Ready for the biggest and most baffling night in the movie calendar? The 2022 Oscars are nearly upon us, bringing the full-fledged return of Hollywood’s most notable awards show, packed with stars, surprises and strange bits you’ll assume you’ve hallucinated if you’re watching in the UK at 1am. The nominees have been announced, the rumours are swirling, and all that leaves is the ceremony itself, taking place on Sunday 27 March – and sure to be packed with all manner of must-see moments.
It wouldn’t be the Academy Awards without a load of random celebrity cameos, unexpected victories and oddball speeches – so here are ten things you won’t want to miss from the Oscars 2022 ceremony. There will be Bond. There will be Beyoncé. And most importantly, there will be Bruno…
1) An actual, proper, Oscars ceremony
Don’t get us wrong – the 2021 ceremony had tons of stuff going for it. Remember Chloé Zhao’s beautiful speech about how “people at birth are inherently good”, and that bit where Frances McDormand howled at the moon? And when Daniel Kaluuya talked about his parents having sex in his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor? All of that was great. But it was always destined to go down as the ‘Covid Oscars’, with smaller attendance and a looser feel. We’re not done with the pandemic quite yet, but 2022 should bring an Oscars show at full-strength – glitzy celebs, plenty of performances, and far fewer Zoom calls.
2) The Encanto cast performing ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’
No, it’s not nominated (because it wasn’t submitted for the Best Original Song category), but that isn’t stopping the Encanto gang bringing the film’s break-out earworm number to the stage. This one should be wild – it’s not a ballad or a solo song, but a massive ensemble number with overlapping harmonies and little performance quirks that are begging for inventive staging. Just, make sure you know(-no-no-no-no) the words beforehand.
3) Cutting comments about cutting categories for TV
It wouldn’t be the Oscars without some kind of controversy – and this year, it’s been brewing up weeks before the show itself. Several categories have been cut for time on TV, including Editing, Score, Sound, Production Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling. You know, all things that are essential in making any movie, Oscar-worthy or otherwise. Understandably, movie-makers are pissed – with all kinds of big names (Steven Spielberg, Jessica Chastain, Guillermo del Toro, Jane Campion and James Cameron, to name but a few) speaking out against the decision. It’s sure to result in some spicy acceptance speeches on the night, so be sure to watch out for any backlash on the night itself.
4) A chaotic result from the Fan Favourite public vote
If cutting categories is all about bumping ratings, so too is another part of this year’s show – the addition of the public-voted Oscars Fan Favourite. That in itself proved a controversial decision (is it not a bit patronising to have a ‘one for you’ award for viewers, to acknowledge the sort of films that the Academy tends to deem unworthy?), but it should also cause some entertaining chaos on the night. With internet fandom being what it is, the Camila Cabello-starring Cinderella quickly began leading the way when voting opened, before the Zack Snyder hive rallied behind Army Of The Dead. And then, fans of a certain troubled actor started voting in their droves for Minamata... In all likelihood, Spider-Man: No Way Home is expected to nab this one – but nothing is guaranteed when it comes to a public vote.
5) Billie Eilish and Beyoncé performing live
How’s this for a live line-up: Billie Eilish and Beyoncé both adorning the same bill. No, it’s not this year’s Glasto – they’ll each be hitting the Oscars stage, the former for her No Time To Die theme song, and the latter for her King Richard song ‘Be Alive’. That’s some serious star power. Oh, and if Queen B is doing requests, can we get a blast of ‘Formation’ too please?
6) The Godfather and James Bond tributes
There are some serious cinematic anniversaries this year – 60 years of big-screen Bond, and 50 years of The Godfather. And the Academy intends to pay tribute to both at this year’s ceremony, though what that involves remains to be seen. How about a dance number featuring all the greatest Bond villains (who doesn’t want to see Jaws doing the Dirty Dancing lift with Oddjob?) and a kazoo orchestra performing the Godfather Waltz? We know a few people who could assist with the latter.
7) Lin-Manuel Miranda possibly getting his EGOT
Let’s not jinx it, but the only thing Lin-Manuel Miranda is missing from his EGOT is the Oscar – and if Encanto’s heartbreaking ballad ‘Dos Oruguitas’ bags Best Original Song, he’ll officially be in the most lauded club that Hollywood has to offer. If only the Academy had shown more love to Tick, Tick… Boom! and In The Heights (robbed, robbed we say!), he’d have even more chances. And if he doesn’t get it? Well, next year he’ll have new original songs for The Little Mermaid to submit.
8) Drumming from Travis Barker
Yep, you read that right – the Blink-182 drummer will be bringing his insane sense of rhythm to the Oscars. He’s part of the house band, also including singer Sheila E., Robert Glasper, and Oscars music director Adam Blackstone. All together now: “In the car, I just can’t wait / To pick you up for our Oscars date…”
9) Tony Hawk presenting an award
You know what the Oscars have lacked in the past? An iconic skateboarder with the power to pull off a 900 degree rotation. Well, 2022 is making up for that with the fact that Tony Hawk will be presenting an award; kickflipping and nosegrinding tbc. Here’s hoping it won’t be anything like his cameo in Jackass Forever, which saw him covered head-to-toe in kaiju splooge from a giant monster penis. You never know, though, they are trying to shake things up this year. As the man himself puts it:
10) A genuinely tight Best Picture race
Yes, all the bells, whistles, songs, and skateboarders are fun – but the real reason we’ll be tuning in is to celebrate Cinema™, and it’s shaping up to be a pretty unpredictable Oscars. Up until a few days ago, it seemed like The Power Of The Dog was the clear frontrunner – but then in swept CODA at the Writers Guild and Producers Guild Awards, bagging the biggest prizes and sending its chances rocketing skyward. Neither are quite shoo-ins, though – there’s also been buzz about Belfast swooping in as a sweet-spot of Oscar-friendliness, while West Side Story might be exactly what the all-American Academy wants to celebrate. Come on, who doesn’t love full-tilt Spielberg? Controversy, chaos, and competition – it should be an Oscars to remember.