Contenders for the Oscars in 2024

When does the Oscar race technically begin? Well, the moment the previous Oscar ceremony ends, of course. There are roughly 364 days of campaigning to reach the coveted statuette, and some films have been in the running since last February. Let's have a look at the movies highlighted by expert media.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, with a screenplay by Eric Roth, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Fraser, Robert De Niro, John Lithgow, and Jesse Plemons. If all goes well, this film could exceed ten nominations.

Photo: Apple+

Christopher Nolan gave it his all in his biopic about the creator of the atomic bomb, 'Oppenheimer.' This three-hour epic could be an "all or nothing" for the Academy because it has historically ignored the fan-favorite director.

Photo: Universal Pictures

To add another popular director, here's Michael Mann with the history of Ferrari. He directed three talented actors in the movie: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley.

In 2021, the British actress, and director Emerald Fennell won an Oscar for the powerful film 'A Promising Young Woman.' In 2024, she has a chance to repeat the glory with 'Saltburn,' a film she wrote, directed, and produced.

'Saltburn' will star Rosamund Pike and Barry Keoghan (photo). He was already nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2023 when he appeared in 'The Banshees of Inisherin.'

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been dominating Hollywood for 25 years. 'Air' could potentially be nominated in multiple categories, among them being script, direction, and acting.

Greta Gerwig brought one of the most-talked-about movies and a box office hit with 'Barbie.' It is on experts' lists for a possible Oscar nomination.

Whether Ryan Gosling or Margot Robbie are nominated remains to be seen, but in the categories of costume, makeup, or editing, 'Barbie' seems a likely contender.

Yorgos Lanthimo's 'Poor Things' has been named several times as a contender for an Oscar. It stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe, who all are possible candidates for an Academy Award, Entertainment Weekly estimates.

Bradley Cooper may finally have the stars aligned to sweep the 2024 Oscars in his biopic of composer Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro.' He directs and stars in the film alongside Carey Mulligan and Maya Hawke.

Throughout his career, Cooper has been nominated for 5 Oscars: 4 for acting and 1 for best screenplay. However, his mantelpiece still doesn't have a golden statuette. His co-star, Carey Mulligan, has been nominated for an Oscar twice, and her role as Bernstein's wife Felicia might well get her a third nomination.

Some might say that Steven Spielberg's 1986 classic 'The Color Purple' was robbed by the Academy when it was nominated for 11 awards and took home 0. Perhaps this musical adaptation of the original masterpiece will have a different fate in 2024, nearly 40 years after Spielberg's release.

The cast of Wes Anderson's  'Asteroid City' is almost too good to be true, with Oscar winners in abundance. Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Tilda Swinton.... Yet, the film is not prominent in the contenders' predictions of Entertainment Weekly and Screen Rant.

This Focus Feature comedy starring Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa, directed by Alexander Payne, has been named by several expert media as a contender for an Oscar nomination.

Already on the shortlist for Best Foreign Film nominations, 'The Zone of Interest' is considered a contender for 'Best Picture' by Entertainment Weekly and Screen Rant as well.

'Past Lives' premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. Celine Song's debut points to success, but like everything else on the list, we'll have to wait and see.

Director Celine Song is not the only one expected to get nominated. Greta Lee, the film's leading lady, is already swimming in the 'Best Actress' pool for her portrayal of the title character, Nora.

Cord Jefferson has written this film and makes his directorial debut with the comedy-drama about a frustrated African-American author. Leading roles are for Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross.

This Netflix film directed Tod Haynes stars Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore.

We end our list with the biopic of Elvis' wife, actress Priscilla Presley, which continues the Oscar buzz following the nominations of 'Elvis films' in 2022 and 2023. Sofia Coppola directs, and Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi star in this film.