What Made Oscars 2025 the Most-Watched in Five Years?

The 2025 Oscars are making headlines for a surprising reason: they became the most-watched in five years. Initially, it seemed like the viewership was down, but after Disney, which owns ABC and Hulu, took a closer look at the data, they found something unexpected. 

When they added in the number of people who watched the show on mobile devices and laptops, the total viewership soared to 19.69 million—an increase of 1.6 million viewers.

This bump in numbers shows how much viewing habits are changing. People are no longer just watching on TV; they’re turning to their phones and computers to catch the live events. 

Disney acknowledged that this shift in how people watch TV could mean that initial ratings might not fully reflect the true viewership. In fact, the increased number of younger viewers who tuned in via mobile or PC wasn’t counted in the first reports.

What made the 2025 Oscars stand out? 

For one, it was the first year the show was available to stream live, a change that brought in new viewers, even though the streaming service faced some technical hiccups. Despite these glitches, the final numbers proved that the Oscars are still a major draw for audiences.

The results are especially notable compared to past years. Last year, the show had 19.5 million viewers, so this year’s revised total marks a small but significant jump. For context, during the pandemic, ratings had dropped drastically to 10.4 million. 

That’s a far cry from the 40 million-plus viewership the Oscars regularly saw just a decade ago.

The success of the 2025 Oscars could be attributed to a mix of factors. The unique win of “Anora,” a bold indie film about a sex worker, drew attention and sparked conversations. 

The ceremony also saw “Oppenheimer” take home several prestigious awards, which kept the momentum going throughout the night. Additionally, the global popularity of films like “Barbie,” combined with live musical performances, helped keep viewers engaged.

What’s clear is that the Oscars are adapting to new trends in media consumption, and this year’s numbers show just how much potential there is to connect with a younger, more mobile-savvy audience. 

Whether it’s through streaming, social media buzz, or the changing landscape of live TV, the 2025 Oscars proved that the Academy Awards still have the power to capture attention—no matter where or how viewers choose to tune in.