Entertainment & Celebrity News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! - Oscars' New Rule: Watch All Nominees Before Voting

Episode Date: March 15, 2026

Oscars Unveil New Rule: Watch All Nominated Films Before Voting The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences introduced a significant change for the 2026 Oscars, requiring voters to watch every nominated film in a category before submitting their ballots. This rule, implemented in April 2025, aims to ensure voters have seen all ten Best Picture contenders or every Best Actor entry, such as Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another or Michael B. Jordan in Sinners. Voters can access films through the Academys screening portal and mark them as viewed elsewhere, like at a festival or theater. The Academy also approved the use of generative AI in filmmaking, provided humans maintain creative control. While many praised the new rule on social media, some members admitted to faking their lists, and one filmmaker expressed frustration over skipping half the nominees due to time constraints. Other quirky rules remain, including the prohibition of selling gold-plated trophies, a forty-five-second speech limit, and the requirement for trophies to stand upright. Attendees can only reenter the theater during commercials, and the dress code emphasizes sustainable fashion like vintage or rented looks. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[e-mail] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [e-mail]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/93d8cfce3c74140c

Here's more entertainment and celebrity news for March 15th. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just rolled out a big new rule for the 26 Oscars, set for March 15th at the Dolby, Theater in Los Angeles. Voters now have to prove they've watched every nominated film in a category before their ballots unlock. That means seeing all 10 best picture contenders or every best actor entry, like Leonardo DiCaprio in one battle after another, or Michael B. Jordan in sinners. Members access films through the Academy Screening Portal, but they can check a box if they've seen them elsewhere, say at a festival or theater.

This change came in April 2025, and it's hosted by Conan O'Brien. Meanwhile, the Academy also greenlit generative AI in filmmaking, as long as humans drive the creative core. Social media lit up with cheers, with folks joking that film fans finally got voters to actually watch the movies, but not everyone's on board. Some members told the Los Angeles Times, they faked their lists, and one filmmaker emailed that they skipped half the nominees because their time was. Too valuable.

Other quirky rules stay in place, too. Winners can sell their gold-plated trophies. They must offer them back to the academy for $1. Speeches are capped at 45 seconds, though stars like Adrian Brody have gone over five minutes, and trophies must always stand upright, never laid horizontal. Attendees can only re-enter the theater during commercials to avoid empty seats, thanks to seat fillers. Emma Stone once missed winds from the lobby after a bathroom break. The dress code shifted to black tie years ago, now pushing sustainable fashion like vintage or rented looks.

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