The emotional toll following the results of the 2016 presidential election varied on the spectrum from utter devastation to complete vindication. Hollywood’s responses have also varied, depending on the ways in which the industry and the world react to the outcome. This upcoming awards season will mark the 24th time the Academy has had to navigate an Oscars ceremony in the wake of a presidential election. Going on 93 years of celebration, each winner that has preceded or followed an election has said different things about where we are as a country. Is the Academy a political predictor or is it merely a reflection?
A 2012 piece from the Huffington Post found that with the exception of two times, in the last 50 years, a Democrat has won the White House when the Golden Globe for best picture (drama) and the Oscar for best picture have not gone to the same film. Typically, when the same picture takes both honors, a Republican wins. To remind readers of the score: Sam Mendes’ “1917” won at the Globes last year while Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” took home the prize from the Academy. So we may be in great shape for Election Day.
Take a look at some of the winners in past election years below.