Academy member admits they haven’t watched ‘even half’ the nominated films and ‘not going to waste my time’

An Academy member emailed Deadline admitting they had not watched even half of the nominated films

A blunt email from an anonymous Academy member is raising eyebrows ahead of the upcoming Academy Awards after the voter openly admitted they have little interest in watching many of this year’s nominated films.

The message was sent directly to Deadline and published in its annual Oscar predictions coverage, offering an unusually candid glimpse into how some voters approach the awards process. The anonymous member appeared dismissive of the expectation that Academy voters should carefully review every nominated film before casting their ballot.

“I thought you might be interested to hear a take from an Academy member about this year’s rules. I haven’t seen even half of the nominated films, and frankly I’m not going to waste my time trying to catch up now,” the email reads.

The admission quickly reignited a long running criticism of the Oscars voting system. For years, anonymous ballots and industry interviews have revealed that some voters do not always watch every contender before deciding which films should win.

In response to those concerns, the Academy recently introduced a rule requiring members to watch all nominated films in a category before they can vote in that category’s final round. The policy is intended to improve fairness and ensure voters make informed decisions rather than relying on buzz, reputation or industry campaigns.

Despite that change, the anonymous email suggests that at least some members remain openly indifferent about the viewing requirement. The voter’s comment also reflects a broader sentiment sometimes expressed in anonymous Oscar ballots, where voters admit to skipping certain films they believe are too long, difficult, or unlikely to win.

The controversy arrives as anticipation builds for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, which will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. With nominees competing across dozens of categories, studios spend millions each year campaigning to ensure their films are seen by voters.

The leaked email has only added fuel to the debate over whether the Oscars truly represent the best films of the year or simply the films voters bothered to watch. For critics of the awards process, the anonymous message confirms a suspicion that has lingered for decades. Even at Hollywood’s biggest night, some voters might not be doing their homework.