Movie Theater Owners Want to Vote for Oscars and Push to Join the Academy: ‘We Watch Everything… It's a No Brainer' (EXCLUSIVE)
Historically, the Academy's membership has skewed toward creative professionals, including directors, writers, actors, producers, and craftspeople, as well as studio executives and technicians. While a handful of exhibitors are already members of the organization, many in the theatrical exhibition community argue that their unique perspective is underrepresented, particularly at a time when the Academy is doubling down on the importance of theatrical releases.
More from Variety
How Hollywood Finds Its Stars: Behind the Scenes With Casting Directors, the Most Important and Least Understood Job in Movies
From the Oscars Red Carpet to Open Heart Surgery: What Variety's Marc Malkin Wants You to Know About His Life-Saving Journey
Jeff Margolis, Emmy-Winning Director and Producer of Live Event Broadcasts, Dies at 78
It's not unusual for professional groups within Hollywood to lobby for greater recognition or inclusion in the Academy. A decades-long campaign to acknowledge casting and stunt professionals has made notable progress: a new Oscar category for casting will debut in 2026, followed by a stunt category in 2028. These milestones followed years of advocacy, member petitions, and internal deliberations among Academy governors.
Currently, the Academy is composed of 18 branches, each representing a specific discipline within the industry, with the newest Production and Technology Branch created in 2023. Committees within each branch are currently meeting to decide on membership recommendations in 2025 — a class that will help shape the Academy's future leading up to its centennial celebration in 2028.
Unlike a typical guild or association, Academy membership is not open to applications. It is invitation-only, with most candidates required to secure sponsorship from two existing members within the branch they wish to join. Exceptions include Oscar nominees, who are automatically considered for membership without requiring a sponsor. The final decision rests with the Academy's Board of Governors.
Multiple sources tell Variety that there is a considerable push to include more theater owners and exhibitors within the new class of members. 'The Oscars have a new requirement for voters to watch all the movies, right? So why wouldn't you include the group you know for certain watches everything?' says one anonymous exhibitor. 'It's a no-brainer.'
The Academy declined to comment.
Currently, only five exhibitors are among the Academy's estimated 11,000 members: Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation (Executive Branch); Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Executive Branch); Greg Laemmle, CEO of Laemmle Theaters (Associate Branch); and David and Patricia Keighley, both of whom hold executive roles at IMAX and belong to the Production and Technology Branch.
Notably, some of the five individuals have credentials beyond operating theaters. League, for example, is a co-founder of the indie distribution company Neon — the studio behind Oscar-winning films such as 'Parasite' and 'Anora' — as well as the founder of genre-focused Fantastic Fest. He is also a film producer with credits on several independent features.
Still, exhibitors say the number of members with deep roots in theatrical operations is far too small — especially at a time when the Academy is tightening its standards around theatrical release requirements.
This calendar year marks the second cycle of the Academy's expanded theatrical release rule for best picture eligibility. Under the updated criteria, films must still complete a one-week qualifying run in one of six U.S. markets — Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami or Atlanta — but they must also meet new standards for broader theatrical distribution. The changes were crafted following detailed analysis and consultation with distributors and exhibitors of varying sizes, aiming to protect and promote the theatrical experience in an era dominated by digital streaming.
The ripple effects most directly impact the streaming giants. In 2023, Apple announced a $1 billion annual investment in theatrically-targeted films, and Amazon committed to releasing 12 to 15 movies per year in cinemas before the updated rule change.
As the Academy reevaluates its internal structure, a central question remains: How large or influential does a theater chain need to be for its executives or operators to qualify for membership?
In the U.S., major exhibition companies include AMC Theatres, led by Adam Aron; Cinemark, helmed by Sean Gamble; and Regal Cinemas, under the leadership of Edward Acuna. Globally, industry leaders include Alejandro Ramirez Magaña of Mexico's Cinépolis and Pavan Jain of India's PVR INOX, both of whom oversee thousands of screens across multiple territories.
Yet the conversation doesn't end with the industry's most prominent players. Independent exhibitors — many of whom play a critical role in platforming indie and specialty films that often become awards contenders — are wondering whether the doors will open for them, too.
Could someone like Doreen Sayegh, owner of the nearly 100-year-old Cranford Theater in New Jersey (a five-screen cinema beloved in its community), find sponsors within the Academy? What about The Moviehouse in Millerton, New York, a longstanding cultural institution in the Hudson Valley region, founded in 1978 and currently owned by David Maltby and Chelsea Altman?
The Academy has repeatedly emphasized that a strong theatrical ecosystem is vital to the health and future of the film industry. Including more exhibitors in the conversation could be a logical next step — one that not only strengthens the Academy's credibility but ensures that those most directly connected to moviegoers have a seat at the table.
Matt Donnelly contributed to this report.
Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars
Best of Variety
What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
As Freakier Friday Hits Cinemas, 11 Sequels That Were Better Than The Original Film
A version of this article was previously published in 2020. The old saying goes that a sequel is never as good as the original, and over the years, plenty of films have proved this to be the case. Fortunately for the team behind Freakier Friday, the long-awaited sequel to 2003′s iconic body-swap comedy, critics seem pretty impressed with the follow-up, with many hailing it as a worthy successor to Freaky Friday. But what about those rare sequels that somehow manage to better the movie that came before it? Here are 11 of the most celebrated follow-ups in modern movie history... Addams Family Values We don't use terms like 'perfection' lightly, but if there were ever a perfect family comedy then Addams Family Values might well be it. The fact it's actually a sequel to a less-revered live-action version of the classic cartoon is even more impressive. Obviously all of the cast members playing the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and, indeed, altogether ooky family shine as brightly as their dark surroundings will allow (special shout-out to Anjelica Huston serving true macabre glamour as Morticia). But Addams Family Values really belongs to new addition Joan Cusack, who stars as Uncle Fester's love interest Debbie. Toy Story 3 Who'd have guessed that an animated buddy comedy about a toy cowboy and a plastic astronaut would have sparked one of the most lucrative film sagas of recent times? And while Toy Story 2 – released four years after the original – kicked things up several notches, it was the third instalment in the series that people really went wild for. Toy Story 3 served up adorable new characters, scooped an impressive Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and, crucially, delivered not one but two ugly-cry moments. Paddington 2 Even though the original Paddington film was well-received when it first hit cinemas in 2014 – featuring a CGI version of the classic character interacting with live-action actors – few could predict just how beloved its sequel would go on to become. Not only was it nominated for Outstanding British Film at the Baftas, it's also one of the few movies with a perfect score on review site Rotten Tomatoes. With 238 positive reviews, it's also the highest-rated film on the entire website. Take that, Citizen Kane. The Dark Knight Like many, we were sold on The Dark Knight from the moment we saw its infamous viral marketing campaign (back in the day when viral marketing campaigns were actually still new and exciting). We could probably talk all day about how this film is a level up on Batman Begins, from Christopher Nolan's direction, to the incredible costumes and special effects. But let's be honest, this film is all about Heath Ledger, who earned a posthumous Academy Award for his unforgettable portrayal of the Joker. Aliens Although the original Alien divided critics upon its original release in 1979, the film quickly garnered a loyal following, and by the mid-1980s, was revered among fans of sci-fi. Putting out a sequel was therefore always going to be a bit of a risk, but fortunately 1986′s Aliens more than lived up to its predecessor. It earned Sigourney Weaver a game-changing Oscar nomination as the star of a sci-fi film. It has also been named the Best Sequel Of All Time by Empire magazine. Mad Max: Fury Road Listen, we get it, Fury Road was billed as a 'revisiting' of the original Mad Max trilogy, rather than a straight-up sequel or a traditional reboot. Still, the film was so well-received – check that 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes if you don't believe us, not to mention its six Oscar wins – we felt we couldn't leave it off this list. Plus, who would pass up the opportunity to see Charlize Theron in all her buzzed glory again? Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars has so many different instalments, and a fan community that stretches far and wide, that it would be literally impossible to decide which of the numerous sequels is the superior one. So while we'd struggle to pinpoint which of film is the best, we've gone with The Empire Strikes Back for the simple reason it contains arguably the most iconic moment in Star Wars history, when Darth Vader's true identity is revealed. Terminator 2: Judgement Day He said 'I'll be back', and apparently he meant it, although it did take seven years. Terminator 2: Judgement Day was hailed as even better than the original film by many critics, who were wowed by the advanced special effects (which went on to win one of the film's four Academy Awards). The success of Terminator 2 led to a number of additional spin-offs and sequels, although none of these have quite been able to match the original two films. Avengers: Endgame Essentially the sequel to around 100 other films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame was much-awaited when it hit cinemas in 2019, wrapping up stories that began in the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America film series. Fortunately, the majority of cinema-goers felt the ambitious project was worth the wait, with Avengers: Endgame landing rave reviews and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time (that's second-highest, when adjusted for inflation). The Godfather Part II The first sequel to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards (the only other being Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King), Godfather II is so revered it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance, alongside the original Godfather film. The same can not be said for the follow-up, Godfather III. Skyfall Although Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace proved popular, many 007 fans still breathed a sigh of relief when Skyfall was released, as they felt it was more in keeping with the James Bond franchise than Daniel Craig's first two outings. Skyfall won largely positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the decision to give more material for Dame Judi Dench to work with, and became the highest-grossing film in the UK ever at that time. Follow-up Spectre was similarly well-received, with the Daniel's fifth and final Bond film, No Time To Die, set to hit cinemas... soon. Let's just say soon. MORE FILM: Sally Hawkins Opens Up About The Real Reason She Quit The Paddington Franchise This Trailer For Netflix's Gripping New Mystery Is Jam-Packed With UK National Treasures Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights Just Had Its First Test Screening, And It Sounds Absolutely Wild
Fast Company
13 minutes ago
- Fast Company
The foremost expert on happiness thinks your ambition is making you miserable
Arthur Brooks is the poster child for an interesting and accomplished life. He has made it a practice to upend his career every decade. He played the French horn for the Barcelona orchestra, is friends with the Dalai Lama, and is the author of 14 books (including one coauthored with Oprah Winfrey). He's also a happiness evangelist and a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, where he teaches a popular course on leadership and happiness. In addition, he's a columnist for The Atlantic, where he writes weekly about the tools for building a happier life. Yet even he struggles with his own happiness, which is why he studies it. Now he's gathered his most popular essays into a new book, The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life (Harvard Business Review Press), which goes on sale August 12. I connected with Brooks on August 4 for an in-depth conversation, in which you'll learn: Why worrying about whether you feel happy is the wrong way to assess whether you are happy How you can stop doing the things you hate Why ambition often works as a counterpoint to happiness The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. advertisement The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
New York Times
14 minutes ago
- New York Times
Have You Seen ‘Weapons'? We Talk About What It Might Mean
This entire article is a spoiler of 'Weapons.' 'Weapons,' the new horror movie from the writer-director Zach Cregger, is chockablock with talismans, assassins, spells and speed racing humans-turned-hell hounds. What does it all mean? A quick recap: 'Weapons' examines what happens in an American town after all but one child in a grade school class disappears overnight, leaving behind the kids' bewildered teacher, Justine, (Julia Garner), the surviving student, Alex (Cary Christopher), and the despairing parents of the missing, including Archer (Josh Brolin). Amid the chaos enters Gladys (Amy Madigan), a witch with a nefarious plan. Discussing Cregger in her review of 'Weapons,' Manohla Dargis wrote, 'He has a talent for both creating and maintaining an ominous mood, deploying a classic approach to freaking out audiences by suggesting the very worst (things seem bad!) and delaying the reveal (they are!)' Cregger declined an interview request to talk about spoilers from his film, so let's take a swing at theorizing what might have inspired him. Time Crawl Cregger patiently paces his scares and revelations, as he did in 'Barbarian (2022),' which built dread by plucking nerve after nerve before its harrowing what's-in-the-basement reveal. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
