When you think about it, why should it even be a factor in this day and age?

Actors 1260
Producers 469
Executives 429
Sound 415
Writers 396
Art Directors 378
Directors 376
Public Relations 371
Members at Large 366
Shorts/Feature Ani 316
Visual Effects 249
Music 237
Editors 224
Cinematographers 186
Documentary 134

Total 5973

There are 5973 academy members. Let's say that each DVD actually cost the studios 20 bucks a pop. That's $119,460.00. I have no idea how much postage for one DVD would be, but let's say it's 5 bucks. The whole thing would be a 25 dollar investment per academy member, and I'm sure they have each and every mailing address at their finger tips. That's just under 150 grand.

Doesn't this put things into a whole new playing field, as far as campaigning goes? Sure they want to get nice attractive looking FYC posters out there, and it helps to have a movie playing so you can have TV commercials at your disposal to throw in sound bites from all the acolades from top critics.

"Flags of Our Fathers is THE timeless masterpiece of our time. It will be showered with Oscars." - Roger Ebert

Disclaimer: The above quote isn't real, just being used as an example of the blurbs that can be shown in TV ads that could have *some* influence, but that doesn't necessarily mean the box office has to be strong to do that. It would appear that all films are on a much more level playing field now, regardless of release date, box office, or budget, since everybody has the ability to put their movie right in the hands of the voters in a simple and convenient little package.

Perhaps this is the very tie in to last year's lack of a big money maker, it doesn't matter anymore with DVD options available now.

What is a logical reason that Box office and release date even matter today?

At first glance I thought Roger Ebert was back and doing alright but then I read the below disclaimer. You had my hopes up

I don't know about box office having a major impact, but I'm pretty sure release date has a little something to do with it. Obviously, Crash proved otherwise (and I'm not good with Oscar history, so I don't know how many pre-Oscar season releases actually won Best Picture), but I think films that are released in the Oscar season are the current "talk" and get more attention. Crash was kind of unexpected.

Box office matters to the studios, other wise why make movies. Now it doesn't matter in what wins, but I am sure the studios care if they make money and will do what they can to make money.

Well, Crash's buzz also peaked at the right time. Brokeback's mini-backlash was happening right as ballots were being sent out, and everyone started going all "Omigod Crash is AMAZING." Also, Lionsgate was able to send out 130,000 screeners without worry because it had been out on DVD for so long by then. So, I think that at this point, if you want to win Best Picture, you either need to be released late enough so that people discover you before they hate you, or need to slip in thanks to some strong supporters before going for everyone else.

Bottom line: Time your Oscar campaign so you peak just enough to get in and go over the top right before everyone hates you.

As for the overall effect of box office, I think it sets a marker for the overall appeal, because hey, the members of the academy are just like you and me, right? Crash was a film that started out kinda small for a wide release but stayed steady as people discovered it. Brokeback Mountain started VERY high, and stayed high at the box office until, ironically, the weekend after the nominations were announced.