kdiwavvou / Flickr

The Oscars were hosted earlier this week, awarding the best films of the year in the year without film. For the Oscars, the show must go on.

Due to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, under 320 movies released in the 2020 calendar year, under half of a normal year’s catalogue. Nomadland took home the big prize for best picture, a film that grossed 6.1 million in the box office. Parasite was the winner of the same award in 2020, a film that many were unfamiliar with, that grossed 258.8 million in the box office, showing just how substantial the hit to the film industry has been.

As a result of the underwhelming lineup of movies this year, and by extension an underwhelming Oscars, ratings for the event went through the floor, down forty-two percent from last year’s show. 9.8 million viewers tuned in opposed to 13.75 million for the 2020 awards. On average, viewers rated the show a 1.9, down from 5.3 the year prior. The Oscars will have to work hard to bounce back next year to once again become an international event that film lovers everywhere can celebrate and look forward to. All award shows have suffered similar fates this year, production has been extremely limited by the pandemic.

The most notable Canadian nomination was Ben Proudfoot, who was nominated for best documentary, short subject for A Concerto Is a Conversation. He lost to Colette in the category.

In a year where Tiger King was the most influential piece of media, it is unsurprising that the Oscars did not have a big year. The 2022 Oscars and surrounding movie scene could have a historic year, depending on lockdown rulings and theatre availabilities. Many movies have been postponed until they can be seen in theatre, and the apatite for getting out of the house and going to see a movie will be at an all-time high post-pandemic.