The 74th Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, takes the cake as the longest Oscar ceremony in the show’s history.

Taking place on 24 March 2002, the show lasted four hours and 23 minutes, all of which were broadcasted live on ABC.

The show was watched by 41.82 million viewers, three percent lower than the year prior. Overall, the 74th annual show received lower ratings than in the past, but it was not necessarily the length of the show that the audience took issue with.

Follow all the information on the 2025 Oscars

• Oscars 2025, live: ceremony, speeches, and all the winners of the Academy Awards, live.
• List of winners for the 2025 Academy Awards: all the awardees at the Oscars in Los Angeles.
• 2025 Oscar for Best Picture
• 2025 Oscar for Best Director
• 2025 Oscar for Best Actress
• 2025 Oscar for Best Actor
• 2025 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress
• 2025 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor
• Oscars 2025: What is the order of awards and how many categories are there at the Academy Awards?
• What time are the 2025 Oscars? Schedule, TV, how to watch, and where to follow the Oscar ceremony online.

What is the average length of the Oscar ceremony?

Most Oscar ceremonies last no longer than three-and-a half hours, meaning that the 2002 show was just over 40 minutes longer than the average.

Interestingly, the show’s content and length have extended over the years. The first ceremony held in 1929 only lasted 15 minutes.

How long has the ceremony been in recent years?

In 2023, the ceremony lasted three hours and 37 minutes, three minutes less than the year prior. TV ratings in the United States were significantly up, however, from 16.62 million to 18.75 million.

This year, Conan O’Brien will host for the first time. The 97th Oscars will be where we will see how the successful host will keep time and if he can surpass Oprah Winfrey or become the fastest presenter in history.