New 'Popular Film' Oscar Award Put On Hold

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — The idea to hand out a popular film Oscar has been shelved for now following widespread backlash, but film academy president John Bailey says that the new category was well-intentioned in its efforts to reflect a changing industry and misunderstood by its critics.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Thursday that it will further study plans for the category, citing the fact that implementing a new award three quarters of the way into the year would create challenges for films that have already been released.

The academy announced the new category for "outstanding achievement in popular film" last month without parameters, spawning immediate questions about the criteria and how it would impact critically and commercially films such as "Black Panther," which has been cited as a possible best picture contender.

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