Services

Research

Industries

About

Services

Research

Industries

About

Best Picture Nominees Opening Scenes

Custom Research & Strategy

Best Picture Nominees Opening Scenes

A Case Study on Academy Award Contenders

A family pose for a photo  in CODA (2022)
A family pose for a photo  in CODA (2022)

With the 94th Academy Awards on the horizon, we decided to take a deeper look at 2022’s Best Picture nominees, specifically through their opening scenes. To better understand what draws viewers into these films, and what most makes them want to continue watching, we tested each opening sequence with a varied sample of movie-goers.

The Study

Using our Lumiere platform, we invited 350+ people to watch 2 opening sequences from the full list of Best Picture nominees and provide feedback in the form of open-and closed-ended questions. We also asked them to indicate moments they found particularly enjoyable or compelling with our on-screen emoji feature.

The Study

Using our Lumiere platform, we invited 350+ people to watch 2 opening sequences from the full list of Best Picture nominees and provide feedback in the form of open-and closed-ended questions. We also asked them to indicate moments they found particularly enjoyable or compelling with our on-screen emoji feature.

The Study

Using our Lumiere platform, we invited 350+ people to watch 2 opening sequences from the full list of Best Picture nominees and provide feedback in the form of open-and closed-ended questions. We also asked them to indicate moments they found particularly enjoyable or compelling with our on-screen emoji feature.

Posters from the 10 movies featured in this study.

Here are some of the things we learned...

Here are some of the things we learned...

Here are some of the things we learned...

Clarity is Compelling

Across a wide range of metrics, including which scenes viewers liked most, which films they most wanted to continue watching, and which they believed should and would win the Oscar, King Richard and Dune consistently outpaced the competition. And what these two films have in common is an opening sequence that gives viewers a clear idea of what the rest of the movie is about.

King Richard and Dune ranked 1 and 2, respectively, for context in their trailer

Clarity is Compelling

Across a wide range of metrics, including which scenes viewers liked most, which films they most wanted to continue watching, and which they believed should and would win the Oscar, King Richard and Dune consistently outpaced the competition. And what these two films have in common is an opening sequence that gives viewers a clear idea of what the rest of the movie is about.

King Richard and Dune ranked 1 and 2, respectively, for context in their trailer

Clarity is Compelling

Across a wide range of metrics, including which scenes viewers liked most, which films they most wanted to continue watching, and which they believed should and would win the Oscar, King Richard and Dune consistently outpaced the competition. And what these two films have in common is an opening sequence that gives viewers a clear idea of what the rest of the movie is about.

King Richard and Dune ranked 1 and 2, respectively, for context in their trailer
King Richard and Belfast ranked 1 and 2, respectivly, for viewers interest in seeing the movie

Plot is Not Always a Film’s Strongest Hook

When we asked what most made viewers want to keep watching a film, answers fell into four broad categories: plot, characters, story-world, and the tone or feel of the film. Among the films viewers most identified as ‘plot-driven’ (Drive My Car and Don’t Look Up), neither ranked particularly high for audiences in terms of a desire to continue watching. King Richard’s character-centric yarn, Dune’s immersive story-world, and Belfast’s artistic style all put them much higher comparatively in our viewers’ desires to see more.

King Richard and Belfast ranked 1 and 2, respectivly, for viewers interest in seeing the movie

Plot is Not Always a Film’s Strongest Hook

When we asked what most made viewers want to keep watching a film, answers fell into four broad categories: plot, characters, story-world, and the tone or feel of the film. Among the films viewers most identified as ‘plot-driven’ (Drive My Car and Don’t Look Up), neither ranked particularly high for audiences in terms of a desire to continue watching. King Richard’s character-centric yarn, Dune’s immersive story-world, and Belfast’s artistic style all put them much higher comparatively in our viewers’ desires to see more.

King Richard and Belfast ranked 1 and 2, respectivly, for viewers interest in seeing the movie

Plot is Not Always a Film’s Strongest Hook

When we asked what most made viewers want to keep watching a film, answers fell into four broad categories: plot, characters, story-world, and the tone or feel of the film. Among the films viewers most identified as ‘plot-driven’ (Drive My Car and Don’t Look Up), neither ranked particularly high for audiences in terms of a desire to continue watching. King Richard’s character-centric yarn, Dune’s immersive story-world, and Belfast’s artistic style all put them much higher comparatively in our viewers’ desires to see more.

A Joyful Noise Moves the Needle

Across all 10 opening sequences, our highest single spike in audience enjoyment/interest came with CODA, when our leading lady lets out her first full throated belt of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” It’s an easy moment to enjoy and it helps rev up a desire to root for her pursuit of music throughout the film.

A line graph showing Lumiere comment engagement spiking

A Joyful Noise Moves the Needle

Across all 10 opening sequences, our highest single spike in audience enjoyment/interest came with CODA, when our leading lady lets out her first full throated belt of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” It’s an easy moment to enjoy and it helps rev up a desire to root for her pursuit of music throughout the film.

A line graph showing Lumiere comment engagement spiking

A Joyful Noise Moves the Needle

Across all 10 opening sequences, our highest single spike in audience enjoyment/interest came with CODA, when our leading lady lets out her first full throated belt of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” It’s an easy moment to enjoy and it helps rev up a desire to root for her pursuit of music throughout the film.

A line graph showing Lumiere comment engagement spiking
A poster from Dune (2022)

Audiences Have a Surprising View of Which Film Will Win

While there is far from a predictive consensus, general sentiment is that Jane Champion’s Power of the Dog and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are among the ‘favorites’ to win this year. Yet the largest share of our viewers selected Dune as their prediction for the night’s final trophy winner, followed very closely by CODA.

A poster from Dune (2022)

Audiences Have a Surprising View of Which Film Will Win

While there is far from a predictive consensus, general sentiment is that Jane Champion’s Power of the Dog and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are among the ‘favorites’ to win this year. Yet the largest share of our viewers selected Dune as their prediction for the night’s final trophy winner, followed very closely by CODA.

A poster from Dune (2022)

Audiences Have a Surprising View of Which Film Will Win

While there is far from a predictive consensus, general sentiment is that Jane Champion’s Power of the Dog and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are among the ‘favorites’ to win this year. Yet the largest share of our viewers selected Dune as their prediction for the night’s final trophy winner, followed very closely by CODA.

A poster from Dune (2022)

Audiences Have a Surprising View of Which Film Will Win

While there is far from a predictive consensus, general sentiment is that Jane Champion’s Power of the Dog and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are among the ‘favorites’ to win this year. Yet the largest share of our viewers selected Dune as their prediction for the night’s final trophy winner, followed very closely by CODA.

A poster from Dune (2022)

Audiences Have a Surprising View of Which Film Will Win

While there is far from a predictive consensus, general sentiment is that Jane Champion’s Power of the Dog and Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are among the ‘favorites’ to win this year. Yet the largest share of our viewers selected Dune as their prediction for the night’s final trophy winner, followed very closely by CODA.

You can check out the full comparative breakdown of ‘will win’ and ‘should win’ predictions across all 10 films below.

You can check out the full comparative breakdown of ‘will win’ and ‘should win’ predictions across all 10 films below.

You can check out the full comparative breakdown of ‘will win’ and ‘should win’ predictions across all 10 films below.

You can check out the full comparative breakdown of ‘will win’ and ‘should win’ predictions across all 10 films below.

You can check out the full comparative breakdown of ‘will win’ and ‘should win’ predictions across all 10 films below.

Graphic showing the King Richard is the movie viewers think SHOULD win best picture whike Dune is the movie they think WILL win

Want to know more about what made these depictions appealing to our audience? Or what they might enjoy most about your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know more about what made these depictions appealing to our audience? Or what they might enjoy most about your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know more about what made these depictions appealing to our audience? Or what they might enjoy most about your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know more about what made these depictions appealing to our audience? Or what they might enjoy most about your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know more about what made these depictions appealing to our audience? Or what they might enjoy most about your content? Reach out to us!

MORE CASE STUDIES

28-years-later-content-study

Sci Fi

Horror Fans React to the Official Trailer in Lumiere

funny-fight-scene-moments

Image from The Princess Bride

Best Pictures

Funny Fight Scene Moments

streaming-service-futures

Street sign showcasing popular streaming platforms

TV + Streaming

Streaming Service Futures

and-the-award-for-best-trailer-goes-to

Two Oscar trophies perched on a desk

Best Pictures

And the award for best trailer goes to…

MORE CASE STUDIES

28-years-later-content-study

Sci Fi

Horror Fans React to the Official Trailer in Lumiere

funny-fight-scene-moments

Image from The Princess Bride

Best Pictures

Funny Fight Scene Moments

streaming-service-futures

Street sign showcasing popular streaming platforms

TV + Streaming

Streaming Service Futures

and-the-award-for-best-trailer-goes-to

Two Oscar trophies perched on a desk

Best Pictures

And the award for best trailer goes to…

MORE CASE STUDIES

28-years-later-content-study

Sci Fi

Horror Fans React to the Official Trailer in Lumiere

funny-fight-scene-moments

Image from The Princess Bride

Best Pictures

Funny Fight Scene Moments

streaming-service-futures

Street sign showcasing popular streaming platforms

TV + Streaming

Streaming Service Futures

and-the-award-for-best-trailer-goes-to

Two Oscar trophies perched on a desk

Best Pictures

And the award for best trailer goes to…

MORE CASE STUDIES

28-years-later-content-study

Sci Fi

Horror Fans React to the Official Trailer in Lumiere

funny-fight-scene-moments

Image from The Princess Bride

Best Pictures

Funny Fight Scene Moments

streaming-service-futures

Street sign showcasing popular streaming platforms

TV + Streaming

Streaming Service Futures

and-the-award-for-best-trailer-goes-to

Two Oscar trophies perched on a desk

Best Pictures

And the award for best trailer goes to…

MORE CASE STUDIES

28-years-later-content-study

Sci Fi

Horror Fans React to the Official Trailer in Lumiere

funny-fight-scene-moments

Image from The Princess Bride

Best Pictures

Funny Fight Scene Moments

streaming-service-futures

Street sign showcasing popular streaming platforms

TV + Streaming

Streaming Service Futures

and-the-award-for-best-trailer-goes-to

Two Oscar trophies perched on a desk

Best Pictures

And the award for best trailer goes to…

Want to know even more about what audiences found compelling in these clips? Or what they might find particularly engaging in your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know even more about what audiences found compelling in these clips? Or what they might find particularly engaging in your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know even more about what audiences found compelling in these clips? Or what they might find particularly engaging in your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know even more about what audiences found compelling in these clips? Or what they might find particularly engaging in your content? Reach out to us!

Want to know even more about what audiences found compelling in these clips? Or what they might find particularly engaging in your content? Reach out to us!