Why Oscar voting always picks incredibly average films as winners [video]

This year’s Oscars will be held February

Since 2009, the Oscars have been largely awarded to also-ran, second-place, kinda good films that everyone kinda liked … and Vox explains why.

The process is called instant run-off voting and awards movies that many voters select as second or third choices while punishing films that were picked as best by different voters. Check the video to understand why films like ‘Birdman’ beat out awesome movies like ‘American Sniper.’

So this year when the Oscars ignore Star Wars … you’ll know why.