While the press is abuzz with Oscar speculation, a new Morning Consult poll found that more than half of Americans have not seen a single film nominated for Best Picture this year.
According to the poll, 55 percent of Americans will be totally out of the loop on Oscar Sunday, having skipped out on every movie up for the top honor. Only 16 percent of Americans have seen La La Land, which critics consider to be the film to beat. Nearly 80 percent have not. What’s more, only 14 percent of people said Oscar nominations have a strong influence on their decision to see a film at all.
Meanwhile, the poll revealed one television event enjoyed far greater popularity than any Best Picture nominee — the Super Bowl. A reported 66 percent of Americans tuned in for the big game this month.
On the heels of Meryl Streep’s now-infamous dig at football during her speech at the Golden Globes in January, this contrast is instructive.
The crosstabs of the survey, which was conducted from Feb. 9-10 based on a sample of 2,000 adults, also showed that Hispanics and African-Americans had the highest rates of Super Bowl viewership, 72 and 76 percent respectively.
Sure, we may be divided politically in America, but we’re united in our love of football and ambivalence towards the Academy Awards.
Not convinced?
Here’s one final bit of information — in 2016, 112 million viewers watched the Super Bowl. Later that month, a comparatively pathetic 34 million tuned in to watch the Oscars.
How’s that for a popular vote?
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
