Morning:
11°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
Are the Oscars losing their golden touch? Academy Awards ratings hit record low
Last updated at 19:30pm on 27.02.08It appears this year's Oscars had a modest audience to match its toned-down ceremony after having its lowest ever TV ratings.
This year, the Academy shunned box office-busting blockbusters for critically-acclaimed independent movies, leaving many viewers wondering exactly who the nominees were.
The three-hour broadcast of the star-studded ceremony on U.S. TV channel ABC attracted an average of 32million viewers - a 21 per cent drop from 2007's 41million.
Scroll down for more...
Winners: Best Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Supporting Actress Tilda Swinton, Best Actress Marion Cotillard and Best Supporting Actor Javier Bardem backstage at Sunday's ceremony
The show was hosted by Daily Show presenter and comedian Jon Stewart.
Following a pared-down awards season due to the recent writer's strike, which saw the Golden Globes ceremony turned into a press conference, this year's Oscars was a lot more low-key than previous years.
Oscars bosses haven't seen such low figures since 2003's Academy Awards, which hit 33million and took place a day after the U.S. began their war in Iraq.
Among more well-known names such as Julie Christie, Cate Blanchett and Laura Linney for Best Actress, was newcomer Ellen Page and French actress Marion Cotillard, who went on to pick up the golden man.
Out of all the Best Picture nominees - Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men (which won the category) - only teen pregnancy comedy Juno reached over $100million in the U.S. box office.
In a blow to the American film industry, all of the big acting trophies went to Europeans - Brits Daniel Day-Lewis and Tilda Swinton as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively, French star Marion Cotillard for Best Actress and Spaniard Javier Bardem for Best Supporting Actor.
The most popular Oscar broadcast ever was in 1998 when disaster blockbuster Titanic picked up an amazing 11 awards.
Related articles
- THE OSCARS: Arise, Sir Daniel: Helen Mirren knights victorious Day-Lewis and Tilda Swinton seals great night for Brits
- Heartbreak for Keira Knightley and Julie Christie as the Brits are snubbed at the Baftas
- Will it be Daniel's day as Brits lead Oscars line-up
- Why the Brits are lining up to storm Oscar night
- A great night for Britain at Globes ceremony
