From visionary space opera epics to steamy sports dramas, these movies won’t go unnoticed from the Academy Awards.
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Updated 5 months ago,November 26, 2024
Its hard to believe its that time of year again, but the upcoming Academy Award season is officially upon us.
With the final few weeks of 2024 looming on the horizon, its worth wondering which of the years past films stand a chance at earning an accolade at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony.
Challengers / Warner Bros.
Fortunately, 2024 has come loaded with numerous potential Oscar contenders, including such critically praised hits asAnora, Dune: Part Two,andInside Out 2,among many others.
From visionary space opera epics to steamy sports dramas, here are seven 2024 films most likely to take home an Oscar this year.
Anora
Having won the Palme dOr at this years Cannes Film Festival,Anoraseems poised to perform favorably at the Academy Awards, almost assuredly earning nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actress (Mikey Madison), among other categories.
The highest-grossing film from director Sean Baker yet,Anoraonce again illustrates Bakers sympathetic treatment of Americas most marginalized groups, specifically focusing on the romantic connection between a Russian oligarchs son and a Brooklyn-based exotic dancer.
Like Bakers previous work onTangerine, The Florida Project,andRed Rocket,its an eminently satisfying film that defies clear-cut genre classifications, dovetailing romance, drama, comedy, and elements of a thriller into one flavorful combination.
Dune: Part Two
As one of the most noteworthy films of 2024, its safe to say thatDune: Part Twois a shoo-in for an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Neon
Just as the previous entry in the series had left viewers awestruck with its impeccable special effects and expansive narrative scope,Dune: Part Twomade for an ideal continuation of the series, focusing on Paul Atreides continued uphill battle against the corrupt forces of House Harkonnen.
A splendid cross betweenLawrence of Arabia, Star Wars,andThe Lord of the Rings,its a novel sci-fi film sure to earn praise and attention for many years to come.
Sing Sing
One thing the Academy simply adores are underdog films coming in and making a clean sweep at their awards ceremony.
Warner Bros.
While theres no shortage of indie dramas that might fill out this specific categorization, one neednt look further than the recent prison drama,Sing Sing.
A fascinating portrayal of the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program,Sing Singhas the potential to earn global praise at the Oscars, mainly thanks to its believable performances, emotional script, and sweeping musical soundtrack.
Challengers
Like his aforementioned contemporaries Sean Baker (Anora) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two), director Luca Guadagnino has been on something of a career hot streak in recent years, churning out such celebrated titles asCall Me By Your Name, Suspiria,andBones and All.
A24
Continuing forward with this creative momentum, Guadagnino has released two fantastic movies this past year: the romantic sports dramaChallengersand the period romance film,Queer.
Though each film stands a decent chance at earning an Oscar nomination,Challengersranked as one of the most talked-about movies of 2024 for a reason.
Bolstered by Zendayas commanding lead performance, its a rapturous romantic epic that never fails to gauge our collective interest.
Conclave
Adapted from Robert Harriss best-selling novel,Conclavetackles the darker side of the Catholic Church an organization where the idealism of its religious beliefs is juxtaposed with the long-dormant secrets of the churchs highest members.
A cerebral thriller with a tight script and fine performances (none more so than Ralph Fiennes starring role),Conclavehas garnered nothing short of glowing reviews from critics and mainstream viewers, leaving little doubt that itll earn plenty of prestigious nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Inside Out 2
The Wild Robot
Of course, Pixar isnt theonlymajor animation studio to see a major release this year.
Focus Features
In late summer, DreamWorks Animation oversaw the theatrical debut of their acclaimed sci-fi family film,The Wild Robot.Adapted from Peter Browns award-winning childrens novel of the same name,The Wild Robotmight very well be the best DreamWorks film the studio has yet to release, even when compared to the studios most illustrious modern films likeKung Fu Panda 4orPuss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Even if it somehow fails to earn a nomination for Best Picture, theres a very strong possibility the film will leave with this years award for Best Animated Feature.
Walt Disney
Universal Pictures
