Oscars voters didn't have to watch all nominated movies — until now

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday that Academy members must watch every Oscar-nominated film in order to vote for the Academy Awards.

In a development as surprising as a twist in any good movie, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced April 21 that Academy members must watch every Oscar-nominated film in order to vote for the Academy Awards, a new wrinkle in the system for how Oscar winners are chosen.

“In a procedural change, Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars,” the Academy said in a statement. “All designated nominees will also be included on the final ballot.”

This shift begs the question of enforcement, too, which will be addressed.

“The Academy will monitor viewing activity through its members-only Academy Screening Room streaming platform,” Variety reports. “For films viewed outside the platform — such as at festivals, screenings or private events — members must submit a form indicating when and where they watched the film.

“This verification process, previously used in preliminary and nomination voting for categories like international feature, animated feature, and the short film races, is now being applied to all categories. The move is intended to reduce so-called “coattail voting” and encourage more informed decisions from voters.”