any way? Tired of that guy. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/54 "2020-09-10T16:44:45Z")
> [@Rob54](#): > > Anything, where “artists” are forced to do according to the rules, is not art. I’ve got some bad news for you about most Rennaissance and Classical art… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/55 "2020-09-10T17:42:15Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > They have to decide if a person is 1/2 ,1/4 or 1/8 black, native American, etc does that count as a minority? For 1/2 Obama and Meghan Markle would be black. Are you saying that Obama or Meghan Markle aren’t generally considered to be Black? In general, in the US you are allowed to self-identify your race. “They” (if by that you mean the producers) don’t have to decide what race someone is. I very much doubt that people claiming a fraudulent ethnicity, or for that matter pretending to be gay when they’re not, or producers deliberately counting people wrongly just to qualify for Best Picture, is going to be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/56 "2020-09-10T18:07:12Z")
This is the one I have a problem with: > A3. Main storyline/subject matter The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s). > > ``` > Women > Racial or ethnic group > LGBTQ+ > People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing > > ``` So, unless you consider alien races a “racial group”, the best Star Wars movie ever to be made wouldn’t be eligible? They all have to be some kind of social justice movie or have some kind of human interest lesson? ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/57 "2020-09-10T18:44:06Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > So, unless you consider alien races a “racial group”, the best Star Wars movie ever to be made wouldn’t be eligible? They all have to be some kind of social justice movie or have some kind of human interest lesson? You are excluding all of the other ways they could qualify for standard 1. > [@RickJay](#): > > STANDARD 1. One of the following must be true: > > A. At least one lead or major supporting actor must be from a non-white racial/ethnic group. > > B. At least 30% of minor roles must be filled by such ethnic groups or by women, or > > C. The primary storyline must centre on women, a non white ethnic group, LGBTQ people, or people wth disabilities Literally, just having one minority in a lead or major supporting role qualifies. Not only that, only two criteria need to be filled, so it isn’t as though there aren’t plenty of easy-to-meet options to get a film into the running. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/58 "2020-09-10T19:09:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > C. The primary storyline must centre on women, a non white ethnic group, LGBTQ people, or people wth disabilities. What about hobbits? Is vertically-challenged a disability? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/59 "2020-09-10T19:36:51Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > So, unless you consider alien races a “racial group”, the best Star Wars movie ever to be made wouldn’t be eligible? They all have to be some kind of social justice movie or have some kind of human interest lesson? As far as I can recall, every Star Wars movie ever made qualifies on at least Standard 1 on the basis of having at least one non-white lead or major supporting character. (Presuming James Earl Jones’ voicing Darth Vader in the first one counts, even though he wasn’t credited until the last one. Billy Dee Williams qualifies the second and third.) It’s actually probably easier for movies featuring alien races to be ethnically diverse, since their actual appearance doesn’t matter since it will be concealed by makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127/60 "2020-09-10T19:42:05Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s actually probably easier for movies featuring alien races to be ethnically diverse, since their actual appearance doesn’t matter since it will be concealed by makeup. And if racist caricatures qualify, we have Jar-Jar and the Trade Federation for the prequels! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-have-new-rules-for-best-picture-in-2024/920127.md?page=4)