We sit cross-legged on our beds, Chick-fil-A leftovers steaming in the microwave, eyes glued to the screen as if the Best Actor win will somehow change our lives. But… why? Why are we so invested in people we’ll never meet, crying over speeches written by publicists, clapping for strangers draped in millions of dollars worth of fashion?

There’s a disconnect I can’t shake. The Oscars used to feel like culture-defining moments. Teary-eyed tributes, red carpet breakdowns, historical wins.

Now, it just feels like rich people giving each other gold statues for pretending to be other people. Even Meryl Streep once said, “What is Hollywood anyway? It's just a bunch of people from other places.” And honestly? She’s not wrong.

More and more, Gen Z is turning away from the shiny spectacle. We’re not dazzled anymore. We crave honesty, diversity, and representation that actually means something.

Not a perfectly timed tweet or one-off performance. Award shows feel more like PR campaigns than celebrations of real art. And frankly, I'm tired of pretending they’re worth watching.

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Performative, Not Progressive

Let’s talk about the “progress” legacy award shows love to flaunt. Every year there’s a new headline about a “historic win.” The first woman, the first Asian actor, the first openly queer nominee. And yes, those wins matter.

But they’re decades late. Most of the time, they come off like the Academy is just trying to catch up to conversations Gen Z has already been having on TikTok, in classrooms, and through grassroots organizing.

We don’t want to see a presenter give a speech about “inclusion” one night and then reward the same five white men in the major categories. Representation isn’t a moment. It’s a movement. And the Oscars still haven’t caught up.

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We’ve Moved On, So Has Culture

Let’s be real. Gen Z doesn’t wait around for a once-a-year awards show to know what matters. We find our favorite films on streaming platforms, discover actors through fan edits, and fall in love with indie directors who’ve never touched a red carpet. We care more about what people are saying on Reddit than what the Academy thinks is “Best Picture.”

We’re watching movies like Past Lives and Aftersun, sharing bootlegs of student films, and celebrating creators who are real, raw, and flawed. Not flawless. We value the story more than the spotlight. So when an award show ignores the things that moved us—the small, the strange, and the personal—we stop paying attention.

Also, who has time to watch a four-hour telecast on a Sunday night? I have school in the morning. Let me know who won on Instagram.

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The Worship of Wealth

There’s something deeply strange about watching celebrities parade around in dresses that cost more than four years of college, while so many of us are juggling side hustles, climate anxiety, and a thousand other stressors. The Oscars are supposed to be glamorous. Lately, they just feel exhausting. Like a fantasy no one asked for.

We’re not inspired by the rich and famous. We’re tired of them. We don’t want to watch a room full of millionaires give each other standing ovations while the rest of us are worrying about the state of the world. Especially when half of the movies getting honored were only in theaters for a week and barely marketed to begin with.

The Oscars used to be aspirational. Now, they feel like a relic.

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So… Why Don’t I Care?

I’m not boycotting the Oscars. I’m just not invested in them anymore. They don’t reflect the stories I care about or the people I root for.

They don't reflect us. Gen Z, the streaming generation. The fans who cry over final scenes, post about plot twists, and make art inspired by the things we love.

I’d rather celebrate the creators who are actually changing the game. The storytellers who are independent, scrappy, and loud. The actors who take roles that matter, not just ones that win.

The movies that make me think or make me feel seen. Not just the ones with the biggest budgets or most expensive campaigns.

Meryl asked, “What is Hollywood anyway?” I don’t really know. But I know it’s not where I’m looking anymore.

Image Credit: Gabe from Unsplash