Oscars Look for a Big Boost to Save the Academy’s Cash Cow in a Time of Crisis

thewrap.com:

95th Oscars.It won’t be easy. On paper, this year’s Academy Awards seem to have things working in their favor. For the first time since 1982, the two top-grossing films of the year are both nominated for Best Picture. (Then: “E.T.

the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Tootsie.” Now: “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”) And for the first time in Oscar history, those top two nominees have each grossed more than $1 billion.In other news that might boost viewership, Angela Bassett could become the first actor to win an Oscar for a Marvel movie.

And even if the big winner of the night is an indie, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” it’ll likely be the top-grossing film in the history of indie distributor A24, with a $100 million-plus worldwide gross that beats five of the last eight Best Picture winners. (In the U.S., its $73 million gross is higher than six of the last eight winners.) In addition, Rihanna will be the first person to ever headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show and perform a nominated song at the Oscars in the same year. (Phil Collins did both in 2000, but he was one of four halftime performers).

And Rihanna will be up against Lady Gaga (who opted not to perform), the unstoppable (and least in the nomination round) Diane Warren, David Byrne and the delirious “Naatu Naatu” from the Indian film “RRR,” which has the potential to draw a big international audience and provide one of the wildest Oscar dance numbers ever.Plus there’s the lingering drama of “the slap,” the moment toward the end of last year’s show when Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock because of what he perceived as a rude joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.