Oscars Fan Favorite Award Is Good News For Spider-Man (But Bad For Movies)
The introduction of a Fan Favorite Oscar is great for Spider-Man: No Way Home, but the award is bad for movies in general. Voting is currently taking place on Twitter, where users can vote for any film released in 2021, regardless of if they've been nominated for an Oscar or not, using the hashtag #OscarsFanFavorite. Voters are also entered into a draw to win prizes, including presenting an award at next year's ceremony. It's the latest attempt by the Academy to increase audience engagement with the awards themselves following a failed attempt to introduce a popular film award back in 2019.
The announcement follows public criticism by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and filmmaker Kevin Smith, who both recently criticized what some deem No Way Home to be the Oscars' most notable snub. A cursory glance at #OscarsFanFavorite on Twitter shows that Tom Holland's latest outing as Spider-Man is leading the popular nominations. It's therefore a distinct possibility that Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield will be lifting the trophy on March 28th.
Related: How Many Oscar Nominations And Wins MCU Have Had
While the Academy's desire to engage with a wider, more populist audience is admirable, it risks setting a dangerous precedent. It empowers vocal fan groups who feel aggrieved that the Academy has failed to recognize their favorite film of 2021. With great power, however, comes great responsibility. Online polls are notoriously easy to rig, multiple accounts can be set up to guarantee extra votes. It's how a vocal minority recently registered their distaste with Eternals through review bombing. On top of this, individual users can vote 20 times a day! Which film has the most passionate fanbase hardly feels like a valuable
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