The Oscars: History, Cultural Impact, and How the Academy Awards Work

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Hollywood’s biggest night is here! The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, will honor the best in film tonight at 7 PM ET. As we await the results, let’s explore the origins, cultural impact, and voting process behind the most prestigious award in cinema.

The Origins of the Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) was founded in 1927 by Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM Studios, as a way to manage labor disputes and elevate Hollywood’s reputation. The first Academy Awards were held in 1929, recognizing achievements in 12 categories, including Best Actor, Engineering Effects, and Unique and Artistic Picture.

Until 1941, the winners were announced in advance—until the Los Angeles Times accidentally leaked the results of the 12th Academy Awards in 1940. That year, Gone with the Wind won Best Picture, and Hattie McDaniel became the first Black person to win an Oscar for her supporting role. This spoiler incident led to the adoption of the sealed-envelope system, which remains in place today.

How the Oscars Evolved

Originally, the Oscars focused exclusively on Hollywood films, but in 1948, the Best Foreign Language Film category (now Best International Feature Film) was introduced. Over time, new categories were added, including:

• Best Animated Feature (2001)
• Best Documentary Feature (1943)
• Best Casting (coming in 2026)

The Cultural Impact of the Academy Awards

The Oscars are widely regarded as the highest honor in filmmaking, surpassing even Britain’s BAFTAs and France’s Palme d’Or at Cannes. Viewership numbers often reflect public interest in the nominees:

• 2024 Oscars: 19.5 million viewers, boosted by the Barbenheimer phenomenon
• 2021 (pandemic-era low): 10.4 million viewers
• 1998 (Titanic’s year): 55 million viewers—the most-watched Oscars ever

How Oscar Voting Works

To qualify for an Oscar, a film must have been released in the prior calendar year. The voting process involves:

1. Nomination Round (December): AMPAS members vote within their field (e.g., directors nominate directors).
2. Final Voting (January-February): All members vote across all categories. Best Picture uses a ranked-choice system, while other awards follow a plurality vote.
3. Results Tabulation: Votes are counted by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and kept secret until the ceremony.

While AMPAS has diversified in recent years, as of 2022, 81% of members were white and 67% were male. In 2024, only 16% of winners were women, and 7% were people of color, sparking continued discussions about representation in Hollywood.

The Oscar Statuette: An Iconic Symbol

Standing 13.5 inches tall and weighing 8.5 pounds, the gold-plated Oscar statuette has remained largely unchanged since 1929. More than 3,000 Oscars have been awarded, with some notable records:

• Walt Disney holds the most individual Oscars (26 wins).
• Most-awarded films: Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (11 wins each).

Final Thoughts

The Academy Awards continue to evolve, shaping Hollywood’s legacy while sparking conversations about diversity, representation, and industry trends. As we watch this year’s winners take the stage, one thing remains clear: winning an Oscar cements a film’s place in cinematic history.

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