Oscars draw highest ratings since 2020

Some 19.5 million people watched the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, the biggest TV audience in four years, boosted by nominations for top box office hits like Oppenheimer and Barbie

TV AUDIENCE (Millions)

Ryan Gosling performing I’m Just Ken from Barbie

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

26.5 29.6 23.6 10.4 16.6 18.7 19.5


2024: Average of 19.5m viewers – 4% up on 2023

2021: Pandemic- diminished show falls to all-time low

2024: Viewership peaks at 21.9m in final half-hour, also helped by decision to start ceremony one hour earlier than usual

Sources: ABC, Bloomberg Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS