Why Best Picture nominees fare poorly at box office

The nine contenders for the Oscars this year had low ticket sales

In handicapping the Oscar race for Best Picture, it’s best to follow the money — or, more accurately, the lack thereof.

The nine films announced on Tuesday in the running for the coveted Academy Award crushed it with critics, but they didn't win much in the way of crowds. At the box office, they’ve rounded up an average of $53.5 million in ticket sales, which would rank No 67 out of all films released in 2016. La La Land, a favourite that already won a Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy, leads the pack with $89.8 million in domestic theatres.