2020 Academy Awards Earns the Lowest Ratings in Show's History

The92nd Academy Awardsmay have includedhistoric victoriesandsurprise performances, but it wasn’t enough to escape a severe ratings drop.

Sunday night’s star-studded show, which went without a host for the second year in a row, earned 23.6 million viewers — down 20 percent from last year’s 29.6 million viewers,DeadlineandReutersreported.

The 2020 Oscars now rank as the least-watched ceremony ever, as its viewership was also down from the previous record low of 26.5 million in 2018.

Last year’s ceremony actually saw an uptick in ratings for the first time in five years when it went hostless. The show featured performances fromQueenandAdam Lambert,Lady GagaandBradley Cooperdelivered a beautiful rendition of “Shallow,” andGreen Brookpulled out a Best Picture victory.

ABC

This year, the show — which ran for over three-and-a-half hours — kicked off with an opening musical number fromJanelle Monáe.Eminemalso made a surprise appearance, and presenters like Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig delivered hilarious monologues.

The big winner from Sunday’s show wasParasite, nabbing four trophies including Best Picture, becoming the first foreign-language film to do so. DirectorBong Joon Hoalso narrowly missed Walt Disney’s record of most individual Oscar wins in one night.

Parasitewinning Best Picture at the Oscars.MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty

British war film1917trailedParasitewith three wins, whileFord v. Ferrari,Joker, andOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywoodeach won two awards.

In the acting categories,Renée Zellwegertook home the prize for Best Actress,Joaquin Phoenixwon Best Actor,Brad Pittwon Best Supporting Actor, andLaura Dernwon for Best Supporting Actress.

source: people.com