The 2024 Oscars proved to be a triumphant return to form, marking the most-watched ceremony in four years. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and aired on ABC, the telecast garnered an average of 19.5 million viewers, reflecting a notable 4 percent increase from the previous year. This surge in viewership represents the highest turnout for any awards show since 2020, when the Oscars drew in 23.64 million viewers just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year’s ceremony amassed 18.76 million viewers, indicating a steady recovery in viewership since the pandemic-affected 2021 awards, which saw a significant decline with only 10.4 million viewers tuning in for a scaled-down telecast held in late April rather than its usual March slot. While the overall audience size increased, ratings among adults aged 18-49 saw a slight dip. The Oscars secured a 3.81 rating in this key demographic, equivalent to approximately 5.03 million viewers aged 18-49, down from a 4.03 rating (5.32 million viewers) the previous year.
The telecast began at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, an hour earlier than in recent years, likely contributing to the uptick in viewership. The presence of blockbuster best picture nominees such as “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” also played a significant role in drawing in audiences. Viewership peaked in the final half-hour of the Oscars, reaching 21.9 million viewers.
The Oscars maintained its status as the most-watched awards show of the season, surpassing the Grammy Awards by approximately 2.4 million viewers. While both the Grammys and the Golden Globes experienced substantial audience growth this year, the delayed Emmy Awards saw a decline, hitting an all-time low in viewership in January.
“Oppenheimer,” which became the highest-grossing best picture winner since “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” 20 years ago, dominated the night with seven awards, including best director for Christopher Nolan and best actor for Cillian Murphy. Other notable winners included “Poor Things” with four Oscars and “The Zone of Interest” with two.
Following the Oscars, an episode of “Abbott Elementary” recorded the show’s largest same-day audience ever, attracting 6.9 million viewers and a 1.42 rating (1.87 million viewers) in adults aged 18-49. This marks the highest viewership for an original network comedy episode since the series finale of “Modern Family” in April 2020.
