<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/" -->

---
title: Oscars 2016: Kids Explain Best Picture Nominees
description: Their plot summaries are hilariously incorrect
canonical: https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/
author: Samantha Grossman
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2016-02-26T21:39:32.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:30:32.463Z
og:title: Watch Kids Try to Explain This Year&#x27;s Best Picture Nominees
og:description: Their plot summaries are hilariously incorrect
og:url: https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Watch Kids Try to Explain This Year&#x27;s Best Picture Nominees
twitter:description: Their plot summaries are hilariously incorrect
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Watch Kids Try to Explain This Year's Best Picture Nominees

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="03d517ea-00b2-4667-9f26-0ee3f1762ac6" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=03d517ea-00b2-4667-9f26-0ee3f1762ac6&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=03d517ea-00b2-4667-9f26-0ee3f1762ac6&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=03d517ea-00b2-4667-9f26-0ee3f1762ac6&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->



by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Feb 26, 2016 9:39 PM UTC

by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Feb 26, 2016 9:39 PM UTC

Do not watch the following clip if you’re looking for a helpful, informative recap of the eight Best Picture nominees in time for Sunday’s Academy Awards. Do watch it if you want to see a bunch of kids being goofy and hilarious.

[Fandango Movieclips](https://www.youtube.com/movieclipsTRAILERS) rounded up a bunch of youngsters to explain all eight films nominated for the highest honor at the Oscars. Right away, it’s clear these kids have not seen the films (which is good, as many are rated R.) Regardless, they still go ahead and offer plot summaries with total confidence:

_Brooklyn?_ Oh yeah, that’s a movie about a young woman who lands a job at the Disney Store in Hollywood. _The Revenant?_ That’s a fun little move starring Tom Hardy and Leonardo Di_Carp_io.

One kid does manage to accurately explain the plot of _The Martian:_ “a guy trapped on Mars, no food, no water, no nothing.” But when asked who stars in it, he goes rogue and responds, “John F. Kennedy.”

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/"},"headline":"Watch Kids Try to Explain This Year's Best Picture Nominees","datePublished":"2016-02-26T21:39:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:30:32.463Z","description":"Their plot summaries are hilariously incorrect","url":"https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/","keywords":["Newsfeed","movies"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Grossman","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4239472/oscar-best-picture-nominees-kids-explains/","name":"Watch Kids Try to Explain This Year's Best Picture Nominees"}}]}]
```

