The 76th Annual Academy Awards scored its best ratings in four years, ABC reported Monday, averaging an audience of 43.5 million viewers, or 10.5 million viewers more than last year. The show's 29.6 rating and 43 share was 17 percent higher than last year's 20.4 rating and 32 share.

The total audience for Sunday's telecast was the highest since 2000, the year American Beauty won for best picture, drawing 46.3 million viewers to the Oscar show.

The telecast also was the most-watched entertainment show of the year, easily outdrawing the Golden Globes (26.8 million) and the Grammys (26.3 million). Only the Super Bowl has done better (89.7).

Nielsen Media Research, which has tracked total-viewer records since 1974, lists these as the Top 20 Oscar telecasts:

(listed here in millions of total viewers followed by the year aired and the best picture):

1. 55.2, 1998, Titanic

2. 53.2, 1983, Gandhi

3. 48.9, 1980, Kramer vs. Kramer

4. 48.5, 1978, Annie Hall

5. 48.2, 1995, Forrest Gump

6. 48.1, 1975, Godfather Part II

7. 46.7, 1976, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

8. 46.33, 2000, American Beauty

9. 46.30, 1979, Deer Hunter

10. 46.2, 1982, Chariots of Fire

11. 45.7, 1993, Unforgiven

12. 45.6, 1999, Shakespeare in Love

13. 45.0, 1994, Schindler's List

14. 44.8, 1996, Braveheart

15. 44.4, 1992, Silence of the Lambs

16. 43.5, 2004,The Lord of the Rings

17. 42.9, 2001, Gladiator

18. 42.7, 1991, Dances With Wolves

19. 42.6, 1989, Rain Man

20. 42.2, 1988, Last Emperor