It wouldn’t be the Oscars without a memorable on-stage blunder, right? This year, the iconic actor Al Pacino had a moment that no one could ignore. It’s being dubbed as the biggest mistake since the infamous La La Land/Moonlight mix-up of 2016.
When it was Al Pacino’s turn to announce the Academy Award for Best Picture, he skipped over the nominees entirely. This was a significant error because the Best Picture category is considered the most prestigious of them all. Normally, presenters remind the audience of the deserving nominees before revealing the winner. But last night, Al Pacino went straight to announcing Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” as the victor in the Best Picture category.
“Oppenheimer” had an incredible night at the 96th Academy Awards, taking home not only Best Picture but also six additional awards, including Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
Al Pacino’s premature announcement became the talk of the town. Internet users couldn’t help but comment on the mishap, finding humor in the situation. One person wrote, “Al Pacino creating a Moonlight/La La Land moment while still reading the right name. Master class.” Another user tweeted, “And my eyes see #Oppenheimer. This is going to be iconic! Al Pacino was such a cutie today. #Oscars2024”.
While it may not have been a La La Land/Moonlight level mistake, Al Pacino’s unexpected declaration of “I see Oppenheimer here!” definitely deviated from the intended script. One person humorously stated, “If Al Pacino said the winner was La La Land, that would have been the best moment of the night.”
The La La Land references take us back to 2016 when the wrong film was announced as the Best Picture winner. La La Land was mistakenly declared the winner instead of Moonlight, causing confusion and disbelief. To make matters worse, the mistake was realized during acceptance speeches.
It’s worth noting that the mix-up in 2016 occurred because the announcer was given the envelope for Best Actress instead of Best Picture.
If you watched this year’s Academy Awards, we’d love to know your favorite moment!
