The 2026 Oscar nominations are in, yet the fanfare surrounding Hollywood’s biggest awards continues to divide audiences and critics alike. Film critic and podcaster Christian Toto recently weighed in on the state of Hollywood during a conversation with host Raymond Arroyo. Toto’s insights underline the widening gap between the Academy's choices and public interest — a problem that’s only grown since the pandemic altered movie-going habits.

Are the Oscars Losing the Audience?

One of Toto's main concerns centers around the Oscars’ shift away from crowd-pleasers. "Back in the day," he explained, "the Best Picture winner would be a movie that everyone saw. Too often now, it's a movie that no one saw." Indeed, several films on this year’s Best Picture nominee list, apart from a few exceptions like F1, remain unfamiliar to average moviegoers.

The cultural phenomenon of blockbuster films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King—both Oscar winners with massive box office and global appeal—feels increasingly like a relic of the past. Hollywood’s reliance on niche programming and movies tailored to critics places the awards further out of reach for audiences who crave films that resonate more universally.

The 2026 Best Picture Lineup: What's in the Spotlight?

This year’s Best Picture contenders offer a mix of provocative storytelling, broad genres, and aesthetic achievements, but their appeal isn't universal. The inclusion of F1, a Brad Pitt-starring racing drama directed by the filmmaker behind Top Gun: Maverick, stands out as an anomaly. The film joins other nominees like Sentimental Value, lauded yet little-seen, and One Battle After Another, a divisive movie that Toto critiques for what he calls its “morally repugnant” narrative.

The expanding pool of nominees—ten compared to years past when five films vied for the honor—also dilutes the audience’s connection to the Oscars. As Toto noted, a larger field doesn't necessarily translate to greater engagement when “nine movies [are ones] no one has ever heard of.”

The Inclusion of International Films

While Robert Davi, an Academy voter, highlighted the growing emphasis on international films at the Oscars, Toto acknowledged this trend with mixed feelings. He argues that although foreign films deserve recognition, the broader disconnect between Oscar contenders and mainstream audiences remains a bigger issue.

The Vampire Flick Breaking Records

Unlike less familiar nominees, Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s African-American vampire drama, made a notable impact. Earning a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, more than iconic films like Titanic and La La Land, the movie balanced artistic merit with audience appeal. While Toto praised Coogler's reinvention of the vampire genre, he questioned if Sinners truly ranks among the all-time greats despite its impressive nomination count. “It is a good film,” Toto remarked, “but 16 nominations is a stretch.”

Breaking Down the Best and the Worst

The Best of 2025

When asked about his favorite films of the year, Toto highlighted Weapons, a thought-provoking horror movie, and Martie Supreme, a Timothée Chalamet-led drama brimming with imagination and humor. "It felt brimming with insight and creativity," Toto said of Martie Supreme. He praised Chalamet’s charismatic performance, adding that the film's elements of life-affirming storytelling brought something refreshing to the screen.

The Worst Films of the Year

On the flip side, Toto didn’t hold back from calling out the year’s most disappointing films. Among his picks was The Alto Knights, a poorly executed Robert De Niro gangster movie. "It’s a terrible, boring, misbegotten movie," he said, expressing disbelief over its flawed double role for De Niro. Another miss was Mickey 17, a sci-fi feature criticized for its tedious pacing. While Toto appreciated the effort to tackle cultural themes within the narrative, he found the end product difficult to endure.

Faith-Based Films and Family Entertainment

Toto also touched on the resurgence of faith-based films and family entertainment. A recent report by the 2026 Faith and Entertainment Index revealed that 92% of respondents believe faith has a role in modern storytelling, while 77% said it can have broad appeal.

"Faith is part of the fabric of our culture," Toto explained, emphasizing that ignoring it in cinema feels out of touch. Studios like Angel Studios were applauded for their efforts to cater to this underserved market. Meanwhile, Mel Gibson’s upcoming The Resurrection, the sequel to The Passion of the Christ, already has audiences eager for its 2027 release.

Family entertainment is also experiencing a partial comeback. After a series of flops that included preachy and divisive themes, industry giants like Disney are realigning with audience expectations. Films like Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2 demonstrated Disney’s potential to bounce back when focusing on universal storytelling over agenda-driven content.

The Future of Hollywood: Challenges and Opportunities

Looking ahead, Toto offered cautious predictions. The industry's pivot away from openly political or "woke" storytelling could be a sign of course correction, but challenges remain. As streaming platforms dominate smaller-scale projects, mid-size films may fade further, leaving a stark divide between indie productions and big-budget franchise blockbusters.

Another wildcard is the development of AI, which could empower everyday creators to produce compelling stories outside of Hollywood’s gatekeeping apparatus. Toto speculated this could lead to more diverse and impactful storytelling reshaping the industry landscape.

Celebrity Disconnect

Toto noted another problem plaguing Hollywood: its stars. The golden age of universally adored figures like Harrison Ford and Denzel Washington is waning, replaced by performers whose political rhetoric alienates audiences. Toto lamented, “The new crop [of stars] are interchangeable. And when they get really political, that movie-star aura just goes away.”

Addressing the journalist-aided cycle of baiting celebrities into political commentary, Toto praised figures like Patrick Wilson for maintaining focus on their craft. "Nobody’s interested in my perspective," Wilson recently told reporters, an attitude Toto found refreshing.

Final Thoughts

As the Oscars try to maintain their cultural relevance, they’ll have to reckon with the disconnect between industry insiders and audiences. Whether through greater support for faith-based and family-oriented content, or recalibrating their criteria to include more universally beloved films, Hollywood has work to do. While the future remains uncertain, it's apparent that the bridge between cinematic achievement and audience affection has never been more crucial.