Prestigious Film Awards: How Prestigious Are They?

With the start of a new year comes the start of a new awards season. The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards was hosted on January 5th, but there are more awards to look forward to. Most notably, the Oscars, which will be hosted on March 2nd. Though the Golden Globes and the Oscars are among the most prestigious awards ceremonies in Hollywood, recent backlash against them begs the question: how valuable are these awards, really? 

Golden Globes Controversy

The 2022 Golden Globes suffered from the consequences of a boycott. They lost their network and support due to backlash against how the awards were previously run. Claims were made of a lack of diversity in the committee, as well as allegations of bribery. They regained some support in 2023, but not long afterwards, the 2024 Golden Globes tanked due to a bad host. Comedian Jo Koy was bashed on the internet after missing the landing on many of his jokes. 

Just this year, the 2025 golden globes saw improvement in reviews of the ceremony overall, especially as it was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser who was a refreshing contrast to Koy. Glaser’s celebrity roasts were relatively inoffensive, and her multiple wardrobe changes kept the night interesting as it got late. Nevertheless, there remains online discourse and negative responses towards some of the category winners. Of course not everyone can be satisfied with which films win which awards, but in addition to the negative reviews of the Golden Globes, similar backlash is displayed towards the Oscars. 

Problems at the Oscars 

Besides the occasional ill conduct like when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage at the 2022 Oscars, there are more long-lasting issues with the Academy Awards. Firstly, the Oscars have received numerous complaints about a lack of diversity. This controversy sparked the  #OscarsSoWhite movement online. Additionally, the ceremony has been struggling with dwindling viewership. Though the Academy is making efforts to boost relevance with new inclusion standards, it remains a difficult issue to conquer.

The Value of an Award

So, what does it mean to be nominated for a Golden Globe or an Oscar? It boosts visibility for your film and it means that the voting committees approve of your film. Though not all award-nominated films are necessarily beloved by the public, a nomination generally means that the movie is good. Reversely, just because a film is not nominated for an award does not mean it is not a good film. 

The actual worth of an Oscar trophy is surprisingly low. Due to a no-resell rule, an Oscar is essentially worth one dollar, but are different Oscar awards worth more compared to others? While the Oscars are beginning to cut categories from the broadcast, the lesser valued categories are the ones that will not stay. Why does the Best Picture category gain the glory of the night instead of Best Visual Effects or Best Sound? Should any category be put above another? The categories regarded as the “Big Five” are as follows: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress. With these categories usually being placed at the end of the ceremony, it shows that these are the ones that are placed at a higher value, but this concept is a questionable one considering the making of a film is a collaborative effort. The concept of the “Big Five” implements a system that decides for the viewers what is the most important part of the filmmaking process.

Are Hosts Necessary? 

The Oscars and the Golden Globes usually hire an actor or comedian figure to host their awards ceremonies. The job of the host is to guide the audience through the ceremony, introducing awards presenters and performances throughout the night, all while providing comedic relief to entertain the room. As previously mentioned, the host of the ceremony influences the public reception of the broadcast. If the host is bad, no matter what films won which categories, the reviews will plummet. So, is it necessary to have a host? The short answer is no. Both the Oscars and the Golden Globes have hosted numerous annual ceremonies without hiring a host for the night. 

Another aspect of the ceremony that adds to the show is the fact there is time for musical performances from the nominees. Often the Oscars ceremony will feature musical performances from the nominees for Best Original Song like 2024’s Oscars during which Billie Eilish and Phinneas performed “What was I made for?” from Barbie (2023) and Becky G performed “The Fire Inside,” from Flamin’ Hot (2023), both of which were nominated for the category. Having these performances at the very ceremony in which they are to win or lose at provides both entertainment for the viewers at the same time that it showcases a small piece of the films that are a part of the nominee collective. 

Do the awards really need to be aired? 

Airing the awards shows for the public to view allows the cast and crew to give speeches to thank their coworkers and loved ones for their support in front of a large audience. The live aspect of the concept of the awards is quite important. If the awards were simply announced online or in the newspaper, the level of extravagance that is associated with the Academy awards would be lost to an extent. 

Awards Alternatives

The Oscars and Golden Globes may be some of the most popular film awards in Hollywood, but there are plenty of other accolades a film can get throughout the worldwide film industry. The Filmfare awards are specific to Indian cinema, while the British Academy Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards  focus mainly on British contributions to film, and the Critics Choice Awards are a selection of awards voted on by the Critics Choice Association (a collective of entertainment journalists and critics). So, there are alternative film awards to keep up with despite the Oscars being the highest regard of the film industry. 

Even though there are issues with declining viewership, negative reviews, racism, and hosting fails, the Golden Globes and the Oscars will be here to stay, so there’s no time like the present to start working towards your own Oscar nomination. 

Before you can get an Oscar, showing your films at film festivals is a great way to engage with fellow filmmakers, learn from professionals, and watch films that are nominated for the respective awards. No matter how big or small the festival is, they all allow you to get your work out there as a filmmaker.

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