A new year means a new awards season reaching a fever pitch.
All of them of course are building, inevitably, to the big one.
Oscar night, which this year falls on March 2, 2025.
We have thus assembled 20 films for your perusal below.
That old-fashioned sense of scale and stately grandeur will appeal to the Academy, as will the subject matter.
The films ultimately romantic views on the power of artistic achievement and legacy will speak to the Academy.
A24
Still, we we think the film is too heavy (and long) to win the top prize.
Starring Ralph Fiennes as a priest wracked with doubt (is there any other kind at the movies?
Its also a crowdpleaser that won over audiences at every festival it played at.
Focus Features
That is important during moments of anxiety.
In other words,Conclavecould win by being a lot of folks second choice.
Its also ticked off plenty of social media users.
Netflix
Jacques Audiard will almost be certainly nominated for Best Director and probably for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well.
It should dominate in the Original Songs category.
Anora
Some folks will tell youAnorais the real frontrunner this year.
NEON
Id like to believe them since I countAnoraas my second favorite movie of the year.
Truly though,Anorais terrific.
So theres a decent chance that I am not giving the Academy enough credit.
Universal Pictures
And hopefully, Yura Borisov will surprise folks and fight his way into a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
It also boasts a barn-burning performance by Cynthia Erivo, which should earn her a Best Actress nomination.
It will also do well in technical categories like Best Hair and Makeup, Costumes, and Production Design.
WB
Dune: Part Two
Timing is a strange thing.
WhenDune: Part Onewas nominated for Best Picture, some quarters speculated it could be a covert dark horse.
but all the populist momentum has shifted toWicked.
Searchlight Pictures
Also wheres the love for Austin Butlers wicked work as an evil space albino Commodus?
Its getting into Best Picture and possibly Best Adapted Screenplay, even if it wont win either prize.
Jesse Eisenbergs direction of longtime friend Kieran Culkin will also probably result in Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor.
Searchlight Pictures
We also think Eisenbergs work as a writer onA Real PainisAnoras biggest completion in the Best Original Screenplay category.
Were willing to wager it gets into Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and perhaps Best Film Editing.
Hell at least be nominated in that race though, and perhaps could still upset Brody and/or Fiennes.
Paramount Pictures
Meanwhile Clarence Maclin could get into the Best Supporting Actor shortlist.
But salvation (or damnation?)
Giger-style a younger, more nubile version of herself (Margaret Qualley).
A24
The metaphor is not subtle, nor does it need to be.
Its one of the best movies of the year, and one of the bigger indie hits to boot.
And its definitely the frontrunner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
MUBI
But this technique is more than just a gimmick.
The narrative becomes as slippery and haunting as childhood memories 40 years after the fact.
It is a beautiful film that should be a frontrunner for Best Picture and Best Director.
Amazon MGM Studios
Still, its definitely getting into Best Adapted Screenplay and, if theres any justice, Best Cinematography.
It also has a dark horse chance at getting into that coveted fifth spot for Best Original Screenplay.
Even so, Denzel Washington is a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
NEON
He might even be a dark horse candidate to beat Culkin.
The film will also likely be nominated for Production Design, Costumes, and Visual Effects.
Nosferatu
Robert Eggers formidable and foreboding films are an acquired taste.
Paramount Pictures
It seems this perhaps includes the Academy, which snubbed even the obvious technical achievements inThe LighthouseandThe Northman.
The film is doing amazing business.
That could move the needle, and personally wed love to see it.
Focus Features
In that vein, serious considerations for Picture, Directing, and Best Actress are probably out.
The film will also probably be nominated for Best Costume Design and maybe Best Cinematography.
Its inability to even be on the bubble is perhaps an indictment of modern Academy instincts.
It also has an outside, if remote, chance of snagging a Best Original Screenplay nomination.
It also is built entirely around a haymaker performance by Marianne Jean-Baptiste as the woman in question.
Queer
Luca Guadagninos other frothy 2024 film is a lot less mainstream and easy-to-like asChallengers.
It is, after all, based on a William S. Burroughs novel.
Craig will likely get nominated for Best Actor, but probably not much else for this one.
Netflix
Amazon MGM Studios
StudioCanal
A24
A24
