The curtains have closed on the Oscars, and as we peer over the horizon following a six-month Hollywood hiatus due to the union strikes, the initial trepidation over a sparse cinematic future will be sure to dissipate once you look at the road ahead. Despite fears, the film landscape seems to be not only replenished but vibrant, with several compelling titles already making waves.
An annual tradition at Variety is to take a look ahead at what contenders could be brewing for next year’s Oscar season. Last year’s blind screening correctly identified five of the 10 eventual best-picture nominees, while the year before only found two. There’s no correct method to the madness.
Warner Bros. Leads this promising cadre, already spotlighting Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Two’ as a formidable contender across numerous categories. The studio’s lineup is also bolstered by eagerly anticipated sequels such as George Miller’s ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ and Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. The sequel sees Joaquin Phoenix returning to his Oscar-winning role, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn.
Universal Pictures hopes to capitalize after winning best picture with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” and get awards play from its commercial offerings, including the film adaptation of “Wicked” with superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Paramount Pictures is aiming to replicate the success of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ with Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator 2,’ which boasts a stellar cast including Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal.
Disney and its subsidiaries (20th Century Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures and Walt Disney Animation) are poised to captivate audiences with potential blockbusters like “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and sequels to “Inside Out” and “Moana.”
Recently crowned two-time best actress winner Emma Stone reteams with Yorgos Lanthimos for Searchlight’s anthology ‘Kinds of Kindness’, sharing the screen with Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe. Sony Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics are fine-tuning their awards hopefuls, highlighted by possibly Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great,” said to feature a baity turn by Oscar nominee June Squibb (“Nebraska”).
Projects from Robert Zemeckis (“Here” with Tom Hanks), Jason Reitman (“SNL: 1975” with Gabriel LaBelle), and Taika Waititi (“Klara and the Sun” with Jenna Ortega) signal Sony Studios’ ambition. Furthermore, A24, fresh from dual best picture nominations, looks strong with films such as “Sing Sing” with recent Oscar nominee Colman Domingo and John Crowley’s romantic drama “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.
Streaming platforms, eager to rebound from a year of modest Oscar recognition, are poised for a resurgence. Netflix, in particular, showcases a diverse slate including Richard Linklater’s action flick “Hit Man” with Glen Powell and the film adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” produced by Denzel Washington and starring an impressive ensemble that could lead to rewarding another MCU star: Samuel L. Jackson.
Apple Original Films looks to rebound after “Killers of the Flower Moon” went home empty-handed with dramas like “Fancy Dance” with Lily Gladstone and Steve McQueen’s epic “Blitz,” capturing Londoners’ resilience during WWII bombings with Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson.
Amazon MGM will tantalize with Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ and forthcoming gems like RaMell Ross’ narrative feature debut ‘The Nickel Boys’ with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
Director Mike Leigh is back with Hard Truths, and Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies) is reuniting.
Animation, a medium rich with potential, will be highlighted by DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot,” promising a captivating blend of storytelling and visual innovation, and a potential killer score from Kris Bowers.
Also from the indie sector, Neon’s post-apocalyptic musical ‘The End’ and Audrey Diwan’s erotic drama ‘Emmanuelle’ promise diversity and danger.
Movies still looking for a distributor will be at the top of mind, with Paolo Sorrentino’s monochromatic fantasy “Parthenope” and Pablo Larraín’s portrayal of Maria Callas with Angelina Jolie sure to stir intrigue. Moreover, we’re excited for Andrea Arnold’s upcoming movie ‘Bird’ with Barry Keoghan, which has an unreleased plot.
Rounding out the excitement are Francis Ford Coppola’s self-funded sci-fi epic ‘Megalopolis’ with Adam Driver, and Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ with Daniel Craig. Both projects appear to be full of innovation, which could mark a thrilling period for movie enthusiasts.
NOTE: All release dates, studios and credits are not final and are subject to change. All listed films and performers are listed in alphabetical order.
Best Picture
- “Bird” (No U.S. Distribution)
Lee Groombridge, Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross - “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) ***
Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Michael Schaefer - “Conclave” (Focus Features)
Alice Dawson, Robert Harris, Juliette Howell, Michael Jackman, Tessa Ross - “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve - “The End” (Neon)
Joshua Oppenheimer, Signe Byrge Sørensen - “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures)
Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Kasia Malipan - “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution)
Michael Bederman, Francis Ford Coppola - “The Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM Studios/Orion)
Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine - “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Todd Black, Denzel Washington - “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
Jeff Hermann
Director
- Andrea Arnold — “Bird” (No U.S. Distribution)
- Francis Ford Coppola — “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution)
- Steve McQueen — “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) ***
- Joshua Oppenheimer — “The End” (Neon)
- Denis Villeneuve — “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
Actor
- Daniel Craig — “Queer” (No U.S. Distribution)
- Colman Domingo — “Sing Sing” (A24)
- Ralph Fiennes — “Conclave” (Focus Features) ***
- Andrew Garfield — “We Live in Time” (A24)
- John David Washington — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Actress
- Lady Gaga — “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.)
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste — “Hard Truths” (Bleecker Street)
- Florence Pugh — “We Live in Time” (A24)
- Saoirse Ronan — “The Outrun” (TBA) ***
- Zendaya — “Challengers” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Supporting Actor
- Willem Dafoe — “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures)
- Harris Dickinson — “Blitz” (Apple Original Films)
- Samuel L. Jackson — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix) ***
- Jesse Plemons — “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures)
- Stanley Tucci — “Conclave” (Focus Features)
Supporting Actress
- Joan Chen — “Dìdi” (Focus Features)
- Danielle Deadwyler — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “The Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM Studios/Orion) ***
- Saoirse Ronan — “Blitz” (Apple Original Films)
- Isabella Rossellini — “Conclave” (Focus Features)
Original Screenplay
- “Bird” (No U.S. Distribution) — Andrea Arnold
- “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) — Steve McQueen ***
- “The End” (Neon) — Rasmus Heisterberg, Joshua Oppenheimer
- “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures) — Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos
- “A Real Pain” (Searchlight Pictures) — Jesse Eisenberg
Adapted Screenplay
- “Conclave” (Focus Features) — Peter Straughan
- “The Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM Studios/Orion) — RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes ***
- “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix) — Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington
- “Sing Sing” (A24) — Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John Divine G Whitfield
- “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation) — Chris Sanders
Animated Feature
- “Inside Out 2” (Pixar)
- “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” (Warner Bros.)
- “The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- “Ultraman: Rising” (Netflix)
- “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation) ***
Production Design
- “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) — Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock ***
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) — Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos
- “Gladiator 2” (Paramount Pictures) — Arthur Max, Elli Griff
- “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution) — Beth Mickle, Bradley Rubin, Lisa K. Sessions
- “Nosferatu” (Focus Features) — Craig Lathrop
Cinematography
- “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) — Yorick Le Saux
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) — Greig Fraser ***
- “Maria” (No U.S. Distribution) — Edward Lachmann
- “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution) –Mihai Malaimaire Jr.
- “Parthenope” (No U.S. Distribution) — Daria D’Antonio
Costume Design
- “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.) — Colleen Atwood
- “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) — Jacqueline Durran
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) — Jacqueline West ***
- “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution) — Milena Canonero
- “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix) — Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
Film Editing
- “Blitz” (Apple Original Films) — Peter Sciberras ***
- “Conclave” (Focus Features) — Nick Emerson
- “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Marvel Studios) — Shane Reid
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) — Joe Walker
- “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix) — Leslie Jones
Makeup and Hairstyling
- “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.)
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) ***
- “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.)
- “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures)
- “Nosferatu” (Focus Features)
Sound
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) ***
- “The End” (Neon)
- “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.)
- “Megalopolis” (No U.S. Distribution)
- “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
Visual Effects
- “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Marvel Studios)
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) ***
- “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Studios)
- “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Pictures)
- “Tuesday” (A24)
Original Score
- “Flint Strong” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Tamar-kali
- “IF” (Paramount Pictures) — Michael Giacchino
- “Kinds of Kindness” (Searchlight Pictures) — Thomas Newman ***
- “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation) — Kris Bowers
- “Young Woman and the Sea” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Amelia Warner
Original Song
- “Possible song” from “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (Netflix)
- “Possible song” from “Blitz” (Apple Original Films)
- “Possible song” from “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Pictures)
- “Possible song” from “Queer” (No U.S. Distribution)
- “Possible song” from “Six Triple Eight” (Netflix) ***
Documentary Feature
- “Daughters” (Netflix) — dir. Angela Patton, Natalie Rae
- “Piece by Piece” (Focus Features) — dir. Morgan Neville
- “Sugarcane” (National Geographic Documentary Films) — dir. Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
- “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” (Warner Bros.) — Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui ***
- “Will & Harper” (Netflix) — dir. Josh Greenbaum
International Feature
- “Brief History of a Family” (China) — dir. Jianjie Lin
- “Emmanuelle” (France) — dir. Audrey Diwan
- “Crossing” (Georgia) — dir. Levan Akin
- “Pedro Páramo” (Mexico) — dir. Rodrigo Prieto ***
- “Reinas” (Spain) — dir. Klaudia Reynicke-Candeloro
