Oscar Trivia 2016: 10 Facts About The 88th Academy Awards You Need To Know

The biggest night in Hollywood, the 2016 Oscars, is just hours away. Before actors and filmmakers collect their awards for their work in last year's biggest and brightest projects Sunday in Hollywood, California, check out 10 fun trivia facts about the 88th annual Academy Awards, all of which are sure to impress your Oscar-viewing pals!

1. Not As Many Best Pictures

The competition for Best Picture is smaller this year. In 2014, 320 films were submitted to be recognized in the coveted category. This time around, only 305 films were eligible for a nomination. There are eight films nominated this year, including: "The Big Short," "Bridge of Spies," "Brooklyn," "Mad Max: Fury Road," "The Martian," "The Revenant," "Room" and "Spotlight."

2. Large Crowd

While the Dolby Theater in Hollywood will be packed to the brim with actors and filmmakers on Oscar night, there will be an equally sizable crowd watching the celebrities arrive from outside the venue. The red carpet fan bleachers hold approximately 745 people.

3. Oscar Home

The 88th annual show will be the 51st time ABC has broadcasted the award show. This will be the fifteenth time the show returns to the Dolby Theater.

4. Journalists In Attendance

If you’re a journalist, getting credentials to the Academy Awards is no easy task. The Academy has confirmed 787 press outlets requested access to cover this year's event. In 2015, only 288 outlets were accepted with over one thousand members of TV press, 63 photographers and 36 print reporters present.

5. Red Carpet Length

Let’s hope accident-prone "Joy" nominee Jennifer Lawrence has her wits about her this year. The red carpet is approximately 500 feet long and 33 feet wide. Talk about a Walk of Fame!

6. Academy Size

As of Dec. 14, the Academy had 6,261 voting members. That number is likely to change in the coming months as the Academy recently changed its member rules following the #OscarsSoWhite nomination controversy.

The Academy announced in January that it has plans to "double" the number of female and diverse members by 2020. The membership requirements have also changed. Each new member's voting status will remain in effect for 10 years and will only be renewed if said person has been "active in motions pictures during that decade." Those who do not meet the requirements will be moved to "emeritus status," which means they can no longer vote. Academy members can receive lifetime voting rights if they have been nominated or won an Oscar or after being active in three 10-year terms.

7. Oscar Statue In Numbers

Since the beginning of the Academy Awards in 1929, 3,001 Oscar statues have been given out. Last year, 51 individuals were given Academy Awards.

8. Production Takes A Village

It takes more than a couple of camera operators to make the Oscars a reality. With the show airing in more than 225 countries and with several hundred million viewers to expect to tune in this year, it takes a large group of specialists to make the telecast happen. There will be approximately 270 crew members working during the show, 100 crew trailers on site and 250 individuals working in the production office.

For the first time ever, Emmy-winning TV producer David Hill and “Django Unchained” Oscar-nominated producer Reginald Hudlin are producing. Hill, who served as a producer for the 2011 World Series broadcast and worked on an executive producer on “American Idol” called leading the Oscars an “exciting honor."

9. Chris Rock

Actor and comedian Chris Rock will be returning to the Oscar stage to host. He last hosted the program in 2005. Academy CEO, Dawn Hudson, said she views Rock, 51, as a “creative innovator” and someone who is “unafraid of his artistry.” Hill and Hudlin had equally positive remarks for Rock, saying they were certain he will be a “phenomenal Oscar host.”

10. When And Where To Watch

The most important fact to know about this year's Oscar and when and where to tune in! The 88th Academy Awards pre-show airs live on ABC Sunday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. EST. West Coast viewers can tune in at 4 p.m. PT. The show will start at 8:30 p.m. EST.