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In a nutshell
- Despite over 500 movies released in 2024, the average American only watched three of them, with younger generations watching twice as many movies as Baby Boomers.
- Nearly half (48%) of Americans haven’t seen any of the ten Best Picture Oscar nominees, though “Wicked” leads public opinion with 31% having watched it and 41% believing it should win.
- Oscar nominations still influence viewing choices, with 54% of Americans more likely to watch a movie after it receives a nomination or win.
NEW YORK — Hollywood released more than 500 movies in 2024, but the average American only watched three of them. A new survey shows this huge gap between what studios make and what people actually watch. The survey also found a clear age divide in movie-watching habits, with 43% of Baby Boomers saying they didn’t see a single new movie last year.
With the Oscars just around the corner, it turns out most Americans haven’t seen the films being celebrated. Even though 569 new movies came out in 2024, the Talker Research survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that nearly half (48%) haven’t watched any of the ten Best Picture nominees.
Younger People Watch Twice as Many Movies as Older Americans
The survey shows clear differences in how many movies each generation watches. Gen Z and millennials are the most active moviegoers, each watching about four different movies throughout the year. The numbers drop as age increases – Baby Boomers only saw about two new movies in 2024, and 43% didn’t watch any new movies at all, whether in theaters or streaming.
These different viewing habits help explain why certain movies are more popular with specific age groups. “Wicked” is a hit with both millennials and Baby Boomers, while Gen X viewers are more evenly split between “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two.”
Most People Haven’t Seen Oscar Nominees But Have Strong Opinions
Of the 10 movies up for Best Picture, “Wicked” is the clear public favorite – 31% of people surveyed have seen it, and 41% of viewers think it should win the top award. “Dune: Part Two” comes in second place, with 21% of Americans having watched it and the same percentage rooting for it to win.
The other nominees have much lower viewership. Only 6% of people favor “The Substance,” 5% support “I’m Still Here,” and just 3% back “Emilia Pérez.” Interestingly, 12% of people in the survey don’t think any of the nominated films deserve to win Best Picture – though many of these critics probably haven’t even seen the movies they’re judging.
“Wicked” is popular across different age groups, with strong support from millennials (43% compared to Dune’s 29%) and Baby Boomers (36% compared to Dune’s 15%). Gen X viewers are more divided, with “Wicked” ahead of “Dune: Part Two” by just under 10% (33% vs. 24%).
Oscar Nominations Still Make People Want to Watch Movies
Even though most people haven’t seen the nominated films, getting an Oscar nomination still makes a big difference in what Americans choose to watch. More than half of the people surveyed (54%) said they’re more likely to watch a movie after it’s nominated for or wins an Oscar.
This might explain why many Americans have strong opinions about movies they haven’t actually watched – just knowing a film is nominated gives it a certain status that makes people form judgments without seeing it firsthand.
Who’s Watching the Oscars This Year?
The Oscars broadcast seems to be following similar patterns as movie viewership. About 22% of Americans plan to watch the ceremony as they always do, while 19% who usually watch are skipping it this year.
The awards show is picking up some new viewers, though. About 12% plan to tune in for the first time in recent years, and another 10% will be watching for the very first time. Nearly a quarter of Americans (23%) say they’ve never watched the Oscars and don’t plan to start now.
Younger viewers show the most interest in the awards show. About 25% of both Gen Z and millennials plan to watch as they usually do. Millennials seem especially hooked on the Oscars – only 18% say they won’t watch and never have before, which is the lowest percentage among all age groups.
The Full Picture of Best Picture Preferences
When asked which film should win Best Picture in 2025, the full breakdown of American preferences reveals:
- “Wicked” – 41%
- “Dune: Part Two” – 21%
- None of the nominated films – 12%
- “The Substance” – 6%
- “A Complete Unknown” – 6%
- “Conclave” – 6%
- “I’m Still Here” – 5%
- “Nickel Boys” – 4%
- “Emilia Pérez” – 3%
- “The Brutalist” – 3%
- “Anora” – 3%
These results paint a picture of an American public that, while not actively engaging with most new film releases, still maintains strong opinions about which ones deserve recognition.
What This Means for Hollywood
The survey results present a challenging reality for the film industry. Despite producing hundreds of movies each year, most Americans are experiencing only a tiny fraction of these creative outputs. The generational divide in viewership suggests that as younger, more active moviegoers age, the industry might face even greater challenges in capturing audience attention.
However, the enduring influence of Oscar nominations on viewership provides a silver lining. The ceremony continues to serve as a powerful marketing tool that can drive audiences to films they might otherwise overlook.
As streaming platforms continue to fragment viewership and provide ever more entertainment options, Hollywood’s challenge will be finding ways to make more of its annual output relevant to the average American who currently samples less than 1% of the year’s new releases.
Survey Methodology
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 22 and Feb. 26, 2025.
