If online buzz from the week prior to the 82nd annual Academy Awards is any indication, the winners may have already been decided for best picture, best actor and best actress. A sample of data gathered by Empower MediaMarketing via our ChatterWatch(sm) service* indicates that Avatar is the favorite among social media fans to win Best Picture. The sci-fi blockbuster generated the highest level of favorable discussion, but The Hurt Locker was not far behind. With buzz was still coming in at the time the data was analyzed, The Hurt Locker may still have an outside chance. 

Jeff Bridges is a clear favorite in the social media space to win for actor in a leading role with the rest of the nominees in a close race for runner-up.

It was a slightly closer race for actress in a leading role, but the social media buzz seems to be giving the nod to Sandra Bullock.

Will the Academy agree with the social media populace? You’ll have to tune  in to find out.

* ChatterWatch is a proprietary Empower research tool that measures and analyzes social media to uncover valuable consumer insights and provide actionable recommendations for our clients’ brands.

By Dan Mayer, Empower MediaMarketing Research Strategist