<p>Oscars television ratings increased for the second year in a row, as 18.7 million viewers tuned in to watch hit sci-fi <em>Everything Everywhere All At Once</em> dominate a well-reviewed ceremony, the ABC network said Monday.</p>.<p>With Jimmy Kimmel back as host, and a number of bona fide blockbusters among the nominated films including <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em> and <em>Avatar: The Way of Water</em>, organizers had hoped that the 95th Academy Awards would draw audiences back.</p>.<p>The average audience figure marks a 12 per cent increase from last year's telecast -- which was mostly remembered for Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-wins-oscar-for-best-picture-1199662.html" target="_blank">'Everything Everywhere All at Once' wins Oscar for Best Picture</a></strong></p>.<p>The Oscars' all-time low came in 2021, when a stripped-back pandemic-era edition of Hollywood's biggest award show drew around 10 million.</p>.<p>The upward trend is a welcome shot in the arm for live award shows, which have been shedding viewers more broadly as they compete for eyeballs with streamers and social media highlight clips.</p>.<p>Still, Sunday's ratings figure is the third-lowest in Oscars history.</p>.<p>The gala, which featured big-name musical performances from Rihanna and Lady Gaga, was generally praised by critics.</p>.<p>Following the previous year's infamous slap, the Hollywood Reporter said Sunday's gala -- notable for several tearful winners' speeches -- was "mercifully low on drama, movingly high on emotion."</p>.<p>Variety called the show "familiar" but "tasteful."</p>.<p>But <em>The New York Times </em>said the lack of any significant upsets -- or on-stage violence -- made the show "a shrink-wrapped, anodyne exercise" which "stuck safely to the script."</p>.<p><em>Everything Everywhere</em>, a word-of-mouth smash hit that has grossed $100 million at the global box office, won seven prizes including best picture, as its star Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman to win best actress.</p>.<p>Yeoh plays an exhausted Chinese laundromat owner embroiled in a battle with an inter-dimensional supervillain -- who happens to be her daughter.</p>.<p>The ratings issued by ABC on Monday are preliminary, with final data due to be published Tuesday.</p>
<p>Oscars television ratings increased for the second year in a row, as 18.7 million viewers tuned in to watch hit sci-fi <em>Everything Everywhere All At Once</em> dominate a well-reviewed ceremony, the ABC network said Monday.</p>.<p>With Jimmy Kimmel back as host, and a number of bona fide blockbusters among the nominated films including <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em> and <em>Avatar: The Way of Water</em>, organizers had hoped that the 95th Academy Awards would draw audiences back.</p>.<p>The average audience figure marks a 12 per cent increase from last year's telecast -- which was mostly remembered for Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-wins-oscar-for-best-picture-1199662.html" target="_blank">'Everything Everywhere All at Once' wins Oscar for Best Picture</a></strong></p>.<p>The Oscars' all-time low came in 2021, when a stripped-back pandemic-era edition of Hollywood's biggest award show drew around 10 million.</p>.<p>The upward trend is a welcome shot in the arm for live award shows, which have been shedding viewers more broadly as they compete for eyeballs with streamers and social media highlight clips.</p>.<p>Still, Sunday's ratings figure is the third-lowest in Oscars history.</p>.<p>The gala, which featured big-name musical performances from Rihanna and Lady Gaga, was generally praised by critics.</p>.<p>Following the previous year's infamous slap, the Hollywood Reporter said Sunday's gala -- notable for several tearful winners' speeches -- was "mercifully low on drama, movingly high on emotion."</p>.<p>Variety called the show "familiar" but "tasteful."</p>.<p>But <em>The New York Times </em>said the lack of any significant upsets -- or on-stage violence -- made the show "a shrink-wrapped, anodyne exercise" which "stuck safely to the script."</p>.<p><em>Everything Everywhere</em>, a word-of-mouth smash hit that has grossed $100 million at the global box office, won seven prizes including best picture, as its star Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman to win best actress.</p>.<p>Yeoh plays an exhausted Chinese laundromat owner embroiled in a battle with an inter-dimensional supervillain -- who happens to be her daughter.</p>.<p>The ratings issued by ABC on Monday are preliminary, with final data due to be published Tuesday.</p>