2014 Oscars Had International Scope

The 86th Annual Academy Awards took over Hollywood Sunday night. One of the top awards was given to "12 Years a Slave," making British director Steven McQueen the first African American director to receive an award for Best Picture. The film tells the story of a free African American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The movie took home other awards, including Lupita Nyong'o for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapated Screenplay. 

McQueen was not the only international award recipient. Australian actress Cate Blanchett took home the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Blue Jasmine" and Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director for "Gravity."

Despite all the statues handed out to actors, directors and producers on Sunday, ABC may have been the biggest winner, scoring the highest rated Oscar telecast in ten years. According to the network, the 86th Annual Academy Awards was TV's most-watched entertainment telecast since 2004, beating out the Grammys and the Golden Globes. The show reached nearly 43 miilion television viewers in the U.S. and ratings were up six percent from last year.