We had heard reports that The Academy Awards would introduce a "most popular" movie category for the first time this year, and we now have confirmation that fans will get to vote on their favourite films that were released in 2021 — whether that particular movie was nominated for an Oscar or not.
Starting today, Twitter users can share the hashtag #OscarsFanFavorite to vote for the movie they believe deserves to come out on top, and the film that receives the most fan votes by March 3 will be recognized during the awards broadcast on March 27.
Many saw Spider-Man: No Way Home as the biggest "Best Picture" snub after the official nominations were announced last week, so there's a very good chance the Sony Pictures threequel will win the fan-vote. There are several other possibilities, of course, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Free Guy, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Zack Snyder's Justice League will be eligible, as it didn't get a theatrical release.
This news seems to have received a mixed reaction. Some feel a fan-vote is a great way to ensure a snubbed movie gets the recognition it deserves, while others see it as more of a condescending consolation prize.
What do you guys think? Be sure to drop us a comment down below.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.