BLOCKBUSTER(R) Survey Highlights Most Popular 2005 Academy Award Nominees and All-Time Favorite Past Award Winners

BLOCKBUSTER(R) Survey Highlights Most Popular 2005 Academy Award Nominees and All-Time Favorite Past Award Winners

DALLAS, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While the official Academy Award winners will not be announced until February 27, the public has already chosen its favorites from the 2005 nominees. Respondents to a BLOCKBUSTER survey made their choices for this year's Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress awards, as well as for their favorites from among past winners in these categories.

The movie "Ray" dominated the Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Picture categories, with close to half of respondents (47%) selecting Jamie Foxx as the favorite for leading man and 34% choosing the movie for the year's top film. Only "The Aviator," with 37% of respondents' votes, surpassed "Ray" in the Best Picture category.

Survey respondents came out swinging in favor of Hilary Swank for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her part in "Million Dollar Baby." More than half of respondents (55%) indicated they felt her performance would merit recognition for best leading lady.

Popular Choices for Best Picture (2005)
"The Aviator" 37%
"Ray" 34%
"Million Dollar Baby" 18%
"Finding Neverland" 5%
"Sideways" 5%

Popular Choices for Best Actor in a Leading Role (2005)
Jamie Foxx in "Ray" 47%
Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Aviator" 24%
Clint Eastwood in "Million Dollar Baby" 16%
Johnny Depp in "Finding Neverland" 9%
Don Cheadle in "Hotel Rwanda" 5%

Popular Choices for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2005)
Hilary Swank in "Million Dollar Baby" 55%
Annette Bening in "Being Julia" 18%
Kate Winslet in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" 17%
Catalina Sandino Moreno in "Maria Full of Grace" 8%
Imelda Staunton in "Vera Drake" 2%



Survey respondents also chose winners for best-of-all-time in the Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress categories. Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" and Katherine Hepburn in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" were the top choices for Best Actor and Best Actress, while "Gone With The Wind" dominated the Best Picture category.

Top Popular Choices for Best Picture of All Time
"Gone With The Wind" 26%
"The Godfather" 15%
"Titanic" 15%
"Schindler's List" 14%
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" 12%

Top Popular Choices for Best Actor in a Leading Role of All Time
Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" 32%
Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" 17%
Gregory Peck in "To Kill A Mockingbird" 14%
Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" 14%
Denzel Washington in "Training Day" 7%

Top Popular Choices for Best Actress in a Leading Role of All Time
Katherine Hepburn in "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" 25%
Jodie Foster in "Silence of the Lambs" 21%
Julia Roberts in "Erin Brokovich" 19%
Halle Berry in "Monster's Ball" 7%
Kathy Bates in "Misery" 7%



Visit any BLOCKBUSTER store or blockbuster.com to rent or purchase Academy Award nominated or winning films currently out on DVD.

In addition, you can reserve nominated films with announced DVD release dates for future rental at blockbuster.com.

Past Academy Award winners, including films chosen for best-of-all-time awards by survey respondents, can be found for rent in special feature sections at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores across the country, as well as at blockbuster.com in the Award Winners section.

The survey was conducted through MarketTools, February 2005.

About BLOCKBUSTER


Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI)(NYSE:BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in- home movie and game entertainment, with more than 9,000 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company may be accessed worldwide at blockbuster.com.


Source: Blockbuster Inc.

CONTACT: Jerianne Thomas or Jamille Bradfield, both of Blockbuster Inc.,
+1-214-854-3190

Web site: http://www.blockbuster.com/


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