The 94th Academy Awards was overshadowed by Will Smith slapping presenter Chris Rock, leading to Smith's ten-year ban from Academy events.
Key Facts
- Ceremony date
- March 27, 2022
- Venue
- Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Best Picture winner
- CODA
- Most awards (single film)
- Dune — 6 awards
- US television viewers
- 16.62 million
- Categories honored
- 23
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 94th Academy Awards honored films released between March 1 and December 31, 2021. The ceremony was rescheduled from its usual late February slot to avoid conflicts with the 2022 Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LVI, which was held in nearby Inglewood, California.
The ceremony took place on March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre, hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes. CODA won Best Picture among its three awards, while Dune led all films with six wins. The broadcast was marred when Best Actor winner Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock on stage after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife's medical condition.
The Academy banned Will Smith from attending its events for ten years following the slapping incident. The telecast drew 16.62 million US viewers but received negative reviews, with additional criticism directed at the decision to present eight award categories outside the main broadcast.