The year 2023 was a very exciting and diverse year for cinema. From the highly anticipated thrillers from world-renowned directors such as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, to Greta Gerwig’s fun and witty film adaption of the most familiar toy doll, Barbie, 2023 was a year of cinema that anyone could enjoy. Fan-favorite actors, ranging from Robert Downey Jr. to Margot Robbie to Robert De Niro, added notable value to films like these, giving outstanding performances. With the 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, coming up, people all over the world are eager to see the ceremony of one of the most prestigious and exclusive awards in the film industry. This year’s Oscars will honor films released in 2023, retaining 23 award categories. These are the nominees of 5 of the 23 most highly anticipated categories of the 2024 Oscars, also known as the “Big Five”.
Best Picture
- American Fiction
- Anatomy of a Fall
- Barbie
- The Holdovers
- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Maestro
- Oppenheimer
- Past Lives
- Poor Things
- The Zone of Interest
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- American Fiction
- Barbie
- Oppenheimer
- Poor Things
- The Zone of Interest
Actor in a Leading Role
- Bradley Cooper- Maestro
- Colman Domingo- Rustin
- Paul Giamati- The Holdovers
- Cillian Murphy- Oppenheimer
- Jefferey Wright- American Fiction
Actress in a Leading Role
- Annette Bening- Nyad
- Lily Gladstone- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Sandra Hüller- Anatomy of a Fall
- Carey Mulligan- Maestro
- Emma Stone- Poor Things
Directing
- Justine Triet- Anatomy of a Fall
- Martin Scorsese- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Christopher Nolan- Oppenheimer
- Yorgos Lanthimos- Poor Things
- Jonathan Glazer- The Zone of Interest
For most people, these nominations may come as no surprise. Past Lives sets the audience up for a one-of-a-kind experience, delivering a strong heartfelt message, doing so through its simplicity. The Holdovers with its laugh-out-comedy and vintage cinematography, is drastically different from modern movies. Cillian Murphy’s undeniably exceptional performance in the biopic Oppenheimer portrays J. Robert Oppenheimer in a raw and chilling way. However, with all the well-deserved and expected nominations in the 2024 Oscars, come the disappointment of movies and production staff that did not receive nominations. Although Barbie has received 8 Oscar nominations, director Greta Gerwig and actress Margot Robbie did not receive an individual nomination honoring their own performance in the film. Priscilla, directed by past Oscar winner Sofia Coppola, did not receive a single nomination for its powerful storytelling. Despite the disappointments of this year’s Oscars, justice was still served to some of the best films, directors, and actors. See who takes home an award at this year’s Oscars on March 10, 2024, at 6:00 pm CDT.
