Oscars 2022: Which film might be named fan favourite?

Far be it from us to suggest The Power of the Dog isn’t a crowd-pleasing thrill ride, but it’s safe to say this year’s best picture favourite doesn’t have huge mass appeal. The slow-burn western, which should not be viewed while operating heavy machinery, is a strong contender at Sunday’s Oscars alongside films such as Coda, King Richard, and West Side Story. But there are plenty of more mainstream films that missed out on nominations. Which is why the Academy has introduced the “fan favourite” this year – a prize decided entirely on public votes from social media and the Academy website.

The winning film won’t receive one of the gold statuettes like the others, so it’s more of a bonus category, introduced for younger and more online-skewing audiences. “It’s not an Oscar and it’s not an award, it’s really just an acknowledgement,” the producer of this year’s ceremony Will Packer told Little Gold Men. “And to me, that’s a good thing. This ceremony doesn’t have to be all awards, bereft of entertainment, just all about the amazing artists and craftspeople. We can do both.” The fan favourite concept hasn’t gone down well with everyone though, with some Oscars fans recalling the doomed attempt to introduce a similar category a few years ago.