Oscars vs. Critics’ Choice Awards
Every year, the film industry’s biggest awards shows take place to honor the best that Hollywood has to offer. Among them are the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards. While these two awards shows require different qualifications and are run by different organizations, they are both highly respected and have been around for over a decade. Even though the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards share many similarities, they differ in how they fit in the overall awards season landscape, how they determine the nominees, the categories they use, and the overall meaning of the award.
The Oscars vs. Critics’ Choice Awards: What are the Differences?
When discussing the differences between the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards, it is important to remember that these two awards shows are run by different organizations. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is responsible for the Oscars, while the Broadcast Film Critics Association administers the Critics’ Choice Awards. This divide contributes to the distinctions between these two awards shows.
Qualifying for an Oscars vs. Qualifying for a Critics’ Choice Awards
The qualifications for an Oscar and for a Critics’ Choice Awards are different. In order to become eligible to compete for an Oscar, films need to be released during the previous year in a commercial theater. The Broadcast Film Critics Association, however, requires films to be released between the end of January to mid-December of the previous year. To become eligible for the Critics’ Choice Awards, films must also be reviewed by the qualifying members of the Broadcast Film Critics in San Diego, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Criteria For Judging the Oscar and the Critics Choice Award
Another difference between the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards is in the criteria used to judge films. As the most prestigious award of the season, the Oscars has arguably stricter standards when judging films as compared with the Critics’ Choice Awards. For films to be considered for an Oscar, judges look for films that are exceptionally executed in both story and technical aspects.
Categories for the Oscar and the Critics Choice Award
The type of award categories that the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards offer are also quite different. While the Critics’ Choice Awards only have 18 categories for films, the Oscars have a whopping 24 categories. The categories for the Critics’ Choice Awards are generally more modern and reflect the changing times, while the categories for the Oscars are made up of film and technical achievements that are more traditional.
How Both Awards Contribute to the Overall Awards Season
The differences between the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards may be obvious, but how do both awards contribute to the overall awards season? While the Oscars are considered the most prestigious award of the season, the Critics’ Choice Awards have become increasingly important as well. This is because the Critics’ Choice Awards often predict the eventual Oscar winners in the major categories and have become a precursor to the Oscars.
The Oscars vs. Critics’ Choice Awards: What are the Similarities?
While there are many differences between the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards, the two awards shows also have many similarities.
Awards Show Timing
Both the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards take place around the same time of the year. The Oscars are traditionally held in late February or early March, while the Critics’ Choice Awards take place in late December or early January.
Celebrity Hosts
The Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards also share a number of similarities when it comes to their celebrity hosts.
Both awards shows typically have a different host or hosts each year, although in some cases celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen DeGeneres have been asked to host both shows.
The Meaning of the Award
Lastly, both the Oscars and the Critics’ Choice Awards have the same overall meaning. Both awards are viewed as a recognition for excellence in the art of filmmaking. Being nominated for either award is considered an honor, and winning an Oscar or a Critics’ Choice Award can be a career-defining moment.
At the end of the day, the Oscars and Critics’ Choice Awards are two of the most highly respected awards of the film industry. Though there are some differences between the two that must be noted, both awards share the same purpose of honoring the best that Hollywood has to offer.