Oscarmetrics: The Math Behind the Biggest Night in Hollywood

by Ben Zauzmer

Can statistics predict the Oscars? Do older or younger actors have a better chance to win awards? What are the hidden biases of Academy Awards voters? Do films that are more popular with audiences win more often? What are the biggest upsets in Oscar history and how can they be explained?Join Ben Zauzmer, an awards statistician whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Hollywood Reporter, on a journey through the mathematical side of the Academy Awards. Zauzmer answers these and many other fascinating questions in an analysis of the biggest night in Hollywood like no one has ever done before. A unique and captivating read for movie and data fans alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

284 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2019

Reviews

[Stephen Groenewegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Zauzmer's entertaining book is about using mathematical probabilities and statistics to predict the results of the Oscars.

He devotes a chapter to each Oscar category, poses a question broadly relevant to that category ('Does playing a historical figure help win an Oscar?' for Best Actress) and sets about answering it with stats.

What saves the book from being gimmicky, is that he is obviously a fan of the Oscars, Oscar movies and movies in general. So he asks appropriate questions and applies his mathematical and statistical knowledge astutely.

His writing style is refreshingly clear and free of jargon. Oscarmetrics proves there is room for yet another entry in the vast field of reference books about the Academy Awards.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really enjoyable. I love math and I love the movies so the combination of that two suited my interest well. The author is also very careful to point out the statistics, probabilities, etc. for what they are, not predictive but associative. The depth used by the author can be enjoyed by both the math lover and non math lover alike.

[Stephen Leaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m definitely not a math guy, but I am an Oscar enthusiast, and while I at times found it difficult to follow the charts, I found this a fun read. My love for movies and Oscar’s trumped the math parts of this book.

[Paul Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like data, the Oscars, and/or predicting which films will win Oscars, this is a book for you. Ben Zauzmer uses historical data to project Oscar winners, and he lays out his methods and learnings here. More generically, this is also a good book on how to think about data and analyze it.

[Arjun]

Bookmark...
11 October
Chapter 2
Best Visual Effects

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea. Ultimately a bunch of blog posts knitted together, but enjoyable enough and a very fast read.

[Cole Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished it on the second go-round. This book seems like it designed in a lab to be to my liking, and in many ways it scratches that itch perfectly. I think at times it gets a little too cutesy for its own good, failing to ask some important questions while answering others in favor of nice organization/addressing every category in a roundabout way. It's amazing too just how outdated a book like this can be after just a few years (which have been unpredictable, history-averse, and full of drama within the Academy). I am a lifelong fan of the work Ben Zauzmer is d0ing, and history will continue to improve that work!