Why the Oscars Still Define the Movies We Remember
A lifelong viewer reflects on the spectacle and tradition of Hollywood’s biggest night.
The Oscars have always been a place marker for me.
When I was eight years old, I would sit on the deep blue comfy couch, popcorn in hand, long after my parents had lost interest, to watch Hollywood's brightest stars as they were honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
I was determined to stay awake until the final award of the night. In the early 1970s, The Academy Awards ceremony aired on Channel 5 NBC, and it was the one evening each year when I was allowed to stretch bedtime to ten or eleven o’clock — because there was no way I was going to miss the Best Picture announcement.
Even then, something about the ceremony captivated me. The pageantry. The elegance. The pure, voyeuristic pleasure of witnessing the entertainment world as it gathered to celebrate the very best of what it could create. It felt grand, historic, and meaningful in a way few television events did.
Of course, Best Picture wasn’t the only moment that held my attention. I waited eagerly for Best Actor and Best Actress as well — those defining moments when a performance was recognized as the year’s most extraordinary. Even as a kid, there was something fascinating about watching artists be honored for their work. I wanted to know how they reacted to such an honor. It gave me a glimpse into their character and level of humility.
Looking back, it seems inevitable that I would end up writing about entertainment.
And now, decades later, a debate seems to resurface and deepen each year: do the Oscars still matter?
Ratings fluctuate. Critics question the relevance of awards shows in an era of streaming and endless entertainment choices. New questions and dark shadows are occasionally cast upon the players in this game. And yet, the Academy Awards continue to shape something enduring — the movies we remember.
The Canon Effect
Winning an Oscar, or even being nominated, can change the way a film is remembered.
Some movies arrive quietly and might otherwise fade into the background of a crowded cinematic year. But a nomination or a win can elevate them into something more permanent — a place in the cultural conversation that lasts far beyond opening weekend.
The same is true for performances. A powerful role can become career-defining once it is recognized on the Oscars stage. Moments like Tom Hanks accepting his award for Philadelphia, or Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s unforgettable win for Good Will Hunting, became part of movie history the instant they happened.
The Academy Awards don’t just recognize excellence — they help define the canon of modern filmmaking.
The Conversation Effect
Another reason the Oscars continue to matter is the conversation they create.
Every year, even people who haven’t seen every nominated film suddenly find themselves talking about movies. Friends compare predictions. Social media lights up with reactions. Offices buzz the next morning about who won, who didn’t, and who should have. Then there's the inevitable conversation about who was left out of the year's Memoriam segment.
The ceremony has also produced some of the most memorable moments in entertainment history — the endearing — if slightly awkward — spontaneity of Sally Field’s famous “You like me, you really like me” moment, the unforgettable appearances of icons like Cher, Diane Keaton, Warren Beatty, and Jack Nicholson, and countless red-carpet entrances that became pop culture snapshots of their time.
For a few hours each year, the Oscars turn film into a shared cultural event.
Narrative vs. Trophies
But the real fascination of awards season isn’t always the trophy itself.
It’s the stories surrounding it.
Comeback narratives. Breakthrough performances. Long-overdue recognition for artists whose work has been celebrated for years but never formally honored.
Those narratives often become just as memorable as the awards themselves. When Matthew McConaughey delivered his thoughtful and philosophical acceptance speech in 2014, it was more than a win — it was a moment that captured an artist reflecting on his journey while sharing priceless advice with viewers. That speech still resurfaces on social media and I watch it every time.
These stories and moments remind us that the Oscars are about people as much as performances.
Why the Oscars Still Matter
The Academy Awards may evolve with the times, but the essence of the ceremony remains the same. It is still the entertainment industry’s most visible celebration of filmmaking — a moment when artists gather to honor the craft, creativity, and storytelling that bring movies to life.
And despite the periodic debates about relevance or ratings, what lies at the heart of the Oscars is something much deeper: the enduring significance of film itself.
Film reflects the full spectrum of the human experience. Our suffering and our joy. Our questions and our discoveries. It tells stories we might never otherwise hear and invites us into worlds we may never otherwise see. Through film we revisit the triumphs and tragedies of the past, confront the complexities of the present, and imagine the possibilities of what lies ahead.
Recognizing the best of this art form matters. Celebrating excellence does more than reward achievement — it raises the standard, inspiring future storytellers and filmmakers to push the craft forward for the next generation.
Long after the red carpet is rolled up and the speeches fade, the Oscars leave something behind.
A map of the movies that defined their moment in time.
And somewhere, perhaps not so far away, an eight-year-old kid sits on a couch with popcorn in hand — watching, dreaming, and discovering just how powerful a great story can be.
