The Academy Awards, often referred to as the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, are built on a foundation of prestige, artistry, and meticulous voting by industry professionals. Each year, thousands of Academy members—actors, directors, writers, and other film industry insiders—are tasked with watching nominated films and performances to determine who takes home the coveted golden statuette. But what happens when voters don’t actually watch the movies they’re judging?
In a shocking revelation, four anonymous Oscar voters—a director, writer, publicist, and casting director—recently shared their secret ballot picks and admitted they hadn’t seen all the nominated films. Their candid confessions raise serious questions about the integrity of the voting process and whether the Oscars truly reflect the “best” in cinema.
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The Votes Are In—But Are They Informed?
The anonymous voters, who spoke openly about their ballots, revealed a troubling trend: many are casting votes without having seen all the nominated films. Here’s what they had to say:
The Director’s Dilemma
One director admitted they hadn’t seen several key films, including The Substance and I’m Still Here. They also confessed to struggling with Dune: Part Two, saying,
“I couldn’t get through the first Dune; I’m not rushing for another three hours of Dune.”
When it came to their vote, they described a process of elimination rather than passion:
“Knowing myself, Anora or The Brutalist I’d expect myself to vote for, but I found one of them a bit silly, one of them exploitative. I’m sad to say, it’s a process of elimination guiding me [to A Complete Unknown] and not passion for these works.”
The director even considered abstaining altogether, saying,
“Hearing myself say these things, perhaps I should abstain. I think, after a talk with my therapist, I will probably abstain.”
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The Writer’s Confession
A writer also admitted to skipping major films, including Dune: Part Two.
“I haven’t seen Dune, so I’d have to abstain from that,” they said.
When it came to Best Actor, they leaned toward Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, but acknowledged they hadn’t yet seen Sing Sing, which could’ve changed their vote.
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The Publicist’s Perspective
A publicist shared similar sentiments, admitting they waited until the last minute to watch The Brutalist and found it “too long.” They praised director Brady Corbet for his work but admitted their vote was partly strategic:
“I want to spread the wealth, and I think I’m giving [Best Director] to Brady Corbet because it does have nuanced characters, [a tight] budget, production design—my vote is going to him.”
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The Casting Director’s Honesty
A casting director was equally candid, admitting they hadn’t seen Dune: Part Two or Nickel Boys.
“I know nothing about Nickel Boys at all, so it seems unfair to me,” they said.
They also hadn’t seen Demi Moore’s performance in The Substance, citing the genre as “not my cup of tea.”
Why the Voting Process Needs an Overhaul
These admissions highlight a growing issue within the Academy: the sheer volume of films and performances voters are expected to watch. With dozens of nominees across multiple categories, many voters simply don’t have the time—or, in some cases, the interest—to watch everything.
One voter even admitted to avoiding The Apprentice, a film about Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, saying,
“I don’t have the mental bandwidth or mental capacity for anything with Roy Cohn and f—ing Donald Trump.”
While these confessions are startling, they’re not entirely surprising. The Academy has long faced criticism for its opaque voting process, with some members accused of voting based on personal relationships, studio campaigns, or sheer laziness rather than the quality of the work.
The Oscars are meant to celebrate the best in film, but if voters aren’t watching the movies, can the awards truly reflect excellence? These revelations undermine the credibility of the Academy and raise questions about whether the voting process needs an overhaul.
Some have suggested implementing stricter guidelines, such as requiring voters to confirm they’ve seen all nominated films before casting their ballots. Others argue for a smaller, more dedicated voting body to ensure fairness and accountability.
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A Path Forward for Fairer Voting
As the film industry continues to evolve, so too must the Oscars. The Academy has made strides in recent years to diversify its membership and expand its reach, but these efforts mean little if the voting process itself is flawed.
For now, the confessions of these anonymous voters serve as a wake-up call. If the Oscars are to remain the gold standard of cinematic achievement, the Academy must ensure that every vote is informed, thoughtful, and—above all—deserving of the art it seeks to honor.
