The 97th Academy Awards drew 18.1 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, marking a 7% decline from last year’s 19.5 million. This follows three years of steady increases after the 2021 ceremony hit a record low of 10.4 million viewers.
Despite the dip, the broadcast remained the most-watched primetime entertainment program of the season. Among adults 18-49, it secured a 3.92 rating, up 3% from last year. The 18-34 age group recorded a 3.17 rating, the highest for the ceremony in five years.
Hulu, streaming the ceremony live for the first time, encountered multiple technical issues. Reports surfaced early on that some users were locked out of their accounts. Later in the evening, just before the final categories were announced, outages returned. Downdetector logged over 34,000 reports of streaming problems. Hulu Support acknowledged the disruption and attempted to restore access, though some viewers remained affected.
The telecast ran for 3 hours and 47 minutes, making it one of the longer Academy Awards ceremonies in recent years. While past shows have stretched beyond four hours, extended broadcasts can present challenges in audience retention. The earlier start time, introduced last year, helped keep more of the show within primetime, reducing the risk of late-night drop-off.
In comparison to other major award shows, the decline aligned with broader trends. The Grammys saw a 9% drop in viewership, while the Golden Globes remained stable. The Emmys posted a 60% increase, though that was partly attributed to the delayed ceremony following last year’s Hollywood strikes.
The night’s top winner was Anora, with Sean Baker taking home awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. Mikey Madison won Best Actress for the film. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, while Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) won Best Supporting Actress and Actor.
Immediately following the ceremony, ABC aired a preview of American Idol’s eighth season, which attracted 5.9 million viewers, marking the show’s biggest season premiere in three years.
